Refrigerator using a water-cooled condenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with air-cooled condensers face issues with reduced energy efficiency and increased heat release pressure when integrated into walls due to restricted air flow and dust accumulation, leading to impaired heat transfer performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator using a water-cooled condenser that employs cooling water to liquefy refrigerant, separated from the air-cooled system, thereby preventing heat buildup and dust interference, and includes an expansion means to manage refrigerant pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an air-cooled condenser is used in a built-in refrigerator, then the refrigerator can be integrated into wall cabinets, but heat release pressure increases and energy efficiency decreases due to restricted air flow and dust accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary cooling medium between the condenser and the environment. Instead of directly cooling the condenser with air (which is blocked in built-in installations), the system uses a water circulation system where water absorbs heat from the condenser and is then cooled by an external water cooler, effectively mediating the heat transfer process and resolving the air flow restriction problem
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from an air-cooled system to a water-cooled system, utilizing hydraulic principles for heat transfer. The water circulation system with pump and water cooler creates an efficient liquid-based cooling mechanism that overcomes the limitations of air cooling in confined spaces, improving both heat dissipation and energy efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If an air-cooled condenser is used in a built-in refrigerator, then the refrigerator can be integrated into wall cabinets, but dust accumulates in the space between the refrigerator and wall, further reducing heat transfer performance
Solution Approach 1:
The water circulation system acts as an intermediary that eliminates direct contact between the condenser and the dusty environment. Water is drawn from an external source (not the confined space between refrigerator and wall), circulated through the condenser for cooling, and discharged externally, thereby preventing dust accumulation issues while maintaining reliable heat transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the water cooling function from the confined internal space and relocates it to an external water circulation system. The water cooler and water storage are positioned outside the refrigerator cabinet, separating the cooling function from the dusty environment and ensuring reliable heat transfer performance regardless of installation location
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
Enhances energy efficiency by effectively dissipating heat and reducing electrical energy consumption, maintaining optimal refrigerant flow without additional costs, and preventing dust accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a water-cooled condenser connected to the compressor to receive the compressed refrigerant, configured to cool the received refrigerant using cooling water to liquefy the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
cool the received refrigerant using cooling water to liquefy the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator configured to receive refrigerant from outside and evaporate the received refrigerant to cool the storage space of the cabinet
Implementation Method 4
evaporate the received refrigerant to cool the storage space of the cabinet
Implementation Method 5
an expansion means provided between the evaporator and the water-cooled condenser, and configured to lower an internal pressure of refrigerant supplied from the water-cooled condenser
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a refrigerator using a water-cooled condenser, the refrigerator including a cabinet constituting a storage space, an evaporator configured to receive refrigerant from outside and evaporate the received refrigerant to cool the storage space of the cabinet, a compressor connected to the evaporator to receive refrigerant from the evaporator and compress the received refrigerant, a water-cooled condenser connected to the compressor to receive the compressed refrigerant, configured to cool the received refrigerant using cooling water to liquefy the refrigerant, and configured to supply the liquefied refrigerant to the evaporator, and an expansion means provided between the evaporator and the water-cooled condenser, and configured to lower an internal pressure of refrigerant supplied from the water-cooled condenser to the evaporator, so that the refrigerant may evaporate in the evaporator.