Multi-Compartment Refrigerator Cooling With Synchronized Fans
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with multiple storage compartments, independent cooling systems lead to inefficiencies where one compartment is overheated while another is under-cooled, and reducing the size of the machine room to increase storage space complicates airflow and heat exchange, causing noise and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a series of compressors, evaporators, and condensing fans arranged to optimize airflow and heat exchange, with a flow adjuster to manage refrigerant distribution between evaporators and a controller to synchronize fan operation, ensuring simultaneous cooling of compartments while minimizing noise and space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent cooling systems are used for multiple storage compartments, then each compartment can be cooled separately, but one compartment may be overheated while another is under-cooled, reducing overall cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling systems by introducing a common cooling source (third evaporator) that supplies cooled air to multiple storage compartments simultaneously. The independent cooling controls are retained through separate air circulation fans and temperature sensors for each compartment, allowing selective cooling control while maintaining system integration. This resolves the contradiction by combining the cooling function at the source level while preserving operational independence at the compartment level.
Solution Approach 2:
The third evaporator serves multiple functions by providing cooled air to both the refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment simultaneously. The air circulation system is designed to distribute cooled air to different compartments based on their respective cooling needs, making the cooling system universal rather than dedicated to a single compartment. This multi-functionality improves overall cooling efficiency while maintaining the ability to control each compartment independently.
2Volume of stationary object
If the machine room size is reduced to increase storage compartment volume, then storage space increases, but airflow and heat exchange become complicated, causing noise and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the condensing fan from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement above the condenser. This dimensional change allows the fan to be located in the limited space above the condenser rather than requiring lateral space, thus accommodating the reduced machine room volume. The vertical airflow path is designed to efficiently exchange heat while minimizing noise propagation to the storage compartments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an air passage that serves as an intermediary channel between the condensing fan and the external environment. This air passage efficiently guides the airflow generated by the compact condensing fan, ensuring proper heat exchange at the condenser while preventing noise from directly entering the storage compartments. The air passage acts as a mediator that decouples the noise source from the storage space while maintaining thermal exchange efficiency.
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 enhances heat-exchange efficiency, reduces noise, and optimizes cooling performance across multiple compartments by ensuring uniform airflow and synchronized fan operation, addressing the inefficiencies of independent cooling systems and compact machine room designs.
Implementation Method 1
Air flowing due to the condensing fan may perform heat exchange (cooling) in the condenser and cool the compressor
Implementation Method 2
Cool air stored in the refrigerating compartment may be cooled while passing through the first evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and a method of controlling a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator may include a machine room defined in or at one side of a storage compartment, a base that defines a bottom surface of the machine room, a compressor seated on the base to compress a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses a refrigerant compressed in the compressor, the condenser being disposed on or at one side of the compressor, a drain pan disposed on the base to store condensed water generated in the condenser, and a fan assembly coupled to the base to generate an air flow within the machine room. The fan assembly may include a plurality of condensation fans.