Refrigerator Quick Freezer Cooling with Separate Evaporators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators lack a mechanism for rapid cooling of specific compartments, which can hinder the efficient preservation of food items that require quick freezing or cooling.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a separate quick freezer compartment with a dedicated evaporator and cold air duct system, allowing for independent control of cold air distribution and rapid cooling by selectively operating fans and adjusting refrigerant paths to prioritize cold air supply to the quick freezer compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a separate quick freezer compartment with dedicated evaporator and cold air duct system is added, then rapid cooling capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator is divided into separate cooling zones with dedicated evaporators and cold air duct systems for each zone (freezer compartment, refrigerator compartment, and quick freezer compartment). This segmentation allows independent control of cold air supply to each compartment, enabling rapid cooling in the quick freezer without affecting other zones, thus resolving the contradiction between improved cooling speed and increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates controllable fans and adjustable refrigerant paths that can dynamically redirect cold air flow based on operational requirements. During quick freezing mode, the system dynamically prioritizes cold air supply to the quick freezer compartment by controlling fan operations and refrigerant distribution, providing rapid cooling capability while maintaining system flexibility to manage complexity.
2Productivity
If cold air supply is intensified to the quick freezer compartment, then cooling efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses controllable fans with adjustable speed and operation status (on/off) to dynamically regulate cold air flow to the quick freezer compartment. During quick freezing mode, fans operate at high capacity to maximize cooling efficiency. During normal operation, fan activity is reduced or stopped, lowering energy consumption. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve high cooling efficiency when needed while minimizing energy usage during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration system operates in different modes (quick freezing mode and normal mode) with periodic switching based on storage requirements. During quick freezing periods, energy is intensively consumed to provide rapid cooling. During normal preservation periods, energy consumption is reduced. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to achieve high cooling efficiency during critical periods while maintaining acceptable average energy consumption.
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 configuration enables rapid cooling of the quick freezer compartment, ensuring efficient preservation of food items by intensifying cold air supply when needed, while maintaining separate cooling zones to prevent air mixing.
Implementation Method 1
cold air generated by a phase-change of a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
cold air duct for guiding the cold air generated by the evaporator into the quick freezer compartment
Implementation Method 3
cold air generated by a phase-change of a refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include first and second refrigerant paths that separately distribute refrigerant, a first cooling chamber connected with a first cold air duct, a second cooling chamber connected with a second cold air duct, and a third cooling chamber connected with a third cold air duct. Cold air generated by a first evaporator is provided to the first cold air duct to cool the first cooling chamber, cold air generated by a second evaporator, which receives refrigerant from the first evaporator, is provided to the second cold air duct to provide concentrated cooling to the second cooling chamber, and cold air generated by a third evaporator is provided to the third cold air duct to cool the third cooling chamber.