Refrigerator Partition Plate Insulation for Dew Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerator designs face issues with heat intrusion from heat radiation pipes into storage rooms, affecting energy saving performance and maintaining the flatness and aesthetic appearance of partition plates, leading to potential moisture entry and structural defects.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring a partition plate with an upper and lower plate, a design plate, and a laminated heat insulator compressed between the design plate and the upper or lower plate, using a soft composite heat insulating material with an aerogel and fiber structure to suppress heat conduction and maintain flatness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a low-priced coated steel plate is used for the design plate, then the strength and cost-effectiveness are improved, but heat conduction increases causing dew condensation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of design plateVSAvoiddew condensation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A heat insulating material is introduced as an intermediary between the heat radiation pipe and the design plate. This intermediary blocks the direct thermal conduction path from the high-temperature heat radiation pipe through the steel design plate to the low-temperature interior, preventing the design plate surface temperature from dropping to the dew point while maintaining the strength benefits of using a steel plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful thermal conduction function is extracted from the design plate by removing the direct contact path between the heat radiation pipe and the steel plate. The heat insulating material is positioned to interrupt the heat flow, separating the thermal pathways while maintaining the structural integrity and strength of the steel design plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If heat radiation pipe is placed in contact with design plate to suppress dew condensation, then dew condensation is suppressed, but heat intrudes into storage room reducing energy efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedew condensation suppressionVSAvoidenergy saving performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat insulating material is strategically positioned only at the critical location where the heat radiation pipe contacts or approaches the design plate. This localized insulation provides targeted thermal blocking exactly where needed to prevent dew condensation on the design plate surface, while leaving other areas of the partition plate and storage room with their original thermal characteristics, thus minimizing impact on overall energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If partition plate structure is modified to suppress heat intrusion, then energy efficiency is improved, but flatness and aesthetic appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat insulation performanceVSAvoidflatness of partition plate

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A soft composite heat insulating material with flexible properties is used, which can be compressed to fit within the confined space of the partition plate structure without creating visible protrusions or deformities. The flexible nature of this thin-film-like insulation allows it to conform to the partition plate geometry, maintaining the flat external surface and aesthetic appearance while providing effective thermal insulation to reduce heat intrusion into the storage room

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 heat insulation, suppresses dew condensation, maintains the aesthetic appearance, and prevents moisture entry while maintaining the structural integrity and energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

Implementation Method 1

a heat insulating material fixed between the design plate and the upper plate or the lower plate in a compressed state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

using a soft composite heat insulating material with an aerogel and fiber structure to suppress heat conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation through porous structure: Aerogels

Data Source

PatentUS10443921B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

It is an object to provide a refrigerator that suppresses heat intrusion from a heat radiation pipe for suppressing dew condensation with respect to a partition plate of a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a partition plate that partitions a room into a plurality of rooms and a door that seals the plurality of rooms. The partition plate includes an upper plate that positions on upper side, a lower plate that positions on lower side, a design plate that positions between the upper plate and the lower plate, and a heat insulating material fixed between the design plate and the upper plate or the lower plate in a compressed state in which a compressed portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of other portions.