Refrigerator Ice Maker Fan Control for Faster Ice Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic refrigerators with ice making assemblies often face inefficiencies in ice production, leading to insufficient ice storage, as existing solutions like adding fans increase manufacturing costs without adequately addressing demand for ice.
Innovation Solution
An ice making assembly with a control system that activates a fan continuously for a selected time period in response to ice dispenser activation, enhancing air convection and cooling within the freezer storage compartment to increase ice production rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an additional fan is added to increase convection of cool air within the ice making assembly, then ice production rate is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing fan in the refrigerator is made to serve dual purposes: its original function of circulating air in the freezer compartment and an additional function of enhancing convection within the ice making assembly. The control system activates this existing fan to operate continuously for a selected time period when ice production is needed, eliminating the need for an additional dedicated fan while still achieving improved ice production rate through enhanced air convection
2Productivity
If additional hardware is added to increase ice production, then ice production rate is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to make the existing fan perform multiple functions: its primary function of circulating air in the freezer compartment and an additional function of enhancing convection specifically within the ice making assembly when needed. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to improve ice production rate without adding dedicated hardware for this specific purpose, thereby avoiding increased device complexity
3Productivity
If the fan operates continuously to increase convection, then ice production rate is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of operating the fan continuously, the control system implements periodic operation by activating the fan for a selected time period when ice production is needed and deactivating it when not needed. This periodic action pattern maintains improved ice production rate during critical periods while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation
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 solution effectively increases ice production rate without additional manufacturing costs, ensuring efficient ice supply based on user demand while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
adding an additional fan to increase convection of cool air within the ice making assembly
Implementation Method 2
A fan is positioned with respect to the evaporator and configured to move air across the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
An evaporator is positioned within the freezer storage compartment. The evaporator is configured to cool the freezer storage compartment
Implementation Method 4
The water is then frozen to form ice pieces or cubes
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a housing defining a freezer storage compartment, an evaporator operatively coupled to the freezer storage compartment and configured to cool the freezer storage compartment, and an evaporator fan positioned to move air across the evaporator. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker positioned within the freezer storage compartment, a dispenser in flow communication with the ice maker and configured to dispense ice, and a control system configured to receive a signal from said dispenser indicating dispensing of a first amount of ice from the dispenser, the control system configured to activate the evaporator fan in response to the signal, the evaporator fan operating continuously for a time period upon activation.