Refrigerator Hot Gas Return Path Contact to Prevent Liquid Slugging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator defrosting methods using hot gas or heaters face issues such as prolonged defrosting time, uneven defrosting, increased power consumption, and potential compressor damage due to liquid refrigerant return flow.
Innovation Solution
A hot gas flow path is in contact with the return flow path to ensure the refrigerant is in a gaseous state upon return to the compressor, preventing damage and optimizing heat exchange for efficient defrosting and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If defrosting heater is used to defrost the evaporator, then the evaporator can be defrosted, but the cooling operation must be stopped and it takes a lot of time and energy to cool down the storage compartment to set temperature after defrosting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and defrosting function into a single operational phase by allowing the evaporator to perform both functions simultaneously. The evaporator cools the storage compartment while also receiving hot gas for defrosting, eliminating the need to stop cooling operation during defrosting and avoiding the time loss required to cool down after heater-based defrosting.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling operation continues uninterrupted during the defrosting process. The evaporator maintains its cooling function while simultaneously receiving hot gas flow for defrosting, ensuring continuous useful action without interruption or subsequent cooling period, thereby reducing total time loss.
2Reliability
If defrosting heater is used to defrost the evaporator, then the evaporator can be defrosted, but the defrosting is not even and therefore requires more heating than necessary, resulting in an increase in storage compartment temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the heater-based thermal defrosting system with a hot gas flow-based defrosting system. Instead of using electrical heaters that cause uneven heating and temperature increases, the system uses controlled hot gas flow through the evaporator, providing more uniform and efficient defrosting without adversely affecting storage compartment temperature.
3Productivity
If hot gas passes through one evaporator and then through the other evaporator to cool it, then defrosting and cooling can be performed simultaneously, but the return flow path may be over-cooled and liquid refrigerant may be introduced into the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerant flow paths into distinct routes: one path for hot gas defrosting and another path for cooling. By providing separate flow paths, the system prevents the return flow path from being over-cooled and avoids introducing liquid refrigerant into the compressor, while still enabling simultaneous defrosting and cooling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow path switching valve as an intermediary device to control and regulate refrigerant flow distribution. This valve mediates between the hot gas defrosting path and the cooling path, ensuring proper flow management and preventing harmful conditions such as liquid refrigerant entering the compressor while maintaining efficient simultaneous operation of both functions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hot gas defrosting and heater defrosting are selectively performed according to room temperature, then defrosting can be adapted to conditions, but the problem of increased power consumption and impact on storage remains when using only heater defrosting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the defrosting system by switching between hot gas defrosting and heater defrosting based on room temperature conditions. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different environmental conditions while optimizing power consumption by using the more efficient hot gas defrosting method when conditions permit, thereby reducing overall energy usage compared to relying solely on heater defrosting.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration prevents compressor damage, reduces defrosting time, and enhances cooling capacity by ensuring the refrigerant is in a gaseous state, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the refrigeration system.
Implementation Method 1
a hot gas flow path may be in contact with a return flow path
Implementation Method 2
allowing a refrigerant to form a gaseous state when the refrigerant defrosts any one evaporator through a hot gas flow path
Implementation Method 3
The storage compartment is supplied with cold air generated by a refrigeration system consisting of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator
Implementation Method 4
the refrigerant flowing directly through the condenser and into one evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
The refrigerator of the present disclosure is configured such that a hot gas flow path is in contact with a return flow path. Therefore, a refrigerant recovered by a compressor after defrosting one evaporator via the hot gas flow path and cooling the other evaporator is in a gaseous state, thereby protecting the compressor.