refrigerator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators with ion generators struggle to maintain an even ion concentration and sterilizing effect within the storage compartments due to ion loss and uneven air distribution.

Innovation Solution

The refrigerator design includes a cool air passage system where the ion generator is positioned upstream of branched passages, allowing cool air to spread and include ions before being discharged, with a widened downstream passage to reduce flow rate and ion diffusion, and an inclined ion generator acting as a wind deflecting plate for even air distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the ion generator is arranged in the cool air duct near the discharge port, then ions can be discharged into the storage compartment, but ion concentration becomes uneven and sterilizing effect is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion concentrationVSAvoidion distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cool air duct is divided into multiple discharge ports distributed across different locations. The ion generator is positioned upstream so that ions are generated in the main flow path before branching occurs, allowing uniform ion distribution through segmented discharge locations rather than concentrating ions at a single point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ion generator is arranged in the upstream main flow path of the cool air duct, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of air flow to distribute ions before they reach the branching discharge ports. This positional arrangement in the flow direction ensures ions are carried uniformly to multiple discharge locations throughout the storage compartment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If the cool air flow rate is high, then cooling effect is improved, but ions are lost due to rapid flow and collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecool air flow rateVSAvoidion loss

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ion generator is positioned upstream in the cool air duct before the air reaches the storage compartment. Ions are generated and incorporated into the cool air flow in advance, allowing them to be carried efficiently to multiple discharge ports. This preliminary ion generation ensures ions are distributed before rapid cooling-induced collisions occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cool air itself acts as an intermediary carrier medium. The ion generator introduces ions into the cool air flow, which then transports these ions through the duct system to multiple discharge ports. This intermediary transport mechanism protects ions from direct collision losses by utilizing the bulk flow of cool air as a protective carrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the ion generator is positioned downstream, then ion generation is simpler, but ions are lost due to collision with wall surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion generator positioningVSAvoidion wall collision loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the ion generator downstream near discharge ports, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the ion generator upstream in the main cool air duct. This reversal allows ions to be generated early in the flow path and carried by the cool air current, preventing wall collision losses that would occur with downstream positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 ensures a more even ion concentration and improved sterilizing effect within the storage compartments by maintaining ion presence and reducing ion loss, while also preventing frost accumulation on the ion generator by keeping its temperature above -20°C.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage is applied to a needle-like electrode arranged in an upper portion of the ion generation chamber so that, by corona discharge, positive and negative ions are discharge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Implementation Method 2

cool air generated by the cooler flows into the cool air passage arranged at the rear face of the storage compartment, and includes ions generated by the ion generator. The cool air including the ions branches into the first and second branched passages, and flows, as it spreads out, along the rear face of the storage compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP2213969B1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2020.07.01 SHARP KK

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator has: a storage compartment (2) cooling to preserve an article-to-be-stored; a cooler (11) generating cool air; a cool air passage (32) arranged at the rear face of the storage compartment (2) and through which cool air generated by the cooler (11) flows; discharge ports (104a, 104b) opened in the cool air passage (32) and discharging cool air into the storage compartment (2); and an ion generator arranged in the cool air passage (32) and generating ions. The cool air passage branches into a first and second branched passages at the downstream of where cool air flows into the cool air passage from the cooler. The ion generator is provided at the upstream of where the cool air passage branches.