Refrigeration appliance with a heat exchanging element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigeration appliances face inefficiencies in heat dissipation from the refrigeration circuit, leading to wasted energy and reduced compressor efficiency due to inefficient heat management.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration appliance with a heat exchanging element that thermally couples the condenser to a heat conducting region, allowing efficient heat transfer to a heat circulation system, which can then transport and utilize this heat to warm other appliance elements, thereby reducing energy consumption and enhancing overall efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If heat is dissipated from the condenser to the surroundings, then the condenser is cooled, but heat is wasted and energy efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat wasteVSAvoidenergy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the waste heat from the condenser into a useful resource by directing it to heat elements within the refrigeration appliance that require heating, such as the evaporation tray or door heating elements. This transforms the harmful waste heat into a beneficial heating source, simultaneously solving the cooling requirement of the condenser and the heating requirement of other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the cooling function of the condenser with the heating function of other appliance elements by creating a thermal coupling system. The heat exchanging element integrates both cooling and heating functions into a unified system, where the condenser and heat conducting region work together to transfer heat internally rather than dissipating it externally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the condenser is cooled efficiently to lower condensation temperature, then compressor efficiency increases, but additional heat management complexity is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor efficiencyVSAvoidheat management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanging element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a condenser for cooling the refrigerant, a heat conductor for transferring waste heat, and a heating element for warming other appliance components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while achieving efficient heat management and improved compressor performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If elements of the refrigeration appliance are heated using separate heating systems, then heating function is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelement heatingVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the waste heat generated by the condenser during normal refrigeration operation to provide heating to other elements of the appliance. The heat circulation system automatically transports this waste heat to heating locations without requiring additional energy input, making the heating function self-servicing and energy-neutral.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables efficient heat dissipation from the refrigeration circuit, reduces energy consumption by utilizing waste heat to warm appliance elements, and lowers the condensation temperature of the refrigerant, improving compressor efficiency and overall appliance performance.

Implementation Method 1

the condenser and the heat conducting region in the heat exchanging element being thermally coupled in order to output heat from the refrigeration circuit to the heat conducting region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heat circulation system is configured to transport the absorbed heat to an element of the refrigeration appliance where heat is required

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The heat transporting substance can be transported in the heat circulation system in different aggregate states

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS10302339B2Refrigeration appliance with a heat exchanging element

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration circuit having a condenser and a heat circulation system for heating an element of the refrigeration appliance. The heat circulation system includes a heat conducting region. A heat exchanging element includes the condenser and the heat conducting region. The condenser and the heat conducting region in the heat exchanger element are thermally coupled in order to output heat from the refrigeration circuit to the heat conducting region of the heat circulation system.