Refrigeration appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration appliances face challenges in achieving efficient throttle effects while minimizing capillary tube length and material usage, leading to potential noise and space inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance design featuring an intermediate capillary tube connected between a dryer and a valve facility, with a separate throttle capillary tube connecting the valve facility to the evaporator, allowing for a divided throttle effect that reduces the overall length of the capillary tubes and improves space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single long capillary tube is used to achieve the desired throttle effect, then the throttle effect is achieved, but the capillary tube length increases and material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single capillary tube is divided into two separate capillary tubes: a first capillary tube connecting the condenser outlet to the evaporator inlet, and a second capillary tube connecting the dryer outlet to the evaporator inlet. This segmentation allows the throttle effect to be distributed across two shorter tubes rather than one long tube, reducing material usage while maintaining the required pressure drop and flow control.
2Manufacturing precision
If a single long capillary tube is used to achieve the desired throttle effect, then the throttle effect is achieved, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube system is segmented into two separate tubes, which reduces the total length of capillary material required. The first capillary tube handles the main throttling from the condenser, while the second capillary tube provides additional flow resistance from the dryer, together achieving the desired throttle effect with less total material.
3Manufacturing precision
If the capillary tube is placed before the dryer, then the throttle effect is achieved, but the dryer cannot effectively remove water from the refrigerant
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube function is segmented and distributed: the first capillary tube is positioned after the dryer to provide throttling, while the dryer is positioned before the evaporator to effectively remove water from the refrigerant. This spatial segmentation ensures both the throttle effect and water removal function are optimized without interfering with each other.
4Manufacturing precision
If a long capillary tube is used, then the throttle effect is achieved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single long capillary tube is segmented into two shorter tubes positioned at different locations in the refrigeration system. This segmentation distributes the throttling action across two separate locations, which can reduce noise by preventing the formation of a single high-velocity jet that causes vibration and noise in a long tube configuration.
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 achieves a shortened capillary tube length, reduces material costs, and enhances energy efficiency by allowing for flexible temperature control in multiple compartments, while minimizing noise and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
achieve a throttle effect, which is to be achieved between a condenser and an evaporator of the refrigeration appliance, by means of separate capillary tubes connected in series
Implementation Method 2
The dryer is designed to extract water from the refrigerant originating from the condenser
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator coupled thermally to the at least one refrigeration compartment for cooling the refrigeration compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, has at least one refrigeration compartment for accommodating refrigerated goods and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit has a condenser, an evaporator for cooling the refrigeration compartment, the evaporator being thermally coupled to the at least one refrigeration compartment and connected to the condenser, a dryer, which is arranged between the condenser and the evaporator, and a valve device, which is connected by an intermediate capillary tube to the dryer and by a throttle capillary tube to the evaporator.