Refrigerator Cool Pack Design to Delay Defrost Temperature Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators, the discharge of heated air from defrost heaters can cause an increase in storage compartment temperature, as existing systems lack an effective method to lower the temperature of air before it is discharged into the compartment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual cool air duct system with a cool pack filled with cold storage material in the upper cool air duct, which reduces the temperature of air heated by the defrost heater before it is discharged into the storage compartment, thereby delaying the increase in internal temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a defrost heater is operated to remove ice or frost from the cool air discharging port, then the ice or frost is removed and air flow is restored, but the temperature of the storage compartment increases due to heated air discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cool pack as an intermediary substance between the heated air from the defrost heater and the storage compartment. The cool pack absorbs excess heat from the defrosted air, acting as a thermal mediator that allows the defrost function to operate while preventing harmful temperature rise in the storage compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the air by introducing a cool pack that modifies the temperature of the air discharged from the defrost heater. The cool pack alters the thermal state of the air from high temperature (harmful) to a more acceptable temperature range, resolving the contradiction between maintaining air flow and controlling temperature.
2Productivity
If heated air from the defrost heater is discharged directly to the storage compartment, then the defrosting function is effective, but the storage compartment temperature increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heated air from the defrost heater into a beneficial process by using it to activate the cool pack. The heated air serves to recharge the cool pack with cooling capacity, which then releases this cooling effect to offset the temperature rise in the storage compartment, transforming a harmful effect into a useful one.
Solution Approach 2:
The cool pack serves as a mediator that intercepts the heated air before it enters the storage compartment. This intermediary component allows the defrosting process to maintain high productivity while protecting the storage compartment from temperature increase through thermal buffering.
3Device complexity
If no temperature control measure is taken for defrosted air, then the system structure remains simple, but the storage compartment temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cool pack operates on a self-service principle where it automatically absorbs heat from the defrosted air without requiring external control systems. The cool pack self-regulates the temperature of the discharged air through passive thermal absorption, maintaining temperature stability while adding minimal complexity to the system 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
This solution effectively lowers the temperature of air discharged from the defrost heater, preventing a sudden rise in storage compartment temperature and maintaining a stable cooling environment.
Implementation Method 1
A cool pack in which storage material is filled stores cold storage energy from cool air passing through the second flow path of the upper cool air duct
Implementation Method 2
stores cold storage energy from cool air passing through the second flow path of the upper cool air duct to decrease a temperature of air passing via the second flow path
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator configured to delay increase in temperature of a storage compartment by lowering temperature of air that is heated by a defrost heater. A refrigerator includes a defrost heater, a lower cool air duct including a first flow path configured to guide cool air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the storage compartment and an upper cool air duct disposed in an upper side of the lower cool air duct and provided with a second flow path configured to guide cool air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the storage compartment. A cool pack in which cold storage material is filled stores cold storage energy from cool air that is delivered to the second flow path to decrease a temperature of air passing via the second flow path, so that increase of an internal temperature of the storage compartment is delayed.