Multi-Compartment Refrigerator Airflow Layout for Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and/or freezing apparatuses with multiple compartments suffer from inefficient temperature regulation, as each compartment often requires separate blowers, leading to suboptimal control over temperature fields.
Innovation Solution
A vertical partition wall is introduced, with evaporators arranged vertically between the rear side and this wall, and each compartment features shelves or pull-out drawers, including a displaceable shelf that serves as a cover, to enhance air circulation and temperature regulation through cut-outs and channels connected by a blower body, allowing for efficient heat exchange and temperature distribution between compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate blowers are assigned to each compartment for air circulation, then temperature regulation in each compartment can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air circulation function from multiple separate blowers into a single blower located in the refrigerant liquid reservoir. This single blower circulates air through both the refrigerated compartment and the freezing compartment via communication passages, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature regulation capability in both compartments
2Temperature
If evaporators are placed inside compartments, then cooling function is provided, but the available storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the evaporators from the compartment interiors and relocates them to the refrigerant liquid reservoir. The evaporators are positioned in the communication passages within the reservoir, allowing them to perform cooling functions while the compartment interiors remain fully available for storage space
3Device complexity
If a single door is used to close multiple compartments, then device simplicity is improved, but temperature field control between compartments becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air circulation paths for each compartment through separate communication passages that connect the single door assembly to different compartments. The single blower creates differentiated airflow patterns through these passages, allowing independent temperature field control in the refrigerated and freezing compartments despite using only one door
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 configuration improves temperature regulation by allowing for efficient air circulation and heat exchange between compartments, using a single door to control multiple temperature fields effectively, while maintaining humidity control and microclimate management.
Implementation Method 1
a blower (14') arranged in said body (14), said blower (14') providing an efficient heat extraction and temperature distribution in each compartment (2, 3)
Implementation Method 2
In a spacing 7 between said rear side 5 and said wall 6 evaporators 8, 9 are arranged vertically
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention refers to a cooling and/or freezing apparatus, particularly to a cooling apparatus having at least two compartments that can be closed with one door only, and a cooling system comprising at least one compressor, at least one condenser, at least one evaporator, at least one blower for circulating air in said compartments, and at least one means for regulation of refrigerant flow. Spaced from a rear side (5) of said apparatus there is arranged a vertical partition wall (6) extending through said compartments (2, 3). Evaporators (8, 9) are arranged vertically with regard to said apparatus, one above the other, in a spacing (7) between said rear side (5) and said wall (6). Each compartment (2, 3) is provided with at least one shelf (10, 12) and/or at least one pull-out drawer (11) to receive and store goods.