Refrigerator with defrost operation control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in efficiently defrosting the evaporator without increasing the internal temperature of the refrigerator, leading to potential food spoilage due to prolonged defrosting times and uneven frost removal.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a refrigerator design that utilizes multiple defrosting heaters and blower fans, along with a controller to manage their output and airflow, to reduce defrosting time and prevent temperature increases. This includes a flow passage switching valve to control refrigerant flow and a trap part to manage warm air generated during defrosting, ensuring efficient frost removal and maintaining temperature stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heater is driven to activate defrosting with predetermined pattern control, then the heater operation can be controlled by temperature detection, but the defrosting time is extended and internal temperature increases causing food spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the defrosting function into multiple independent heaters (first defrosting heater and second defrosting heater) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows simultaneous operation of multiple heating elements, significantly reducing total defrosting time while maintaining temperature control through distributed heating rather than single-point heating that causes localized overheating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple defrosting heaters and blower fans to operate simultaneously during the defrosting cycle. The merged system of multiple heaters working together provides comprehensive coverage of the evaporator surface, achieving complete defrosting faster than sequential or single-heater approaches, while the coordinated operation with blower fans distributes heat evenly to prevent internal temperature spikes
2Reliability
If the heater output is maintained at predetermined level to remove remaining frost, then frost removal is ensured, but the defrosting process must be continuously performed and heater output control is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of multiple heaters through separate control signals. The first and second defrosting heaters can be independently activated and deactivated based on real-time temperature sensor feedback from different locations. This dynamic, location-based control ensures complete frost removal while avoiding the complexity of continuous high-level heating, as each heater operates only when its local zone requires defrosting
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors positioned at multiple locations to provide feedback control for each heater. The controller continuously monitors temperatures and adjusts heater operation accordingly, ensuring frost is completely removed from all areas while maintaining efficient energy use. This feedback mechanism replaces complex predetermined patterns with simple, responsive temperature-based control
3Productivity
If multiple defrosting heaters and blower fans are used, then defrosting efficiency is improved and time is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the multiple defrosting heaters and blower fans to serve dual purposes: during normal operation, these components remain dormant, but during defrosting cycles, they function as a coordinated high-efficiency defrosting system. The blower fans also serve to distribute cold air during cooling cycles, providing multi-functionality that justifies their inclusion without adding net system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Each heater and sensor pair is optimized for its specific location and function. The first heater addresses frost in its local zone, the second heater addresses frost in its zone, and blower fans are positioned to optimize air circulation patterns. This localized optimization allows each component to be simple and efficient for its specific task, while the overall system achieves high defrosting productivity through coordinated local actions
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 solution significantly reduces defrosting time, prevents internal temperature increases, and ensures effective frost removal, thereby maintaining food freshness by minimizing temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
A defrosting heater is formed at the refrigerator to remove frost formed on the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
the frost formed at the evaporator can be melted and removed by the heater
Implementation Method 3
a blower fan configured to blow the cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage chamber
Implementation Method 4
The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant to cool the storage chamber
Implementation Method 5
During evaporation of the refrigerant, frost is formed at the evaporator
Implementation Method 6
a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator
Implementation Method 7
condensation→expansion→evaporation of a refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a storage chamber, an evaporator configured to cool the storage chamber, and an air passage through which cold air generated by the evaporator flows. The air passage includes a blower fan configured to blow the cold air to the storage chamber, and a trap part in which warm air generated by a defrosting operation stays, such that warm air generated by the defrosting operation is prevented from being introduced into the inner space of the refrigerator through the air passage. The refrigerator reduces the defrosting operation time, efficiently prevents increase of the inner temperature of the refrigerator due to warm air during the defrosting operation, reduces a temperature difference in inner temperature of the refrigerator, and prevents food stored in the refrigerator from being rotten due to a temperature change.