Refrigerator Damper Relocation to Preserve Capacity and Prevent Dew
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with a single evaporator for both refrigerating and freezing chambers face challenges in maintaining temperature differences and efficiency due to the placement and design of dampers, which affect the capacity and aesthetics of the refrigerating chamber.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a damper arranged inside the freezing chamber duct, inclined to facilitate condensate water drainage and prevent dew condensation, with a connection duct system that allows for selective control of cold air flow between the refrigerating and freezing chambers, ensuring efficient temperature management and increased refrigerating chamber capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the damper is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber duct, then the temperature control between chambers is improved, but the refrigerating chamber capacity is reduced and the aesthetic appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is extracted from the refrigerating chamber duct and relocated to the freezing chamber duct. This extraction removes the problematic component from the refrigerating chamber space, preserving both capacity and aesthetic appearance while maintaining its temperature control function through the connection duct system.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper arrangement is moved from a horizontal arrangement in the refrigerating chamber to a vertical arrangement in the freezing chamber. This dimensional change allows the damper to perform its function while utilizing space in a different orientation that does not encroach on the refrigerating chamber volume.
2Reliability
If the damper is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber duct, then the temperature difference maintenance is improved, but the dew condensation occurs on the damper surface
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is extracted from the cold refrigerating chamber environment and placed in the warmer freezing chamber environment. This relocation removes the damper from the harmful cold and moist conditions that cause dew condensation, while the connection duct system maintains its temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection duct acts as an intermediary between the evaporator and the refrigerating chamber, allowing the damper to control cold air flow without being directly exposed to the coldest conditions. The connection duct mediates the environmental exposure, protecting the damper from direct contact with the most harmful conditions.
3Productivity
If the second duct protrudes forward, then the cold air supply to refrigerating chamber is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and space utilization are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the second duct protrude forward to improve cold air supply, the design inverts this approach by arranging the duct rearward. The cold air supply efficiency is maintained through the connection duct system that redirects airflow, achieving the same functional result without the aesthetic compromise of forward protrusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct arrangement is changed from a forward-protruding horizontal configuration to a rearward-positioned vertical configuration. This dimensional repositioning maintains cold air supply capability through the connection duct while improving aesthetic appearance and space utilization by eliminating the forward protrusion.
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 solution enhances the refrigerating chamber's capacity and prevents dew condensation, maintaining optimal temperatures while maintaining a simple and aesthetically pleasing design by directing condensate water effectively and controlling cold air flow.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator arranged inside the main body and configured to generate cold air
Implementation Method 2
a damper configured to selectively open and close the connection duct
Implementation Method 3
The damper may be arranged to be inclined in a first direction that is vertically perpendicular to a front-rear direction
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator including a main body, a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber provided inside the main body with front sides thereof open, an evaporator, while being arranged inside the main body, configured to generate cold air and arranged behind the first storage chamber, a first duct configured to supply the cold air generated from the evaporator to the first storage chamber, a second duct configured to supply cold air to the second storage chamber, and a connection duct configured to connect the first duct and the second duct to cause the cold air inside the first duct to flow into the second duct, and a damper configured to selectively open and dose the connection duct, wherein the damper is provided inside the first duct, and the second duct has a front surface in a form of a flat surface.