Open Display Refrigerator Air Guide Positioning for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open display refrigerators are inefficient due to air curtains that spill out and allow warm exterior air to mix with cold interior air, and existing air guides can obstruct customer views by protruding too far from shelves.
Innovation Solution
A method involving temperature sensors to optimize the positioning of air guides on shelves by measuring temperature differences and adjusting their distance from the shelf edge to maximize energy efficiency while minimizing view obstruction, using jelly-bricks or thermometers to track temperature changes and select the best air guide placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air guides protrude far from the shelf edge to constrain the air curtain, then energy efficiency is improved, but customer view of produce is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide is made adjustable in its position relative to the shelf edge, allowing it to be moved between different protrusion distances. This dynamic positioning enables optimization of both air curtain constraint (energy efficiency) and customer visibility (ease of operation) depending on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the air guide (distance from shelf edge) is varied to achieve optimal performance. By changing this geometric parameter, the system balances the competing requirements of energy efficiency and customer view accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If air guides are positioned close to the shelf edge to maintain customer view, then visibility is improved, but air curtain containment is reduced leading to energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable air guide allows dynamic repositioning to achieve the optimal balance between visibility and energy efficiency. When customer view is prioritized, the air guide can be positioned closer to the shelf edge while still maintaining adequate air curtain constraint through precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to monitor the effectiveness of air curtain containment and provides feedback on energy efficiency. This feedback mechanism allows optimization of air guide positioning to maintain energy efficiency while preserving customer visibility.
3Loss of energy
If the air curtain is made stronger to prevent mixing with warm air, then energy efficiency is improved, but the air guide must protrude further obstructing views
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than increasing air guide protrusion length to strengthen the air curtain, the system changes the position parameter of the air guide optimally. This precise positioning achieves effective air curtain containment without excessive protrusion that would obstruct customer views of produce.
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
Improves energy efficiency by containing the air curtain effectively while ensuring customer visibility is not obstructed, allowing for better temperature control and product storage conditions.
Implementation Method 1
providing an array of temperature sensors within the interior of the open display refrigerator; measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors
Implementation Method 2
air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air towards an air outlet
Implementation Method 3
The air inlet recovers air from the air curtain and recirculates it to the air outlet via a cooling heat exchanger and fan
Data Source
AI summary
The provides disclosure describes a method for configuring an open display refrigerator, the method comprises: a measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by an array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors; coupling an air guide to at least one shelf; adjusting the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf for the at least one shelf; measuring a final temperature difference associated with the distance, the final temperature difference being the temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperatures sensors after coupling an air guide to the at least one shelf; selecting a distance from the plurality of distances that gives rise to at least a threshold temperature difference, or selecting the distance from the plurality of distances wherein the difference between the initial temperature difference and the associated final temperature difference is greatest.