Secondary Coolant Loop for Refrigerator Ice Maker Frost Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators with ice and water features face challenges such as reduced usable space in the fresh food compartment, inadequate cooling capacity, air leaks, and frost buildup when using air ducts for ice makers located outside the freezer compartment.

Innovation Solution

A secondary cooling path using a liquid coolant loop, pumped and configured to circulate coolant from the freezer compartment to the ice maker and ice bin, with a pump and optional hot liquid defrost system to manage frost and moisture, and a primary air path to reduce frost buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a secondary coolant loop is used to bring cold from the freezer compartment to the in-the-door ice maker/storage system, then air leaks and air duct gasket problems are eliminated, but frost buildup may occur inside the ice maker and ice storage assemblies when the ice maker is not in the freezer compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system reliabilityVSAvoidfrost buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into a primary cooling loop (freezer compartment) and a secondary cooling loop (ice maker and storage bin), allowing independent temperature control for each zone. This enables the ice maker to be cooled to a lower temperature than the storage bin, preventing frost buildup while maintaining reliable cooling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different temperature conditions are applied to different locations within the ice making system. The ice maker receives colder coolant to prevent frost buildup, while the storage bin operates at a higher temperature to maintain ice quality. This local differentiation of thermal conditions resolves the frost buildup problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If cold air stream-based solutions are used to cool refrigerator features, then the system is simple to implement, but cooling capacity is insufficient and air leaks occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system complexityVSAvoidcooling capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from air-based cooling to liquid coolant-based cooling. The secondary cooling loop circulates liquid coolant through the ice maker and storage bin, providing superior cooling capacity compared to air streams while eliminating air leak issues. This hydraulic approach resolves both the insufficient cooling capacity and air leak problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Volume of stationary object

If the ice maker is positioned in the door rather than the freezer compartment, then more usable space is available in the fresh food compartment, but frost buildup occurs and cooling capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusable space in fresh food compartmentVSAvoidcooling capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

A secondary cooling loop acts as an intermediary between the freezer compartment and the door-mounted ice maker. This liquid coolant system bridges the distance, delivering adequate cooling capacity to the remotely positioned ice maker without requiring direct proximity to the freezer compartment, thereby enabling space optimization while maintaining cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances cooling capacity, prevents frost buildup, increases usable space, and allows for extended cold operation during power outages by effectively managing moisture and temperature within the ice maker and storage compartments.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

There is a tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere to thereby control suction pressure associated with the pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure control: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8359874B2Secondary cooling path in refrigerator

Publication Date: 2013.01.29 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a secondary cooling path for circulating liquid coolant through the refrigerator wherein the liquid coolant is cooled by the freezer compartment and wherein the liquid coolant cools the ice maker and the ice bin as the liquid coolant circulates through the secondary cooling path. A pump is positioned along the secondary cooling path for pumping the liquid coolant through the secondary cooling path. A tube having a first end proximate the pump and an opposite end exposed to atmosphere may control suction pressure associated with the pump. The refrigerator reduces frost build up through configuration of the secondary cooling path or performing ice harvesting operations which melt frost. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating hot liquid. The secondary cooling path may be used to provide for circulating liquid coolant during a power outage.