Refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open-fronted refrigerators are energy-inefficient due to air curtain infiltration, where warm air mixes with cool air, increasing energy consumption as the refrigerator works to maintain temperature.
Innovation Solution
An air-guiding strip is placed vertically beneath the outer edge of the upper air egress, stabilizing the air curtain and reducing turbulence, thereby enhancing temperature performance and energy efficiency without obstructing access or product display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If doors or plastic strips are fitted to cover the opening completely, then energy efficiency is improved, but accessibility for shoppers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An air-guiding strip is introduced as an intermediary element between the cool air curtain and the warm ambient air. This strip acts as a mediator to reduce mixing and infiltration, improving energy efficiency without physically blocking the opening or hindering shopper access to the refrigerator contents.
2Loss of energy
If a cool air curtain is blown downwards across the open front, then energy efficiency is improved, but infiltration of warm air increases due to turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The air-guiding strip serves as a mediator between the cool air curtain and warm ambient air, reducing turbulence and mixing at the interface. This intermediary structure helps maintain the energy efficiency benefits of the air curtain while minimizing the harmful infiltration of warm air.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the air curtain system by introducing a guiding strip that modifies the flow characteristics. This alters the turbulence parameters and reduces the mixing between cool and warm air, thereby reducing infiltration while maintaining the energy efficiency advantages.
3Reliability
If deflector plates are provided to divert air, then air curtain performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-guiding strip is a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily installed and replaced if necessary. This simple structure provides reliable air curtain performance enhancement without the complexity of sophisticated deflector plate systems, embodying the principle of using simple, cost-effective solutions.
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 air-guiding strip reduces air curtain infiltration by 34%, leading to a 24% reduction in heat load and a 15-17% decrease in energy consumption, while maintaining temperature performance and not hindering user access or product visibility.
Implementation Method 1
Turbulence increases the mixing the warm air outside with the air curtain and leads to additional warm air passing through the air curtain into the interior of the fridge
Implementation Method 2
With such air curtains cool air is blown downwards from the top of the fridge towards a grill at the base that captures the cool air to recirculate it
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator has an open front and an air curtain system having at least one upper air egress with an outer edge and at least one lower air-recovery ingress. The air curtain system is adapted to produce a substantially vertical air curtain over at least part of the open front of the refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises at least one shelf between the egress and the ingress, the shelf having a front edge, and at least one elongate air-guiding strip extending across at least part of the open front of the fridge. The strip is located substantially in the plane of the shelf and spaced from the front edge of the shelf. The strip is located substantially vertically beneath the outer edge of the upper air egress.