refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face limitations in improving insulating properties and structural stiffness due to the combination of urethane foam and vacuum insulators, which restricts the enhancement of storage capacity and ease of insulator installation.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a body with a vacuum insulation panel and a frame unit made of metal and plastic, arranged in a grid shape to provide structural stiffness and support the insulator, allowing for improved insulating properties and increased storage capacity while facilitating easy installation and replacement of insulators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If vacuum insulators are used to improve insulating properties, then insulating effect is improved, but structural stiffness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The body is divided into multiple modular sections with individual vacuum insulation panels installed between the inner and outer casings. Each panel is a separate component that can be independently installed and removed, allowing the insulating structure to maintain stiffness through modular segmentation while achieving superior insulation performance.
2Strength
If urethane foam insulators are used to maintain stiffness, then structural stiffness is maintained, but insulating properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation material undergoes a parameter change from conventional urethane foam to vacuum insulation panels, which utilize vacuum (near-zero pressure) conditions to achieve dramatically improved thermal insulation properties. This parameter change enables superior insulating effect while the frame structure compensates for stiffness requirements.
3Loss of energy
If vacuum insulators are used to improve insulating properties, then insulating effect is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum insulation panels are pre-manufactured with rigid frames and coupling surfaces that enable straightforward installation. The panels are prepared in advance with integrated mounting features, allowing workers to simply position and secure them between the inner and outer casings without complex assembly procedures, thereby improving ease of installation while maintaining superior insulation performance.
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
The solution enhances insulating properties, increases storage capacity, and ensures structural integrity by using a vacuum insulation panel with a metal and plastic frame unit, allowing for efficient cooling and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an insulator provided between the inner casing and the outer casing to insulate the storage compartment. Generally, urethane foam is used for the insulator... vacuum insulators consisting of a covering material with a core material provided in the covering material and vacuum sealed therein
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which has an improved structure to increase insulating properties. The refrigerator includes a body including an inner casing (11) and an outer casing (12), a storage compartment formed in the inner casing, an insulator (110) provided between the inner casing and the outer casing to insulate the storage compartment, and a frame unit which is disposed between the adjacent insulators to ensure stiffness of the body and includes at least one coupling surface coupled with at least one of the inner casing and the outer casing.