Refrigerator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In refrigerators with upper and lower storage chambers, the arrangement of the evaporator affects the discharge of defrosting water, leading to reduced storage space and potential fan malfunction due to condensed water, and compromises heat exchange performance.

Innovation Solution

The evaporator is installed on a partition wall between the refrigerating and freezing chambers, with a defrosting water tray positioned below to collect and direct defrosting water away from the evaporator, and a blowing fan system to manage condensed water, ensuring efficient heat exchange and increased storage capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the evaporator is installed on the rear side of the storage chambers, then the heat exchange performance is improved, but the storage chamber volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange performanceVSAvoidstorage chamber volume

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The evaporator is relocated from the rear side (horizontal arrangement) to the partition wall between refrigerating and freezing chambers (vertical arrangement). This dimensional change allows the evaporator to utilize the vertical space in the partition wall, thereby increasing the storage chamber volume while maintaining heat exchange performance through proper positioning near the blowing fan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the evaporator is installed on the partition wall, then the storage chamber volume is increased, but the defrosting water discharge becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage chamber volumeVSAvoiddefrosting water discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall is segmented into different functional zones: the evaporator is installed in the upper portion while the lower portion is designed as a defrosting water discharge path. This segmentation allows both the evaporator installation and defrosting water discharge to coexist effectively, with water naturally draining downward to the discharge port located at the bottom of the partition wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the evaporator is inclined toward the rear end, then the defrosting water discharge is improved, but the partition wall thickness is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefrosting water dischargeVSAvoidpartition wall thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inclining the evaporator toward the rear end to facilitate water discharge, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the evaporator horizontally arranged or slightly inclined toward the front, and instead providing a dedicated defrosting water discharge path at the lower portion of the partition wall. This inversion maintains partition wall thickness while ensuring effective water discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Length of stationary object

If the evaporator is arranged horizontally, then the partition wall thickness is reduced, but the defrosting water may flow onto the blowing fan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepartition wall thicknessVSAvoidfan operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The defrosting water discharge function is extracted from the evaporator arrangement and implemented as a separate dedicated discharge path at the lower portion of the partition wall. This separation allows the evaporator to be arranged horizontally (reducing partition wall thickness) while the extracted discharge path prevents water from flowing onto the blowing fan, thus maintaining fan operation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 storage chamber volumes, prevents fan malfunctions, and maintains effective heat exchange performance while ensuring efficient defrosting water discharge.

Implementation Method 1

The refrigerant may be evaporated while passing through the evaporator, and in this process, air passing through the vicinity of the evaporator may be cooled.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a blowing fan system to manage condensed water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS10788255B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a heat exchange chamber, first inlets arranged on side surfaces of a first storage chamber and configured to introduce cold air in the first storage chamber into the heat exchange chamber, and second inlets arranged on side surfaces of a second storage chamber and configured to introduce cold air in the second storage chamber into the heat exchange chamber.