Refrigerator Air Tower Layout for Even Fresh Food Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in circulating cool air effectively within the fresh food compartment, especially when it is filled with perishable items, as the cool air tends to fall to the bottom, obstructing airflow and making it difficult to maintain consistent cooling near the top.
Innovation Solution
An air tower is mounted to the liner in the fresh food compartment, featuring inlet and exhaust openings in the floor, a damper-controlled air duct system, and air-directing fins to ensure airflow circulation, allowing cool air from the freezer compartment to be directed upward and distributed evenly across the compartment, while a recessed floor design prevents liquid accumulation from interfering with airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional air ducts are formed in foam insulation, then air duct structure is simple, but air circulation is obstructed when compartment is filled with perishable items
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is segmented into multiple components: a vertical air duct portion extending from the freezer compartment, a horizontal air duct portion in the fresh food compartment, and a junction connecting them. This segmentation allows the air duct to navigate around shelves and drawers, maintaining airflow paths even when the compartment is filled with perishable items.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct transitions from a conventional horizontal layout to a three-dimensional configuration with vertical and horizontal portions. The vertical air duct portion rises from the freezer compartment through the insulation, then connects to the horizontal portion in the fresh food compartment, creating a multi-dimensional airflow path that avoids obstructions from stored items.
2Ease of operation
If cool air is introduced at the bottom of the fresh food compartment, then installation is simple, but cool air cannot circulate near the top when compartment is filled
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is pre-configured with vertical and horizontal portions designed to route cool air from the freezer compartment directly to the upper regions of the fresh food compartment. This preliminary design ensures that even when the compartment is filled with perishable items, the pre-established airflow paths remain unobstructed and effective.
3Ease of manufacture
If pre-foam support members are installed to support shelves and drawers, then structural support is provided, but air duct installation after foaming becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is designed to nest within the existing refrigerator structure. The vertical air duct portion is positioned within the insulation layer, and the horizontal portion is routed along the rear wall or side walls of the fresh food compartment, utilizing existing spaces rather than requiring additional structural modifications that would compromise shelf and drawer support.
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 air tower system ensures consistent cooling throughout the fresh food compartment, including the top areas, by efficiently circulating cool air and preventing liquid spills from entering air ducts, thereby maintaining optimal refrigeration conditions even when the compartment is fully loaded.
Implementation Method 1
cool air from the freezer compartment to be directed upward
Implementation Method 2
distributed evenly across the compartment, while a recessed floor design prevents liquid accumulation from interfering with airflow
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigeration appliance (2) that includes a fresh food compartment (8) and a freezer compartment (4). An opening (16) is provided between the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment to allow air to flow from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment and an air tower (10) located within the fresh food compartment is adapted to deliver air from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment.