Refrigerator Ice-Making Airflow Control to Prevent Door-Side Dewing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators with ice making apparatuses on the interior side of the door face issues with dewing or condensation accumulation due to temperature differences between the refrigerating chamber and the ice making room, leading to reduced efficiency and food preservation quality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that includes a heat-exchange chamber with an evaporator and blowing fans to circulate and direct cold air efficiently within the refrigerating and freezing chambers, and an auxiliary fan to reduce temperature differences and prevent dewing on the ice making housing by selectively supplying cold air only when the ice making apparatus is operational.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an ice making apparatus is installed on the interior side of the refrigerating chamber door, then ice making function is integrated, but dewing and condensation accumulate on the ice making housing due to temperature difference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making function integrationVSAvoiddewing and condensation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful temperature difference effect by introducing a dedicated auxiliary fan that selectively supplies cold air only to the ice making room when the ice making apparatus is operational. This separates the cooling function from the general refrigerating chamber cooling, preventing condensation on the ice making housing while maintaining ice making capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary fan operates in advance to supply cold air to the ice making room before the ice making apparatus starts operation. This preliminary cooling action prevents temperature difference-induced condensation from occurring on the ice making housing, addressing the harmful effect before it manifests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If cold air is continuously supplied to the ice making room, then ice making efficiency is improved, but temperature difference causes dewing on the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making efficiencyVSAvoiddewing on housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary fan operates periodically based on the operational state of the ice making apparatus. It supplies cold air only when the ice making apparatus is running, creating a periodic cooling action that maintains ice making efficiency while preventing continuous temperature difference that would cause dewing on the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by directing cold air specifically to the ice making room through the auxiliary fan only when needed, rather than continuously cooling the entire refrigerating chamber. This localized cooling maintains the temperature gradient necessary for ice making while minimizing overall temperature difference that causes condensation on the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the refrigerating chamber door is opened, then access to stored items is enabled, but cold air leaks to the outside reducing preservation quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to stored itemsVSAvoidcold air leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary fan maintains continuous cold air supply to the ice making room even when the refrigerating chamber door is opened. This continuous cooling action compensates for the cold air leakage caused by door opening, maintaining temperature stability and preservation quality in the ice making room during door operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 solution effectively reduces dewing on the ice making housing, maintains a consistent inner temperature, and minimizes cold air leakage when the refrigerating chamber door is opened, enhancing food preservation and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an evaporator that generates cold air supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a first fan that supplies the cold air generated from the evaporator to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

a second fan that circulates the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber by the first fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

an ice making apparatus that makes and dispenses ice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS8302424B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2012.11.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include an evaporator that generates cold air supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a first fan that supplies the cold air generated by the evaporator to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber of the refrigerator, and a second fan that circulates the cold air within the refrigerating chamber.