Refrigerator Air Blower Transverse Layout to Reduce Front-Rear Depth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators face challenges in refrigeration performance and energy consumption due to the space constraints caused by the placement of the air blower downstream of the evaporator, which reduces the thickness of the foamed material and compromises the storage volume and convenience of the freezing chamber.

Innovation Solution

The air blower is positioned on the transverse side of the evaporator, allowing for increased airflow to the storage compartment without occupying space behind or in front of the evaporator, thus enhancing refrigeration performance and reducing energy consumption by optimizing the layout and increasing the storage volume of the freezing chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the air blower is arranged downstream of the evaporator in the front-rear direction, then the airflow to the storage compartment is facilitated, but the space occupied by the cooling chamber in the front-rear direction is increased, reducing the thickness of the foamed material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow speedVSAvoidfront-rear length of cooling chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The air blower is repositioned from the front-rear direction to the transverse direction beside the evaporator. This dimensional change allows the air blower to remain downstream of the evaporator in the airflow path while not occupying space behind or in front of the evaporator, thus maintaining the front-rear length of the cooling chamber and ensuring sufficient thickness of the foamed material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the air blower is arranged downstream of the evaporator, then the refrigeration speed is improved, but the storage volume of the freezing chamber is reduced due to space occupation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigeration speedVSAvoidstorage volume of freezing chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The air blower is repositioned to the transverse side of the evaporator instead of being placed in the front-rear direction. This dimensional relocation allows the air blower to accelerate cooled airflow to the storage compartment (maintaining refrigeration speed) while not encroaching on the storage volume of the freezing chamber, as it now occupies transverse space rather than front-rear space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If the foamed material thickness is reduced, then the space occupied by the cooling chamber is increased, but the refrigeration performance and energy consumption are adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of cooling chamberVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The air blower is repositioned to the transverse side of the evaporator, changing its spatial orientation from the front-rear direction. This allows the cooling chamber to maintain its full front-rear length with sufficient foamed material thickness for proper insulation, while the air blower occupies transverse space to accelerate airflow and improve refrigeration efficiency, thereby reducing energy consumption without compromising insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 the refrigeration speed, increases storage volume for large items, and reduces energy consumption by ensuring a thicker foamed material layer for better insulation and a more efficient heat dissipation system.

Implementation Method 1

the air blower is located downstream of the evaporator in the airflow path, so that the flow of the cooled airflow to the storage compartment is accelerated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

ensures the thickness of a foamed material between the rear of the cooling chamber and a housing of the cabinet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the airflow entering from the bottom air inlet flows more concentratedly to the condenser, avoiding that the airflow is too dispersed to pass more through the condenser, thereby further ensuring the heat dissipation effect of the condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Dissipation: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP3926266B1Refrigerator having blower transversely disposed besides and downstream of evaporator
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD
  • EP3926266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3926266B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3926266B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A refrigerator (100) having an air blower (102) located downstream of a transverse side of an evaporator (150) is provided. The refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a cooling chamber (133) and at least one storage compartment, the evaporator (150) arranged in the cooling chamber (133), and the air blower (102) arranged on the transverse side of the evaporator (150) and located downstream of the evaporator (150) in an airflow path. The air blower (102) does not occupy a space behind or in front of the evaporator (150), which reduces a space occupied by the cooling chamber (133) in a front-rear direction, and ensures the thickness of a foamed material between the rear of the cooling chamber (133) and a housing of the cabinet.