Refrigerator with return air inlets formed in two sidewalls of cabinet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-by-side refrigerators have a reduced available volume due to the thick air ducts and long air delivery paths, leading to significant refrigeration capacity loss and inefficient use of space, especially in freezer compartments with funnel-shaped water pans.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator design includes a cabinet with a cooling chamber and side-by-side storage compartments, featuring return air inlets in the sidewalls and an evaporator at the bottom, along with a cross-flow fan and air supply ducts to enhance airflow and utilize the funnel-shaped space effectively, increasing compartment volume and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the air duct is placed on the rear sidewall surface, then the air supply function is achieved, but the available compartment volume is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is repositioned from a horizontal placement on the rear sidewall surface to a vertical integration within the sidewall thickness. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the evaporator and air supply fan to be embedded within the sidewall structure rather than occupying external space, thereby increasing the available compartment volume while maintaining the air supply function.
2Area of stationary object
If the air delivery path is made long to cover large space, then more areas are cooled, but the refrigeration capacity loss increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall air duct acts as an intermediary structure that distributes cooled air through multiple openings along the sidewall. This intermediary approach allows the cold air to reach distant areas without requiring excessively long delivery paths, as the duct system creates multiple intermediate distribution points that reduce the effective travel distance and minimize temperature degradation.
3Volume of moving object
If the funnel-shaped water pan space is not utilized, then the water drainage function is achieved, but the available volume is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped water pan space is designed to serve dual functions: it maintains its primary water drainage function while simultaneously housing the evaporator. This multi-functional design allows the same spatial volume to perform both water management and refrigeration tasks, thereby eliminating the loss of available volume without significantly increasing structural complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If the air supply fan delivers cold air through long paths, then large compartments are cooled, but the air volume at distant positions becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple distribution points along the sidewall rather than relying on a single long-distance delivery path. The air duct includes multiple air supply openings at different positions, which divides the air delivery function into several shorter segments. This segmentation ensures that sufficient air volume reaches distant positions without requiring excessively long continuous paths.
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 design increases available compartment volume, enhances space utilization, and improves refrigeration efficiency by shortening air supply paths and utilizing the funnel-shaped space, resulting in better energy conservation and storage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber to form a cooled airflow
Implementation Method 2
an air supply fan, configured to cause the cooled airflow to flow to the first storage compartment and/or the second storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator (100) includes: a cabinet (110), in which are defined a cooling chamber (150) at a lower portion and a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment which are spaced side by side above the cooling chamber (150); and an evaporator, arranged in the cooling chamber (150) and configured to cool an airflow entering the cooling chamber (150) to form a cooled airflow. At least one first return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a left sidewall of the first storage compartment such that a return airflow of the first storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the first return air inlet. At least one second return air inlet communicated with the cooling chamber (150) is formed in a right sidewall of the second storage compartment such that a return airflow of the second storage compartment enters the cooling chamber (150) to be cooled via the second return air inlet. The available compartment volume of the refrigerator is increased, and the return air inlets communicated with the cooling chamber (150) are formed in left and right sidewalls of the cabinet respectively.