Mixed Air Passage Layout for Uniform Refrigerator Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air-cooled refrigerators experience uneven temperature distribution within the storage compartment, with the front part being warmer due to heat leaks and higher temperatures, which affects food storage and safety.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a mixed air passage with air inlets at both ends and a central outlet that mixes air flows from different temperature areas, ensuring even temperature distribution by blending warmer and cooler air before circulating it back into the compartment, and incorporating a mixed air blower to enhance air supply efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the air supply passage is arranged at the rear part of the storage compartment, then the refrigeration effect at the rear part is improved, but the temperature distribution becomes uneven with the front part being warmer
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply passage is divided into multiple segments: a first air supply passage extending from the rear wall toward the front, and a second air supply passage extending from the front wall toward the rear. This segmentation allows cold air to be supplied from both ends of the storage compartment, achieving uniform temperature distribution without requiring complex additional components.
2Loss of energy
If the air supply passage is arranged at the rear part, then cooling efficiency at the rear is improved, but heat leak at the front causes higher temperatures there
Solution Approach 1:
The second air supply passage pre-supplies cold air from the front wall area before heat accumulation occurs, proactively counteracting the heat leak effect at the front part. This preliminary action prevents temperature rise rather than reacting to it, maintaining uniform temperature distribution.
3Device complexity
If a single air supply location is used, then the structure is simple, but the temperature distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second air supply passages are merged into a coordinated system where both passages operate simultaneously to supply cold air from opposite directions. This merging of multiple simple passages achieves uniform temperature distribution without the complexity of a single complicated passage system.
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 design achieves uniform temperature distribution within the storage compartment, improving refrigeration efficiency and maintaining food freshness by converting the single circulation process into a multiple circulation process, ensuring quick and even cooling.
Implementation Method 1
the mixed air passage is configured to receive air flows from the two air inlets such that two air flows enter the storage compartment in a mixed manner via the mixed air outlet
Implementation Method 2
a mixed air blower configured to blow the two air flows to the storage compartment in a mixed manner
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising a storage compartment and a mixed air passage. Both ends of the mixed air passage have air inlets, the middle portion of the mixed air passage comprises a mixed air outlet communicating with the storage compartment, and the mixed air passage is configured to receive air flows from the two air inlets such that two air flows enter the storage compartment in a mixed manner via the mixed air outlet. The refrigerator of this invention comprises a mixed air passage, so that the air in an area of the storage compartment with a relatively high temperature can enter the mixed air passage earlier than external air or the air in the storage compartment with a relatively low temperature. Then, the two air flows are blown to the storage compartment in a mixed manner, realizing even temperature distribution in the storage compartment.