Deodorizing apparatus and refrigerator including the same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Deodorizing apparatuses used in refrigerators face challenges in maintaining low temperatures while regenerating absorbers, as warm air from catalyst activation can disrupt the cold environment, leading to inefficient deodorization.
Innovation Solution
A deodorizing apparatus with a controller-managed system that includes a fan, upstream and downstream heaters, and a cooler, which alternates between absorption and regeneration modes to maintain the absorber and catalyst at optimal temperatures, ensuring efficient deodorization without heating the refrigeration environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catalyst is activated through a heater to decompose harmful materials, then the deodorization efficiency is improved, but the discharged air becomes warm which is unsuitable for refrigeration environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system alternates between absorption mode (at low temperature) and regeneration mode (at high temperature) periodically. During absorption mode, the absorber captures harmful materials. During regeneration mode, the heater activates the catalyst to decompose accumulated harmful materials. This periodic switching allows the system to achieve effective deodorization while discharging air at temperatures suitable for the refrigeration environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The deodorizing apparatus is divided into functionally independent components: an absorber for capturing harmful materials, a catalyst for decomposing them, and a heater for activating the catalyst. This segmentation allows each component to operate at its optimal temperature independently, with the heater only affecting the catalyst locally rather than heating the entire discharged air stream.
2Reliability
If the absorber is continuously regenerated by heating, then the deodorization capability is maintained, but energy consumption increases and the refrigeration environment is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system uses periodic regeneration where the heater is activated only during specific regeneration cycles. The controller monitors the operation state and switches between absorption and regeneration modes, ensuring the absorber is regenerated only when necessary to maintain deodorization capability, thereby minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the operation state of the deodorizing apparatus and uses this feedback to determine when regeneration is needed. By detecting when the absorber requires regeneration, the system activates the heater only at appropriate intervals, optimizing energy usage while maintaining effective deodorization capability.
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 system effectively maintains high deodorization capability over time by regenerating absorbers and catalysts, preventing heat discharge and maintaining low temperatures within the refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
a fan which generates a flow of air
Implementation Method 2
an upstream heater disposed downstream from the fan and upstream from the absorbing material and heating air entered the absorbing material
Implementation Method 3
an absorbing material disposed upstream from the catalyst and absorbing a harmful material from air passed through the catalyst
Implementation Method 4
a downstream heater disposed downstream from the absorbing material and upstream from the catalyst and heating air entered the catalyst
Implementation Method 5
a catalyst disposed downstream from the fan and downstream from the absorbing material and decomposing the harmful material desorbed from the absorbing material
Implementation Method 6
supporting an oxidation catalyst for decomposing the harmful material desorbed from the absorbing structure
Implementation Method 7
a cooler disposed downstream from the catalyst and cooling air passed through the catalyst
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a technique capable of being used even in an environment that needs to be maintained at a low temperature. The present disclosure may include a fan configured to generate a flow of air, an absorbing material disposed downstream from the fan and configured to absorb a malodorous substance from air passing therethrough and to desorb the malodorous substance by being heated, an upstream heater disposed downstream from the fan and upstream from the absorbing material and configured to heat air entered the absorbing material, a catalyst configured to decompose the malodorous substance desorbed from the absorbing material, and a cooler configured to cool air passed through the catalyst.