Refrigerated display case with air flow guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated display cases with traditional 90° bends in air flow guide systems experience noise issues due to abrupt air flow direction changes, which can be mitigated by using a curved or chamfered corner to reduce noise and allow for quieter operation and the use of higher flow rate fans.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a curved or chamfered corner in the air flow guide system within the refrigerated display case, where the air flow exits the inlet passage and turns vertically, along with a pressure boundary wall to create a low and high pressure space, and using a foot part to support components above the inlet passage, thereby reducing noise and improving fan performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a 90° bend is used in the air flow guide system, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but noise increases due to abrupt air flow direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the sharp 90° bend with a curved or chamfered transition surface in the air flow guide system. This curved surface gradually changes the air flow direction from horizontal to vertical, eliminating abrupt direction changes that cause noise. The curvature radius is specifically designed to be at least 10 mm to ensure smooth air flow transition while reducing turbulence and noise generation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved or chamfered corner is used to reduce noise, then noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing the curved or chamfered transition surface only at the specific corner location where air flow direction changes occur, rather than redesigning the entire air flow guide system. This localized modification focuses the complexity reduction on the critical noise-generating area while leaving the rest of the system simple and easy to manufacture.
3Productivity
If higher flow rate fans are used to improve cooling efficiency, then productivity is improved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high-velocity air flow hitting the sharp corner (which causes noise) into a beneficial smooth transition by using the curved or chamfered surface. This allows higher flow rate fans to operate at increased productivity levels while the curved surface captures and redirects the high-velocity air flow smoothly, preventing the noise that would normally result from such high speeds.
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
The solution significantly reduces noise from the air flow guide system, enabling quieter operation and allowing for the use of more efficient fans without increasing noise levels, while maintaining effective air flow and cooling capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a fan for generating a pressure difference between the low pressure space and the high pressure space to thereby draw air through the inlet air passage and around the corner before driving it out of the at least one outlet
Implementation Method 2
noise issues due to abrupt air flow direction changes, which can be mitigated by using a curved or chamfered corner to reduce noise
Implementation Method 3
Cooling for the refrigerated display case is provided by heat exchange with a heat absorbing heat exchanger of a cooler
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A refrigerated display case 2 includes a storage space 10 and an air flow guide system 20, 88, 26, 28, 32 for supplying refrigerated air to the storage space 10. The air flow guide system 20, 88, 26, 28, 32 comprises: an inlet air passage 20 extending in a horizontal direction from the front of the refrigerated display case 2 toward a back of the refrigerated display case 2; a corner 88 where the air flow exits the inlet air passage 20 and turns toward a vertical direction passing around an inside surface of the corner 88; a low pressure space 26 after the corner 88; a pressure boundary wall 28 separating the low pressure space 26 from a high pressure space 32; at least one outlet for directing the air flow from the high pressure space 32 to cool the storage space 10; and a fan 130 for generating a pressure difference between the low pressure space 26 and the high pressure space 32 to thereby draw air through the inlet air passage 20 and around the corner 88 before driving it out of the at least one outlet. The corner 88 includes a curved or chamfered portion 90 on the inside surface extending between an upper boundary of the inlet air passage 20 and an internal surface of the low pressure space 26, with the curved or chamfered portion 90 of the inside surface extending at least 10 mm in both the vertical and horizontal directions.