Refrigerator including a detection sensor at an air discharge side of a blowing fan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face inefficiencies in defrosting operations due to inaccurate detection of frost formation on evaporators, leading to unnecessary power consumption and degraded performance, especially when air flow is small or when the defrosting operation is not precisely timed.
Innovation Solution
A detection sensor is positioned on the air discharge side of the blowing fan to accurately detect frost formation by measuring temperature changes in air flow, with a separate guide flow path and sensing duct to ensure sufficient air flow and precise detection, allowing for timely and efficient defrosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detection sensor is positioned on the air inlet side of the evaporator to detect frost formation, then the detection can be performed early, but the air flow may be insufficient when the evaporator is heavily frosted, leading to inaccurate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The detection sensor is positioned on the air outlet side of the evaporator instead of the air inlet side. This inversion allows the sensor to detect air flow after it has passed through the evaporator, ensuring that sufficient air volume reaches the sensor even when the evaporator is heavily frosted, thereby maintaining accurate frost detection
Solution Approach 2:
A bypass flow path is introduced as an intermediary channel that allows air to flow from the air inlet to the air outlet of the evaporator without passing through the evaporator core. This bypass path ensures continuous air flow to the detection sensor, maintaining detection accuracy even when the evaporator is blocked by frost
2Device complexity
If the defrosting operation is controlled based on operation time, then the control is simple, but the defrosting may start too early or end too late, leading to unnecessary power consumption and degraded heat exchange performance
Solution Approach 1:
The detection sensor provides real-time feedback on the frost formation status by measuring temperature changes in the air flow. The control system uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the defrosting operation timing, starting defrosting when frost is actually detected rather than based on predetermined time intervals, thereby eliminating unnecessary power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical time-based control system is replaced with a sensor-based detection system that uses temperature measurements to trigger defrosting operations. This substitution enables precise, condition-based control rather than rigid time-based control, optimizing energy consumption
3Measurement precision
If the detection sensor is positioned in a location with small air flow to improve detection precision, then the temperature measurement may be more accurate, but the air flow volume is insufficient, reducing detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the sensor in a low air flow area, the sensor is positioned on the air outlet side where air flow is guaranteed to be sufficient. This inversion ensures both adequate air volume for reliable detection and accurate temperature measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path is segmented into the main evaporator path and a bypass path. The bypass path ensures continuous air supply to the sensor location, maintaining sufficient air flow volume and detection reliability independent of evaporator frost conditions
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 enables accurate frost detection even with small air flows, reduces power consumption by optimizing defrosting operations, and maintains efficient heat exchange performance by preventing over-defrosting or under-defrosting.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature difference or a pressure difference between an inlet side and an outlet side of the evaporator has been proposed in order to accurately detect the frosting amount on the surface of the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
a detection sensor for detecting frosting or defrosting to be located on an air discharge side of a blowing fan
Implementation Method 3
the evaporator performs a heat exchange function between a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant and the refrigerator's internal air (cold air circulating in the inside the refrigerator) to maintain the internal air within a set temperature range
Implementation Method 4
the defrosting operation is performed to remove frost formed on the surface of the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a grille assembly having a blowing fan installed at one side of a first storage compartment to discharge air heat-exchanged with a cooling source to at least one of the first and second storage compartment. The grille assembly includes a first guide flow path for guiding air flow from the blowing fan to the first storage compartment, and a second guide flow path for guiding air flow from the blowing fan to the second storage compartment. A first damper is located at the first guide flow path and a second damper is located at the second guide flow path. A detection sensor is installed at an air discharge side of the blowing fan and installed in at least one part of the second guide flow path, and the detection sensor is installed at an air outlet side of the second damper in the second guide flow path.