Improvements to open display refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open display refrigerators suffer from inefficiencies in air curtain management, leading to warm air entrainment and insufficient cooling at the base shelves, which affects the temperature stability of stored items.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a second weir screen, designed to capture a larger amount of air curtain, combined with a nozzle-like configuration and potentially a blanking plate to reduce the air inlet surface area, enhances suction pressure and directs airflow more effectively, minimizing warm air impact on base shelves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single weir screen is used to prevent air curtain spillage, then air loss is reduced, but warm air still impacts base shelf items and cooling is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single weir screen is divided into two separate weir screens positioned at different locations. The first weir screen is positioned further forward to prevent air curtain spillage, while the second weir screen is positioned closer to the air inlet to capture cold air and direct it toward base shelf items, thereby solving both the air loss and temperature control issues simultaneously
2Stress or pressure
If the air inlet surface area is reduced to increase suction pressure, then more air curtain is captured, but less air can be recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet area is segmented into two distinct zones: a first air inlet area positioned forward for capturing the air curtain with high suction pressure, and a second air inlet area positioned rearward for recovering larger volumes of air. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve high suction pressure for air curtain capture and sufficient air recovery quantity through the distributed inlet areas
3Use of energy by moving object
If fans apply limited suction pressure to the air inlet, then energy consumption is reduced, but air curtain capture is insufficient and air is lost over the weir screen edge
Solution Approach 1:
The suction function is segmented between two fan positions: first fans positioned forward to apply suction pressure at the first air inlet area for capturing the air curtain, and second fans positioned rearward to recover air through the second air inlet area. This segmentation allows distributed energy application that maintains effective air curtain capture and recovery without requiring excessive suction pressure from a single fan system
Solution Approach 2:
The two weir screens act as intermediaries that guide and direct airflow between the air curtain, the air inlet areas, and the base shelf items. The first weir screen prevents spillage while the second weir screen captures and redirects cold air, mediating the airflow path to maximize capture efficiency without requiring increased fan energy consumption
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 significantly improves the capture of cold air, reducing warm air spillage and enhancing temperature consistency across the refrigerator's interior, particularly at the base shelves.
Implementation Method 1
This type of refrigerator has an air curtain, which is established by blowing cold air across the front of the refrigerator
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger for cooling the air recovered via the air inlet
Implementation Method 3
The air inlet recovers air from the air curtain and recirculates it to the air outlet via a cooling heat exchanger and fan
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An open display refrigerator is provided, comprising: a refrigerated interior space, air in the refrigerated interior space being separated from air in a space exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain (3) established by a fan (6) which blows air through an air outlet (2) towards a corresponding air inlet (5) which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air outlet (2); a first weir screen (4) positioned proximal to the exterior space; and a second weir screen (11) positioned distal to the exterior space, whereby a channel is formed in between the first weir screen (4) and the second weir screen (11), the channel for receiving air from the air curtain before it is recovered by the air inlet.