Ice making system and method for refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bottom freezer type refrigerators, the existing ice making systems face issues with cool air leakage from the junction between the refrigerator compartment door and the body, leading to inefficiencies in ice production and increased electricity consumption due to unnecessary air circulation.
Innovation Solution
An ice making system that includes an ice making unit on the refrigerator compartment door, a cool air producing unit in the refrigerator body, a connection unit that seals the junction between the door and body when closed, and a cool air circulation unit that efficiently supplies and recirculates cool air without leakage, using a cooling duct and refrigeration cycle to produce and reuse cool air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice making device is located on the refrigerator compartment door with separate supply and restoration ducts, then ice making function is provided, but cool air leaks from the junction between the door and body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cool air supply duct and restoration duct into a single integrated duct structure. The duct serves dual functions: supplying cool air to the ice making device and restoring cool air back to the refrigerator compartment. This eliminates the need for separate ducts and prevents cool air leakage at the door junction while maintaining ice making functionality.
2Productivity
If separate supply and restoration ducts are used, then cool air circulation is established, but the junction between door and body becomes a leakage point
Solution Approach 1:
The supply and restoration functions are combined into a single duct that passes through the door. Cool air is supplied through the duct to the ice making device, and the same duct is used to restore cool air to the refrigerator compartment, eliminating leakage points at the door junction while maintaining effective cool air circulation.
3Ease of operation
If the ice making device is placed in the door, then user convenience is improved, but the duct connection becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the duct connection by using a single integrated duct that serves both supply and restoration functions. The duct is configured to pass through the door and connect to the ice making device, eliminating the need for complex separate duct connections and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining user convenience.
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
The system prevents cool air leakage, enhances ice making efficiency, reduces energy consumption by minimizing air circulation distance, and ensures airtight sealing when the door is closed, thereby improving the overall performance of the ice making process.
Implementation Method 1
cool air that has been produced by an evaporator
Implementation Method 2
freezes water while circulating inside the ice making device
Implementation Method 3
cool air is continuously produced by a heat exchange operation between air and a refrigerant performed in a refrigeration cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for ice making in a refrigerator is disclosed. The ice making system comprising an ice making unit that makes ice cubes in a refrigerator compartment door, a cool air producing unit that is provided in a refrigerator body and cools air inside a cooling duct, a connection unit that connects the ice making unit to the cooling duct in response to a closure of the refrigerator compartment door onto the refrigerator body, and a cool air circulation unit that supplies the cool air from the cool air producing unit to the ice making unit and discharges the cool air from the ice making unit to the cool air producing unit.