Refrigerator Cabinet Insulation Using Renewable Particle Composites
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator insulation methods are inefficient and costly, particularly in incorporating renewable resources to enhance thermal insulation while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An insulating system for refrigerators that incorporates a renewable resource component, such as rice husks, coconut husks, corn cobs, or bagasse, with particle sizes between 10-25 microns, combined with a polyurethane foam or epoxy resin, to create a cost-effective and environmentally friendly insulation material with improved thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If standard polyurethane foam insulation is used, then thermal insulation performance is maintained, but manufacturing cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by incorporating renewable resource components (rice husks, coconut husks, corn cobs, bagasse) at specific particle sizes (10-25 microns) and weight percentages (10%-90%) into the insulation material, replacing a portion of the expensive polyurethane foam while maintaining thermal insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite insulation material combining renewable resource particles with polyurethane foam or epoxy resin binder, where the renewable particles provide insulation and the binder holds the structure together, achieving cost reduction while maintaining thermal performance
2Ease of manufacture
If renewable resource components are added to insulation material, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but thermal insulation performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters including particle size (10-25 microns) and weight percentage (10%-90% renewable content) to balance cost reduction with maintained thermal insulation performance, preventing deterioration through precise parameter control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of renewable resource particles (rice husks, coconut husks, etc.) which naturally provide thermal insulation through air trapping in pores, maintaining insulation performance while reducing material cost
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly insulation solution with thermal conductivity comparable to standard polyurethane foams, reducing costs by up to 90% while maintaining effective thermal insulation properties.
Implementation Method 1
An insulating member having a body portion and a core portion disposed within an interior of the body portion. The core portion comprises a renewable resource component in an amount of 10%-90% by weight of the core portion, and further includes a particle size in a range from about 10 microns to about 25 microns.
Implementation Method 2
An exterior portion substantially surrounds the core portion, and includes an insulating material defining a vapor barrier around the core portion.
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated cabinet structure includes an inner liner having a plurality of walls defining a refrigerator compartment, and an external wrapper having a plurality of walls defining a refrigerator compartment receiving area. An insulation gap is formed between the walls of the inner liner and the walls of the external wrapper. A first insulation material is positioned on a wall of the external wrapper and extends outwardly into the insulation gap to partially fill the insulation gap. The first insulation material includes a renewable resource component having a particle size in a range from about 10 microns to about 25 microns. A second insulation material is disposed in the insulation gap, such that the first insulation material and the second insulation material together substantially fill the insulation gap.