Refrigerator comprising vacuum space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require thick insulating materials to achieve effective heat insulation, which increases the outer size and reduces storage space, contradicting the trend of making refrigerators more compact.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that incorporates a vacuum space between the outer and inner cases, supported by reinforcing members and a getter to maintain a vacuum state, enhancing heat insulation without the need for thick insulating materials, and utilizing a porous material to prevent heat radiation and conduction.
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 outer size of the refrigerator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the insulating medium from solid (insulating material) to vacuum (gas removal), fundamentally altering the heat transfer parameters. By creating a vacuum space between the inner and outer cases, heat conduction and convection are eliminated, achieving superior insulation with minimal thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas molecules from the space between the inner and outer cases, removing the medium that facilitates heat transfer. This extraction of matter (gas removal to create vacuum) eliminates conductive and convective heat transfer pathways, allowing for compact dimensions while maintaining excellent insulation performance.
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 material to vacuum, the patent achieves the same or better insulation effect with dramatically reduced thickness. This parameter change allows the insulating layer to occupy minimal space, maximizing the storage volume available for food and beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting gas molecules to create a vacuum, the patent eliminates the need for bulky solid insulating materials. The vacuum space itself becomes the insulator, requiring minimal thickness and thereby maximizing the internal storage space volume for practical use.
3Loss of energy
If vacuum space is created between inner and outer cases, then heat insulation performance is improved and outer size is reduced, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refrigerator structure into inner case, vacuum space, outer case, and supporting portions. The supporting portions act as discrete structural elements that bridge the vacuum space, providing mechanical strength while maintaining the vacuum insulation. This segmentation allows the weak vacuum space to be compensated by strategically placed supporting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting portions serve as intermediaries between the inner and outer cases, transferring mechanical loads and maintaining structural integrity across the vacuum space. These supporting elements mediate the structural requirements, allowing the vacuum space to provide insulation without compromising overall strength.
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 achieves superior heat insulation with a compact exterior size while maintaining a larger storage space, outperforming traditional refrigerators by utilizing the vacuum space's insulating properties effectively.
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
Implementation Method 2
a porous material arranged in the vacuum space for preventing at least one of heat radiation, and heat conduction caused by gas between the inner case and the outer case from taking place
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which a vacuum space is formed between an outer case and an inner case of a body thereof for enhancing a heat insulating function. 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 outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, and 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.