Refrigerator Vacuum Space Sealing for Compact Heat Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require thick insulating materials to achieve effective heat insulation, which increases the size of the appliance, contradicting the trend of making refrigerators more compact while maintaining a larger storage volume.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that incorporates a vacuum space between the outer and inner cases, sealed with a sealing unit comprising a blocking member, filling member, and reinforcing member to enhance heat insulation without the need for thick insulating materials, allowing for a more compact exterior size while maintaining effective heat insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thick insulating material is used to achieve effective heat insulation, then heat insulation performance is improved, but the refrigerator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the insulating medium from atmospheric pressure (conventional foam materials) to vacuum state, fundamentally altering the heat transfer characteristics. This parameter change enables superior insulation performance without increasing thickness, directly resolving the contradiction between insulation effectiveness and compact size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas molecules from the insulating space between inner and outer cases, creating a vacuum environment. By removing the heat-conducting medium (air), the patent achieves excellent thermal insulation while maintaining a compact structure, eliminating the need for thick conventional insulating materials
2Loss of energy
If thick insulating material is used to achieve effective heat insulation, then heat insulation performance is improved, but the storage space volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the insulating medium from solid foam to vacuum, the patent achieves the same or better insulation performance with significantly reduced thickness. This allows the wall structure to be thinner while maintaining insulation effectiveness, thereby maximizing the storage space volume within the same external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin vacuum-sealing structures instead of thick rigid foam layers. The vacuum space acts as an ultra-thin insulating barrier that provides superior thermal resistance, enabling larger storage capacity without compromising insulation performance
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 vacuum space significantly improves heat insulation, reducing heat transfer between the inner and outer cases, enabling a more compact refrigerator design without compromising storage space or increasing the appliance's exterior size.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case
Data Source
AI summary
The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an inside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case enclosed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, and a sealing unit for sealing a front of the vacuum space formed between a front of the inner case and a front of the outer case and reducing a heat transfer rate between the inner case and the outer case.