Refrigerator having return air inlets formed in two side walls of refrigerator body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have reduced available volume due to the placement of the freezing air duct on the rear sidewall, leading to inefficient refrigeration capacity and underutilization of space, particularly with the funnel-shaped water pan design.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator design includes a cooling chamber at the bottom with return air inlets in the sidewalls of the storage compartments, an evaporator with inclined portions to utilize the funnel-shaped water pan space effectively, and a cross-flow fan to supply cooled airflow through air supply ducts between compartments, optimizing space and refrigeration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the freezing air duct is placed on the rear sidewall surface, then the air supply structure is simple, but the available compartment volume is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is moved from a horizontal arrangement on the rear sidewall to a vertical arrangement along the side wall, utilizing the height dimension of the compartment. This dimensional change allows the duct to extend vertically without occupying horizontal space, thereby increasing the available compartment volume while maintaining the air supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct is divided into multiple sections (first air duct, second air duct, third air duct) that are arranged vertically and connected through air outlets and inlets. This segmentation allows the duct system to be distributed along the side wall height, reducing the need for a single large horizontal duct and maximizing space utilization.
2Area of stationary object
If the air delivery path is extended to cover large freezer space, then the coverage area is increased, but the loss of refrigeration capacity is great
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple air outlets distributed at different heights and positions along the side wall. This segmentation creates multiple shorter air delivery paths from each outlet to the storage areas, reducing the overall air delivery path length compared to a single distant outlet, thereby minimizing refrigeration capacity loss while maintaining wide coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different air outlets are positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right sides) to provide localized cooling to different areas of the compartment. This local quality approach ensures that each region receives cooled air from the nearest outlet, reducing the effective air delivery distance and energy loss for each zone.
3Ease of operation
If the water pan is designed into a funnel shape, then the drainage function is improved, but the available volume is reduced due to unused space
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped water pan is transformed into a multi-functional component by integrating the evaporator within its structure. The water pan continues to perform its drainage function while simultaneously serving as a housing for the evaporator, eliminating wasted space and making the funnel shape serve dual purposes rather than being purely structural.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator is nested within the funnel-shaped water pan structure. The evaporator is positioned inside the conical space of the water pan, utilizing the previously unused internal volume of the funnel shape. This nesting arrangement allows the evaporator to be accommodated without increasing the overall footprint, thereby increasing available compartment volume while maintaining drainage functionality.
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 increases available compartment volume, enhances space utilization, and improves refrigeration efficiency by shortening air supply paths and utilizing the funnel-shaped space, resulting in better energy conservation and compartment volume expansion.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber to form a cooled airflow
Implementation Method 2
an air supply fan, configured to cause the cooled airflow to flow to the first storage compartment and/or the second storage compartment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A refrigerator (100) includes: a cabinet (110), in which are defined a cooling chamber (150) at a lower portion and a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment which are spaced side by side above the cooling chamber (150); and an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber (150) and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber (150) to form a cooled airflow. At least one first return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a left sidewall of the first storage compartment such that a return airflow of the first storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the first return air inlet. At least one second return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a right sidewall of the second storage compartment such that a return airflow of the second storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the second return air inlet. The available compartment volume of the refrigerator is increased, and the return air inlets communicated with the cooling chamber (150) are formed in left and right sidewalls of the cabinet respectively.