refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with transparent panel assemblies on the doors face issues with heat loss and increased power consumption due to heat transmission along the perimeter through spacers.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator design includes a door with a panel assembly comprising multiple transparent panels, an insulating material filling the door excluding the panel assembly, and a heater disposed along the perimeter of the first insulating layer to improve heat management and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent panel assembly is formed on the door to allow visibility of the storage space, then the aesthetic appearance and user convenience are improved, but heat loss increases due to heat transmission along the perimeter through spacers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protruding structure that extends the insulating layer outward from the door surface, creating a three-dimensional insulating barrier. This dimensional extension lengthens the heat transfer path from the storage space through the spacers to the exterior, effectively reducing heat loss while maintaining the transparent panel's visibility function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an insulating material as an intermediary substance filled in the space between the transparent panel assembly and the door. This insulating layer acts as a thermal barrier that mediates between the cold interior and warm exterior, blocking heat transmission through the spacers while allowing the transparent panels to maintain their visibility function.
2Loss of energy
If an insulating layer is added to the panel assembly to block heat, then heat transmission is reduced, but the door thickness increases reducing storage space capacity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing insulating layer thickness in the horizontal direction (which would reduce storage space), the patent extends the insulating layer protrudingly in the direction perpendicular to the door surface. This dimensional change allows the insulating layer to lengthen the heat transfer path without consuming valuable storage space within the door assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin film heater applied to the surface of the transparent panel assembly. This flexible heating element provides thermal management in a space-efficient manner, preventing condensation and heat loss without adding significant thickness to the door structure, thereby preserving storage space capacity.
3Volume of stationary object
If the door thickness is reduced to increase storage space capacity, then storage space is increased, but insulating performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for reduced door thickness by extending the insulating layer protrudingly outward from the door surface. This creates an effective insulating barrier that lengthens the heat transfer path without requiring increased door thickness, thus maintaining insulating performance while maximizing storage space capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the insulating layer and heater within the existing door assembly structure, nesting these components in a space-efficient manner. The insulating material is positioned between the transparent panel assembly and the door, while the heater is applied to the panel surface, allowing multiple functions to coexist without increasing overall door thickness.
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 enhances insulation by lengthening the heat transfer path, reduces power consumption by targeted heating, and allows for a thinner door design, thereby increasing storage space capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the first insulating layer may be configured in a vacuum state
Implementation Method 2
the second insulating layer may be configured to be filled with insulating gas
Implementation Method 3
a heater contacted with the second panel, and the heater is disposed along a perimeter of the first insulating layer
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door. The door includes: a door liner forming a rear of the door and having a liner opening; a panel assembly including a plurality of transparent panels; and an insulating material filled inside the door excluding the panel assembly, the panel assembly includes a first panel forming a front surface of the door; a second panel provided at a rear side spaced apart from the first panel and forming a first insulating layer between the second panel and the first panel; and a third panel provided at the rear side spaced apart from the second panel to cover the liner opening and forming a second insulating layer between the third panel and the second panel, and the first insulating layer is formed to be larger than the second insulating layer and protrudes further than an end portion of the second insulating layer.