refrigerator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators where the freezer compartment is located below the refrigerator compartment, the evaporator's inclined arrangement to facilitate water discharge leads to increased partition wall thickness, reduced storage space, and potential fan malfunction due to condensate flow, with existing solutions not effectively addressing these issues.
Innovation Solution
The evaporator is installed in an evaporator case at the bottom of the partition wall with a water tray below it, a grill cover accommodating a blower fan, and a tray support system that includes a fan suction portion and condensate guides to direct cold air and condensate efficiently, while a drain pipe and heat supply pipe prevent freezing and ensure proper water discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the evaporator is arranged to be inclined downward as it extends rearward to discharge water easily, then water discharge is improved, but the thickness of the partition wall increases and storage chamber volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is arranged to extend in the left-right direction (horizontal dimension) rather than only in the front-rear direction, allowing water discharge functionality to be achieved without increasing the partition wall thickness in the vertical dimension, thereby preserving storage chamber volume
2Device complexity
If the evaporator is installed in the partition wall to save space, then component space is reduced, but the storage chamber volume is reduced and drawer withdrawal distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator extends in the left-right direction within the partition wall, allowing it to achieve sufficient heat exchange area without increasing the front-rear thickness of the partition wall, thereby preserving drawer withdrawal distance and storage chamber volume
3Ease of operation
If the evaporator is arranged horizontally to discharge water easily, then water discharge is improved, but the thickness of the partition wall for insulator and evaporator is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is arranged to extend primarily in the left-right direction (horizontal dimension perpendicular to the partition wall thickness direction), allowing water discharge functionality to be achieved without increasing the partition wall thickness in the front-rear direction
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 storage space, improves fan operation by preventing condensate flow into the fan, and ensures effective water discharge, maintaining heat exchange performance and increasing the thickness of the partition wall insulator.
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 drain pipe and heat supply pipe prevent freezing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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.