refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with deodorizing devices face challenges in assembly and maintenance due to the deodorant being inaccessible and requiring additional fluid passages, which complicates odor removal and can degrade refrigeration performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design where the deodorizing device is mounted in the discharge fluid passage through a grill pan assembly, allowing for efficient odor removal and distribution of deodorized air without additional passages, improving assembly workability and maintaining refrigeration performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the deodorizing device is placed in the return duct, then odor removal function is provided, but the deodorant and structure are not exposed to the outside, degrading assembling property and service performance for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The deodorizing device is extracted from the hidden return duct location and repositioned to the discharge fluid passage where it is exposed to the outside. This allows the deodorant to be accessible for replacement and the structure to be visible for assembly inspection, while maintaining the odor removal function through the discharged cold air.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the deodorizing device in the return duct (upstream), the invention inverts the approach by placing it in the discharge fluid passage (downstream). This inversion maintains the deodorizing function while dramatically improving accessibility for assembly and maintenance operations.
2Reliability
If a deodorizing device is added to remove odor, then hygiene is improved, but additional fluid passages are required, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The deodorizing device is merged with the existing discharge fluid passage structure rather than requiring a separate dedicated passage. The deodorizing device utilizes the cold air flow already present in the discharge passage, combining multiple functions (cooling distribution and odor removal) within a single fluid pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge fluid passage serves dual functions: distributing cold air for refrigeration and carrying deodorized air for hygiene. By making the discharge passage multi-functional, the invention eliminates the need for separate deodorizing passages while maintaining both cooling and odor removal effects.
3Ease of operation
If the deodorizing device is mounted in the discharge fluid passage, then assembly workability and maintenance convenience are improved, but air flow uniformity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The deodorizing device is positioned at a specific location within the discharge fluid passage where it can effectively treat the air flow without disrupting the overall uniform distribution. The local deodorizing action maintains global air flow stability while providing targeted odor removal at the discharge point.
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 enables efficient odor removal and distribution of deodorized air, enhances assembly workability, and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional fluid passages, while maintaining effective refrigeration performance.
Implementation Method 1
a deodorizing device to remove odor from the cold air
Implementation Method 2
a deodorizing device to remove odor from the cold air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, an evaporator provided at one side of the storage space, and a grill pan assembly forming an inner surface of the storage space, and including a fluid passage to guide cold air, which is generated from the evaporator, to the storage space, and a discharge port to discharge the cold air to the storage space. The fluid passage may include a first fluid passage to receive the cold air supplied from the evaporator, and a second fluid passage communicating with an outlet of the first fluid passage and split into a plurality of fluid passages. A deodorizing device is provided in the first fluid passage to remove odor, and the cold air passing through the first fluid passage is split at the second fluid passage after passing through the deodorizing device.