Multi-evaporator appliance having a multi-directional valve for delivering refrigerant to the evaporators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerating appliances with multiple evaporators face inefficiencies in thermal energy distribution and management, as existing systems require separate compressors and complex valve configurations to manage different cooling modes, leading to increased complexity and potential for backflow and energy wastage.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerating appliance design utilizing a single compressor and condenser with a multi-directional outlet valve and inlet valve to efficiently distribute thermal exchange media across multiple evaporators, ensuring all media passes through a primary freezer evaporator before returning to the compressor, eliminating the need for separate pump-out operations and check valves, and allowing for adaptive cooling mode selection based on compartment temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate compressors and complex valve configurations are used to manage different cooling modes in multi-evaporator appliances, then cooling control for each compartment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple compressor outputs into a single refrigerant line that serves all evaporators (freezer, refrigerator, pantry). This merging approach eliminates the need for separate compressors while maintaining independent cooling control through a multi-position valve that directs refrigerant to different evaporators based on cooling mode requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The single compressor and refrigerant line are designed to serve multiple functions by delivering refrigerant to different evaporators based on the cooling mode. The multi-position valve enables this universal system to adapt to various cooling scenarios (freezer-only, refrigerator-only, or both simultaneously) without requiring dedicated components for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex valve configurations are used to manage thermal exchange media distribution, then cooling mode control is improved, but potential for backflow and energy wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of backflow into a beneficial feature by designing the refrigerant line to allow spent refrigerant from any evaporator to flow back through the freezer evaporator. This ensures complete phase change of the refrigerant and prevents backflow issues while maintaining energy efficiency, as the freezer evaporator acts as a final cooling stage for all refrigerant streams.
3Device complexity
If multiple evaporators are served from a single compressor, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal energy distribution efficiency may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring that each evaporator receives refrigerant with appropriate thermal characteristics for its specific cooling requirements. The multi-position valve directs refrigerant to different evaporators based on which compartments need cooling, and the freezer evaporator serves as a final cooling stage that optimizes thermal energy distribution by ensuring complete phase change of refrigerant before it returns to the compressor.
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 enhances energy efficiency by ensuring complete phase change of thermal media, reduces complexity by eliminating separate pump-out operations and check valves, and allows for adaptive cooling across multiple compartments, optimizing energy usage and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator
Implementation Method 2
A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser
Implementation Method 3
A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerating appliance includes a refrigerant line having a compressor and a condenser. A thermal exchange media is delivered from the condenser and through the refrigerant line to at least a freezer evaporator of a plurality of evaporators, wherein the thermal exchange media leaving the freezer evaporator defines spent media that is returned to the compressor. A multi-directional outlet valve selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to the freezer evaporator, wherein the multi-directional outlet valve also selectively delivers the thermal exchange media to at least one secondary evaporator of the plurality of evaporators to define a partially-spent media that is delivered to the freezer evaporator.