Refrigerator Dual-Duct Cold Air Supply for Multi-Temperature Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have difficulty storing items that require different temperatures within a single storage compartment, as they typically maintain all compartments at the same temperature, limiting versatility in storing diverse food items.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a single storage compartment with two separate units, each with its own cold air supply duct and temperature control, allowing for independent temperature management of the first storage unit (similar to a refrigerating compartment) and the second storage unit (similar to a freezing compartment), using insulators and heaters to maintain different temperatures within the same compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single storage compartment maintains a uniform temperature, then the结构简单性 (structural simplicity) is preserved, but the storage versatility for different temperature requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is divided into multiple storage units (first storage unit and second storage unit) with separate temperature control systems. Each unit has its own cold air supply duct and temperature control mechanism, allowing independent temperature management while maintaining a unified compartment structure. This segmentation enables different temperature zones within the same compartment, resolving the contradiction between storage versatility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single storage compartment is designed to serve multiple temperature requirements simultaneously through the dual storage unit configuration. The compartment can store both refrigerated items (in the first storage unit) and frozen items (in the second storage unit), making it a multi-functional space that adapts to diverse storage needs without requiring separate compartments for different temperature zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate temperature control systems are added to a single compartment, then the storage flexibility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cold air supply ducts are merged into a single compartment structure, with each duct serving a specific storage unit. The control system integrates temperature management for both units within the unified compartment framework, allowing flexible temperature control while avoiding the complexity of completely separate control systems. The insulator strategically placed between storage units enables thermal separation without requiring complex active insulation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature control is applied locally to each storage unit rather than uniformly across the entire compartment. The first cold air supply duct provides cooling to the first storage unit, while the second cold air supply duct serves the second storage unit. This localized approach allows different temperature settings in different regions of the same compartment, enhancing storage flexibility while keeping the control system manageable through regional rather than global control.
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
Enables the storage of items at various temperatures within a single compartment, enhancing storage flexibility and user control over temperature settings, allowing for precise management of different food types.
Implementation Method 1
an insulator located between the first storage unit and the second storage unit for separating the first storage unit and the second storage unit from each other
Implementation Method 2
a first cold air supply duct and a second cold air supply duct provided respectively on left and right sides of the single storage compartment, the first cold air supply duct and the second cold air supply duct supplying different amounts of cold air
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator including a cabinet, a storage compartment provided in the cabinet to form a single space in which a storage item is stored, a single door for opening or closing the space formed by the storage compartment, a first cold air supply duct and a second cold air supply duct provided respectively on left and right sides of the single storage compartment, the first cold air supply duct and the second cold air supply duct supplying different amounts of cold air, and a storage unit for being pushed into or pulled from the storage compartment in a front-and-rear direction along with the door.