Refrigerator related technology
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators, the concentration of cold air at the bottom of the evaporator leads to reduced heat exchange efficiency and potential frosting due to moisture, resulting in decreased cooling efficiency and the need for defrosting operations that halt cooling.
Innovation Solution
A guide member with inclined blades is positioned at the inlet of the cold air generating compartment to uniformly distribute cold air over both upper and lower portions of the evaporator, while a heat transfer member maintains the guide member at a low temperature to remove moisture from the air, preventing frosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cold air is introduced into the cold air generating compartment, then the evaporator can perform heat exchange, but the cold air concentrates at the bottom reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member divides the cold air flow into multiple segments using inclined blades, directing air to different vertical positions along the evaporator. This segmentation ensures that cold air is distributed across both upper and lower portions of the evaporator rather than concentrating at the bottom, thereby improving overall heat exchange efficiency while maintaining cooling productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member creates local variations in air flow characteristics by using inclined blades with different angles. This causes cold air to be directed to specific regions of the evaporator surface, ensuring uniform heat exchange across different local areas of the evaporator, thereby resolving the concentration problem at the bottom
2Productivity
If cold air flows along the evaporator, then cooling is achieved, but moisture in the air causes frosting that reduces cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member performs preliminary action by directing cold air flow in a specific pattern before the air reaches the evaporator surface. By inclining the blades, the system pre-distributes the air flow to prevent moisture accumulation and frosting conditions from developing, allowing continuous cooling operation without interruption for defrosting
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member converts the potentially harmful effect of moisture-laden cold air into a beneficial uniform flow distribution. By properly angling the blades, the system uses the cold air flow itself to prevent frosting rather than allowing it to cause condensation and ice accumulation on the evaporator surface
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 enhances cooling efficiency by ensuring uniform heat exchange and extends the defrosting interval by keeping the air dry, thus maintaining consistent refrigerator performance.
Implementation Method 1
cold air introduced into the cold air generating compartment passes along the evaporator while being concentrated to the lower portion of the cold air generating compartment
Implementation Method 2
a heat transfer member that connects the guide member and the evaporator and is configured to cool a surface of the guide member, thereby removing moisture from the air passing through the guide member
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator, in which a guide member is arranged at an inlet of a cold air generating compartment that houses an evaporator. The guide member uniformly distributes cold air introduced into the cold air generating compartment to upper and lower portions of the evaporator.