Pair Installation Refrigerator Flow Guide to Prevent Dew Condensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators installed in parallel or close to walls experience dew condensation issues due to decreased convection coefficients, leading to a lower dew point and unsightly gaps between units, with existing solutions being ineffective and costly.
Innovation Solution
A pair installation type refrigerator system featuring a flow guide that directs discharged air upward along the cabinet side to prevent dew condensation, combined with a decor member that shields the gap between units and maintains a unified appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If refrigerators are installed in parallel or close to a wall, then installation space is improved, but dew condensation occurs on the side surfaces due to decreased convection coefficient
Solution Approach 1:
A flow guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the discharge portion and the external environment. The flow guide modifies the airflow path by guiding discharged air upward along the side surface of the cabinet, creating a protective air flow that prevents dew condensation without requiring additional heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces thermal mechanical systems (heaters, heating elements) with a fluid dynamic system. Instead of using heat to prevent condensation, the system uses the mechanical flow of discharged air to create a protective convection current that raises the local dew point and prevents moisture condensation on the cabinet surface.
2Reliability
If refrigerators are installed in parallel with gaps between them, then air discharge is improved, but appearance unity is degraded and external particles are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides discharged air upward to prevent dew condensation, shields the gap between refrigerators from external particles, and provides an aesthetic cover that maintains appearance unity. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate structures for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the air discharge function with the appearance shielding function. The flow guide is integrated over the discharge portion, combining the utility of air venting with the aesthetic requirement of gap shielding, allowing both functions to be achieved through a single unified structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a hot line is mounted on the side of a refrigerator to prevent condensation, then dew condensation is restricted, but additional materials and power consumption are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the refrigerator's own discharged air to prevent dew condensation on its side surfaces. The flow guide directs the refrigerator's self-generated airflow to create a protective convection current, eliminating the need for external heating systems, additional materials, or extra power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the discharged air (which could be considered waste or harmful to the external environment) into a beneficial resource. By guiding this discharged air upward along the cabinet side, it creates a protective thermal barrier that prevents dew condensation, turning a potential negative into a useful function.
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
Effectively restricts dew condensation on the sides of refrigerators when installed in parallel or near walls, enhancing appearance unity and reducing costs by eliminating the need for additional components like heaters.
Implementation Method 1
A pair installation type refrigerator having a structure in which a plurality of refrigerators are installed in parallel includes a first refrigerator including a first cabinet having a first storage space formed therein; a first door configured to open and close the first storage space; a first hinge coupled to the first cabinet such that the first door is rotatable; a first machine room formed under the first cabinet; a first discharge portion formed on a side wall of the first cabinet to communicate with the first machine room; a flow guide detachably coupled to the side wall of the first cabinet to cover the first discharge portion
Data Source
AI summary
A pair installation type of refrigerator system provides a plurality of refrigerators installed in parallel. A first refrigerator includes a first discharge portion formed on a side wall of the first cabinet to communicate with a first machine room, and a flow guide detachably coupled to the side wall of the first cabinet to cover the first discharge portion. A second refrigerator includes a second door that is opened such that an opening direction is symmetrical to that of the first door in a state in which the second refrigerator is disposed adjacent to the first refrigerator, and a decor member disposed in a space between the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator to shield a front side in a state in which the second refrigerator is disposed adjacent to the first refrigerator. The decor member fixes the first cabinet and a second cabinet.