Refrigerator Evaporator Case Layout to Reduce Partition Wall Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with upper and lower compartments, the inclined arrangement of the evaporator to facilitate water discharge leads to increased partition wall thickness, reduced storage space, and potential fan malfunction due to condensate issues, compromising user convenience and storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
The evaporator is positioned within a vertically arranged evaporator case at the bottom surface of the partition wall, with a water tray below and a grill cover accommodating a blower fan, featuring condensate guides and discharge mechanisms to manage condensate effectively, ensuring efficient heat exchange and expanded storage space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the evaporator is arranged to be inclined downward as it extends rearward to easily discharge water, then water discharge is facilitated, but the thickness of the partition wall increases and storage chambers become smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is arranged horizontally rather than inclined, changing the dimension of water discharge from vertical (gravity-driven) to horizontal (drainage channel-driven). This allows water to be discharged through a drainage channel formed at the bottom of the evaporator case without requiring the evaporator to be inclined, thereby maintaining storage chamber volume while achieving effective water discharge.
2Ease of operation
If the evaporator is arranged to be inclined as it extends rearward, then water discharge is improved, but the thickness of the partition wall for insulator and evaporator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator case includes a drainage channel at the bottom that extends in the front-rear direction, allowing water to be discharged horizontally without inclining the evaporator. This maintains the partition wall thickness while achieving effective water discharge through a different dimensional approach (horizontal drainage vs. vertical gravity discharge).
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator case is segmented into distinct functional zones: the evaporator mounting area, the drainage channel at the bottom, and the fan accommodation space at the rear. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the evaporator to be arranged horizontally while maintaining effective water discharge through the dedicated drainage channel.
3Volume of stationary object
If the evaporator is arranged horizontally, then storage space is maximized, but water discharge becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A drainage channel is introduced as an intermediary structure at the bottom of the evaporator case. This channel mediates between the horizontally arranged evaporator and the water discharge requirement, collecting water from the evaporator and guiding it to a discharge location without requiring the evaporator itself to be inclined.
4Ease of manufacture
If the partition wall thickness is increased to accommodate the evaporator, then evaporator installation is facilitated, but storage chamber volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is nested within the partition wall structure, with the evaporator case integrated into the partition wall. The evaporator, evaporator case, drainage channel, and fan are all nested within the partition wall volume, allowing the evaporator to be installed without protruding into the storage chamber space, thereby maximizing storage volume while facilitating evaporator installation.
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 user convenience by increasing drawer withdrawal distances, maintaining efficient heat exchange, and preventing fan malfunctions by effectively managing condensate, thus improving storage capacity and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Refrigerant may be evaporated while passing through the evaporator, and air passing through or near a vicinity of the evaporator may be cooled
Implementation Method 2
a water tray provided below the evaporator and configured to collect water from the evaporator
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include an evaporator (220) installed inside an evaporator case (210, 270), a water tray (240) provided below the evaporator (220) and configured to collect water, a grill cover (320, 330, 340) provided at a rear side of the evaporator case (210, 270) and configured to accommodate a blower fan (350), and a tray support (325, 326, 335) provided in the grill cover (320, 330, 340) to support the water tray (240) so that an inner storage space of the refrigerator may increase, a withdrawal distance of a drawer provided in the refrigerator may increase, and a storage capacity of the refrigerator may be improved.