Multi-Evaporator Refrigerator for Independent Chamber Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators struggle to maintain optimal storage temperatures for various foods with different temperature requirements, particularly failing to store foods with lower temperatures like meat alongside wine, and cannot effectively manage the storage of white and red wine simultaneously without compromising their quality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring three storage chambers with distinct temperature ranges, each cooled by a dedicated evaporator, and a path switching device controlled by a controller to manage refrigerant flow, allowing for independent and sequential temperature control of the chambers to maintain optimal conditions for different types of food and wine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single evaporator is used to cool the storage chamber, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to maintain different temperature ranges for multiple storage chambers is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator is divided into multiple independent evaporators (first evaporator, second evaporator, third evaporator), each responsible for cooling a specific storage chamber. This segmentation allows each evaporator to independently control the temperature of its designated chamber, enabling simultaneous maintenance of different temperature ranges for wine storage, white wine storage, and freezing chambers.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple evaporators are used for each storage chamber, then precise temperature control for different foods is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A path switching device is introduced as an intermediary component to manage refrigerant flow distribution to multiple evaporators. This device acts as a traffic controller, selectively connecting the refrigerant circulation path to different evaporators based on cooling demands. The controller electronically manages the path switching device, enabling precise temperature control for each storage chamber while simplifying the overall system architecture compared to having completely independent refrigerant circuits for each evaporator.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a heater is used to generate circulated air for temperature maintenance, then the temperature stability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the waste heat generated by the evaporators into a useful resource for temperature maintenance. Instead of allowing the evaporators to continuously run and over-cool the chambers, the controller strategically operates them to reach target temperatures, then uses the residual coldness combined with heater operation to maintain temperatures within optimal ranges. This approach transforms the potential harm of excessive cooling into the benefit of efficient temperature stabilization, reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous evaporator operation.
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
Enables the simultaneous storage of foods with varying temperature requirements, including wine, meat, and kimchi, by maintaining precise temperature control across multiple chambers, ensuring the quality of stored items and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first evaporator (6) connected with a first evaporator inlet path (61) and a first evaporator outlet path (62) to cool the first storage chamber (R)
Implementation Method 2
a first evaporator (6) connected with a first evaporator inlet path (61) and a first evaporator outlet path (62) to cool the first storage chamber (R)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, a first evaporator connected with a first evaporator inlet path and a first evaporator outlet path, a second evaporator connected with a second evaporator inlet path and a second evaporator outlet path, a third evaporator connected with a third evaporator inlet path and a third evaporator outlet path, a path switching device, and a controller for controlling the compressor and the path switching device based on at least one mode.