Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing micro channel refrigerant tube design in refrigerators does not effectively distribute refrigerant due to uniform passage volumes, leading to suboptimal heat dissipation performance as the refrigerant undergoes phase change, resulting in inefficient heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
The design varies passage volumes in the micro channel refrigerant tube based on the refrigerant's state, with larger volumes for gaseous refrigerant and smaller volumes for two-phase and liquid refrigerant, using baffles to guide the flow and alternate directions between headers, enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform passage volumes are used in the micro channel refrigerant tube, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the refrigerant is not effectively distributed and heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the passage volumes in different sections of the micro channel refrigerant tube. Specifically, the refrigerant tube is divided into multiple sections with different passage volumes: a first section with a first passage volume, a second section with a second passage volume, and a third section with a third passage volume. This allows each local region to be optimized for its specific function - larger volumes for two-phase flow regions and smaller volumes for liquid refrigerant regions - thereby improving refrigerant distribution and heat dissipation performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Reliability
If passage volumes are varied to improve refrigerant distribution, then heat dissipation performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the refrigerant tube into multiple distinct sections, each with optimized passage volumes. The tube is segmented into a first section, second section, and third section along the refrigerant flow direction, with each section having specifically designed passage volumes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex flow distribution patterns using relatively simple geometric modifications, improving heat dissipation while controlling overall device complexity.
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 approach improves heat dissipation performance by ensuring effective refrigerant distribution and phase change management, maximizing heat transfer efficiency in the refrigerant tube.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser disposed in the machine room
Implementation Method 2
a condenser disposed at an outlet-side of the compressor to condense the high-temperature and high-pressure saturated supersaturated gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure saturated liquid refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define a low-temperature storage space and a machine room, in which a compressor is disposed; and a condenser disposed in the machine room. The condenser includes a header comprising a first header and a second header, which are spaced apart from each other, a plurality of tubes configured to connect the first header to the second header, and a heat exchange fin disposed between the tubes spaced apart from each other. The header includes a baffle configured to partition an inner space of the header so as to guide a flow direction of a refrigerant, each of the tubes includes a passage in which a hollow is defined so that the refrigerant flows, and the passage has a volume that gradually decreases along a flow path of the refrigerant.