Refrigerator Thermosiphon Backup Cooling With Dew Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face issues with temperature rise and condensation in the refrigeration compartment during power failures or compressor malfunctions, leading to potential spoilage of perishable items due to uncontrolled temperature increases and condensation accumulation.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary cooling mechanism, including a thermosiphon and a condensation collection device, is integrated into the refrigerator's design. The thermosiphon uses cold air from the freezer compartment to cool the refrigeration compartment during power failures, while the condensation collection device, with a textured or inclined surface, prevents condensation from falling and accumulating, using a phase change material to enhance cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refrigerator relies solely on the cooling cycle with compressor and evaporator, then the refrigeration compartment can be cooled under normal operation, but the temperature rises uncontrollably during power failures or compressor malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermosiphon as an intermediary cooling mechanism that operates independently of the main cooling cycle. The thermosiphon uses phase change of a second refrigerant to transfer heat from the refrigeration compartment to the freezer compartment, serving as a backup cooling system during power failures or compressor malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermosiphon utilizes phase transitions of a second refrigerant (evaporation in the refrigeration compartment and condensation in the freezer compartment) to achieve heat transfer without requiring external power, thereby maintaining refrigeration during failures of the primary cooling system.
2Temperature
If the auxiliary cooling mechanism cools the refrigeration compartment during power failures, then temperature rise is suppressed, but condensation forms on the inner side wall due to temperature difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful condensation phenomenon into a beneficial effect by collecting the condensation droplets that form on the inner side wall and redirecting them back into the refrigeration compartment, where they serve as a cooling resource rather than a harmful accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The condensation collection device extracts condensation droplets from the inner side wall surface using hydrophobic coating and surface tension effects, preventing them from falling and accumulating at the bottom while redirecting them to a useful location.
3Ease of manufacture
If a smooth inner side wall is used, then manufacturing is simple, but condensation droplets fall and accumulate at the bottom causing spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a hydrophobic coating to specific regions of the inner side wall rather than changing the entire wall structure. This localized treatment creates areas with different surface properties that control condensation behavior, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while preventing harmful condensation accumulation.
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 auxiliary cooling mechanism effectively suppresses temperature rises in the refrigeration compartment during power outages, and the condensation collection device prevents spoilage by ensuring condensation does not fall and damage contents, maintaining food freshness even during failures.
Implementation Method 1
a thermosiphon that includes a second condenser provided at the refrigeration compartment and a second evaporator provided at the freezing compartment for a second refrigerant to flow
Implementation Method 2
the second evaporator provided at the freezing compartment for a second refrigerant to flow, a first heat transfer plate provided between the second condenser and the freezing compartment, and a second heat transfer plate provided between the second evaporator and the refrigeration compartment
Implementation Method 3
a dew collection device provided at an inner side wall of the refrigerator compartment and positioned to correspond to a position of the second heat transfer plate to collect dew formed on the inner side wall of the refrigerator compartment
Implementation Method 4
the condensation collection device, with a textured or inclined surface, prevents condensation from falling and accumulating
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment; a cooling circuit including a compressor, a first condenser, and a first evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigeration compartment using a first refrigerant; a thermosiphon that includes a second condenser provided at the refrigeration compartment and a second evaporator provided at the freezing compartment for a second refrigerant to flow; a valve provided to control a flow of the second refrigerant in the thermosiphon; a first heat transfer plate provided between the second condenser and the freezing compartment; a second heat exchange plate provided between the second evaporator and the refrigeration compartment; and a dew collection device provided at an inner side wall of the refrigerator compartment and positioned to correspond to a position of the second heat exchange plate to collect dew formed on the inner side wall of the refrigerator compartment.