Refrigerator Air Passage Control for Defrost Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators experience temperature rises in storage compartments during defrosting and cooling startup due to warm air infiltration, leading to inefficient cooling and potential food damage from temperature fluctuations and freezer burn.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring freely controllable opening portions in air passages to prevent warm air from entering storage compartments, utilizing an air passage control device to manage air flow and circulation within the cooling compartment, ensuring efficient cooling and minimizing temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air inlets and air discharges are closed during defrosting to prevent warm air from flowing into storage compartment, then warm air infiltration is prevented, but after defrosting ends and cooling starts, the temperature inside storage compartment rises due to trapped warm air
Solution Approach 1:
The air passage control is divided into multiple independent air inlets (105-108) and air discharges (113-116), each capable of being controlled separately. This segmentation allows selective opening/closing of different passages at different times during defrosting and cooling cycles, enabling precise temperature management without requiring complete closure of all passages.
Solution Approach 2:
The air passage control system transitions from static closed/open states to dynamic controlled states. During defrosting, air passages are closed to prevent warm air infiltration. After defrosting ends, the system dynamically opens specific air inlets and discharges to facilitate cooling air circulation, adapting the control state based on the operational phase to maintain temperature stability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If air supply device is stopped after defrosting to allow evaporator cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but warm air accumulates in cooling compartment and air passage, causing temperature rise in storage compartment
Solution Approach 1:
Before stopping the air supply device for evaporator cooling, the system performs preliminary actions by controlling air passage openings and closings. Specific air inlets and discharges are positioned to prevent warm air accumulation in the cooling compartment and air passages, preparing the system for efficient cooling operation without subsequent temperature rise issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The air passage control device acts as an intermediary between the cooling compartment and storage compartment. It mediates air flow by selectively opening/closing passages to prevent warm air from reaching the storage compartment while allowing efficient cooling operation in the cooling compartment, decoupling the thermal management of the two compartments.
3Temperature
If shielding plate is disposed in cooling air passage and closed during defrosting to prevent warm air entry, then warm air infiltration is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air passage control device performs multiple functions: it acts as a shielding plate during defrosting to prevent warm air infiltration, serves as an air inlet controller during cooling to facilitate air circulation, and functions as a flow regulator to optimize cooling efficiency. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, simplifying the overall device structure.
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
Effectively restricts temperature rises in storage compartments, maintains optimal cooling efficiency, and prevents food damage by controlling air flow and circulation, ensuring consistent refrigeration temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
after defrosting ends, an evaporator starts cooling in a state in which an air supply device stops working. In a method of cooling air inside the cooling compartment, the temperature rise inside the storage compartment after the cooling starts may be restricted to a minimum
Implementation Method 2
because thermal conduction from the evaporator to air takes place in natural convection, it is difficult to cool air that accumulates above the evaporator or inside the air passage
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator and a operating method thereof. Warm air is prevented from flowing into a storage chamber during defrosting or when cooling starts, heat transfer from a cooling chamber to the storage chamber is prevented, and the temperature rise in the storage chamber is constrained to a low level. A separator (40) is used to divide a part of an air supply passage (16), to form a space portion (14) in communication with a cooling chamber (13) through an air supply opening portion (13a). A first opening portion (19) freely opened and closed is disposed in a separating area between the space portion (14) and the divided air supply passage (16), and a second opening portion (20) freely opened and closed is disposed in a separating area between the space portion (14) and an air return passage (29) or the cooling chamber (13). In this manner, heat transfer from the cooling chamber (13) to storage chambers (4) to (6) can be decreased. In addition, by setting the first opening portion (19) in a closed state and setting the second opening portion (20) in an open state, a condenser (32) performs cooling and an air blower (30) supplies air. In this manner, the space portion (14) used as an air circulation path makes air in the space portion (14) and the cooling chamber (13) circulate and cooled, so as to adjust the temperature thereof.