refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with multiple storage compartments face increased power consumption, noise, and component costs when using separate cold air supply systems, and internal volume is compromised due to the need for multiple evaporators and blower fans.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that uses one evaporator and one blower fan to efficiently cool three independent storage compartments by employing a cold air supply duct system with a grill fan assembly, where cold air is distributed through a single system to upper and lower compartments, reducing the need for multiple fans and ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cold air supply systems are used for each storage compartment, then each compartment can be independently chilled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cold air supply systems into a single integrated system. One evaporator and one blower fan serve multiple storage compartments (refrigerator compartment and multiple freezer compartments) through a shared cold air supply duct, reducing the number of components while maintaining independent temperature control capability for each compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cold air supply system is designed to serve multiple functions by distributing cold air to different storage compartments with different temperature requirements. The system can selectively supply cold air to various compartments based on their individual cooling needs, making one system perform the work of multiple separate systems.
2Reliability
If separate cold air supply systems are used for each storage compartment, then each compartment can be independently chilled, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple blower fans into a single blower fan, the patent reduces the number of noise-generating components. The single blower fan serves all storage compartments through the shared cold air supply duct, significantly reducing overall system noise while maintaining the ability to independently cool each compartment.
3Reliability
If separate cold air supply systems are used for each storage compartment, then each compartment can be independently chilled, but component costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces component costs by merging multiple evaporators into one evaporator and multiple blower fans into one blower fan. The single evaporator and blower fan are shared across multiple storage compartments through a common cold air supply duct, significantly reducing the bill of materials and manufacturing costs while preserving independent temperature control for each compartment.
4Reliability
If multiple evaporators and blower fans are installed, then each storage compartment can be independently cooled, but internal volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple evaporators and blower fans into single shared components, the patent frees up significant internal volume within the storage compartments. The single evaporator and blower fan occupy less space than multiple separate components would require, increasing the usable storage volume while maintaining independent cooling capability for each compartment.
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 reduces power consumption and noise while maintaining efficient cooling of multiple compartments, minimizing component costs and optimizing internal space by using a single evaporator and blower fan, and incorporates insulation and heating to prevent icing between ducts.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid refrigerant is vaporized into a gaseous refrigerant after the refrigerant configured to circulate in the order of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a compressor flows into the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
The cold air supplied to the refrigerator may be created by taking heat from the inside of the refrigerator, while a liquid refrigerant is vaporized into a gaseous refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
The cold air created while passing through the evaporator may be supplied to a storage compartment by a grill fan assembly including a cold air path through which the cold air flows, and a blower fan for blowing the cold air to the storage compartment
Implementation Method 4
a heating unit may be disposed on one surface of the first upper cold air collecting duct facing the cold air supply duct
Implementation Method 5
an insulation material may be disposed between the first upper cold air collecting duct and the cold air supply duct
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator comprising a storage case (200) comprising a first storage chamber (211) and a second storage chamber (212) and a grill fan assembly (240) disposed in the second storage chamber (212) and comprising an evaporator (250); and a blower fan (241) configured to blow cold air generated from the evaporator (250)wherein the first storage chamber (211) is divided into a first upper storage chamber (2111) and a first lower storage chamber (2112), the second storage chamber (212) is divided into a second upper storage chamber (2121) and a second lower storage chamber (2122), and the second upper storage chamber (2121) and the second lower storage chamber (2122) are in fluid communication with each other, and cold air blown by the blower fan (241) is supplied to the first upper storage chamber (2111) and the first lower storage chamber (2112), and the first storage chamber (211) comprises a flow path opening/closing damper (540) configured to selectively block cold air blown by the blower fan (241).