Modular Evaporator and Control Layout for Serviceable No-Frost Refrigeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration devices face challenges in reducing material costs, achieving high efficiency, simplifying assembly and maintenance, and ensuring operational safety and reliability, especially under extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
A modular design for refrigeration devices with a heat-insulating housing, where the evaporator, control electronics, and light source are integrated as a module, allowing for easy installation, maintenance, and defrosting, using insulating foam and vacuum-insulated cases, and plastic side support parts for thermal insulation and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are distributed throughout the housing, then functional requirements are met, but assembly complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration device is divided into modular components: evaporator module, storage space module, and control module. Each module can be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained, reducing overall assembly complexity while meeting functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module serves multiple functions including temperature control, lighting control, and defrosting control. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying assembly while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
2Ease of repair
If traditional non-modular design is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but maintenance and repair become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is designed as a separate, removable module that can be easily accessed and replaced without disassembling the entire refrigeration unit. This segmentation enables simple maintenance while maintaining system reliability through quick replacement of faulty components.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows the evaporator module to be dynamically removed and reinstalled, providing easy access for maintenance while ensuring the system can quickly return to full operational reliability after component replacement.
3Ease of manufacture
If materials are optimized for cost reduction, then manufacturing expenses decrease, but material strength and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The housing uses composite material construction combining plastic and metal elements. The plastic parts provide cost-effective insulation and structural support, while metal components are strategically placed only where high strength is required, optimizing both cost and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different material qualities are applied locally: high-strength metal is used only in critical load-bearing areas, while cost-effective plastic materials are used for insulation and non-critical structural components, achieving cost reduction without compromising overall strength.
4Productivity
If evaporator position is fixed in upper area, then cooling efficiency is improved, but adaptability to different storage space requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator module is designed to be dynamically repositionable within the housing, allowing it to maintain its optimal upper position for cooling efficiency while also being adaptable to different storage space configurations and customer requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular evaporator design serves multiple functions: it provides optimal cooling when positioned in the upper area, can be repositioned for different storage configurations, and allows for easy replacement to adapt to various operational requirements.
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 modular design reduces manufacturing costs, enhances efficiency, and ensures reliable operation by simplifying assembly and maintenance, while preventing ice formation and improving mechanical stability, thus achieving cost-effectiveness and high reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator space (6) for accommodating an evaporator (5) is provided, with the evaporator space (6) being thermally separated from the storage space (4) by a separating plate (7)
Implementation Method 2
at least one storage space (4) into which cold air can be applied by a fan (3)
Implementation Method 3
The module (10) also has a heating device (11)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigeration device (1), in particular a no-frost device, refrigerator and/or freezer, comprising a thermally insulating housing (2) containing at least one product storage compartment (4) that can be supplied with cold air by a fan (3) and an evaporator chamber (6) that holds an evaporator (5). According to the invention, the evaporator chamber (6) is thermally separated from the storage compartment (4) by a partition (7). The device also comprises an electronic control system (8) for controlling the refrigeration device (1) and at least one light source (9) for illuminating the storage compartment (4). The evaporator (5), the partition (7) and the electronic control system (8) and/or the evaporator (5), the partition (7) and the light source (9) are provided in the form of modules (10). The refrigeration device (1) is characterised in that it is particularly reliable, works efficiently, can be cost-effectively produced and is easy to service.