refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dedicated refrigerators experience uneven temperature distribution due to inadequate cold air supply to storage compartments located at the front and lower sections relative to the blower fan, leading to inefficiencies and potential water condensation on the evaporator.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a first discharge part at the blower fan height for front compartment cold air supply, a second discharge part at the lower end for center compartment supply, and a filtering member in the introduction duct to ensure even temperature distribution and prevent water from reaching the evaporator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cold air is supplied only to the upper storage compartment through a duct, then the upper storage compartment receives sufficient cold air, but the lower storage compartment experiences insufficient cold air supply and great temperature difference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distributionVSAvoidduct configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The duct is divided into multiple discharge parts: a first discharge part for the upper storage compartment and a second discharge part for the lower storage compartment. This segmentation allows independent control of cold air distribution to different storage sections, resolving the temperature distribution issue without requiring a completely complex new system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds vertical dimension to cold air distribution by positioning discharge parts at different heights - the first discharge part at the upper level and the second discharge part at the lower level. This dimensional approach enables simultaneous cooling of both upper and lower storage compartments through a single duct system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of energy

If water is drained to the outside of the flow path through a drain hole in the shroud, then water drainage is achieved, but the drained water attaches to the evaporator causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecold air lossVSAvoidwater attachment to evaporator
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a drain cover as an intermediary component between the drain hole and the evaporator. This cover blocks the direct path of water to the evaporator while allowing cold air to pass through, thus preventing water attachment damage while maintaining cold air flow and avoiding energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful effect of water attachment is extracted and isolated from the evaporator by placing the drain cover in between. The cover specifically removes the water drainage function from the cold air flow path, separating these two functions to prevent harmful interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If a drain hole is formed in the shroud for water drainage, then water drainage is enabled, but portion of cold air is discharged to the outside through the drain hole causing loss of cold air flow amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainageVSAvoidcold air loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The drain cover serves as a mediator that allows water to pass through to the drainage path while blocking cold air from escaping. This intermediary structure enables water drainage functionality while preventing cold air loss, resolving the contradiction between drainage effectiveness and energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 even temperature distribution across all compartments, reduces cold air loss, and prevents water from attaching to the evaporator, enhancing operational efficiency and storage capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a blower fan, the blower fan generating a flow of cold air passing through the evaporator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

cold air passing through the evaporator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3936797A1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3936797A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3936797A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3936797A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator is proposed, in which a first discharge part may be provided, so temperature distribution difference between the upper section (upper space relative to the center portion of the inside of a storage compartment) of the inside of the storage compartment and the lower section (lower space relative to the center portion of the inside of the storage compartment) of the inside of the storage compartment may be reduced. In addition, water produced in the surrounding area of a blower fan may flow down into a flow path formed under the blower fan such that the loss of the flow amount of cold air may be reduced. Due to such a structure of the refrigerator, even temperature distribution inside of the storage compartment may be realized, and consumption efficiency may be improved.