Secondary Loop Cooling Circuit for Refrigerator Icemaker Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bottom freezer refrigerators, the icemaker's slow ice production rate and temperature fluctuations in the fresh food compartment are due to insufficient cold air delivery, requiring complex air ducts and reducing the compartment's temperature below set points.
Innovation Solution
A secondary loop temperature control circuit with a reservoir and heat exchangers is implemented, using a propylene glycol and water mixture to maintain precise temperature control in a compartment, allowing for efficient cooling or heating of the icemaker and other temperature-controlled regions within the refrigerator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cold air is pumped from the fresh food compartment to the icemaker through complex air ducts, then ice production is enabled, but the ice production rate is slow and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature control function from the main fresh food compartment air circulation system by introducing a separate secondary loop with its own heat exchanger. This isolated loop delivers cold air directly to the icemaker without requiring complex air ducts through the door, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective ice production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a secondary loop heat exchanger as an intermediary device between the refrigeration system and the icemaker. This heat exchanger acts as a dedicated cold air source for the icemaker, eliminating the need for complex air ducting through the door while enabling efficient ice production.
2Productivity
If cold air is pumped to the icemaker, then ice production is enabled, but the fresh food compartment temperature drops below the set point
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the temperature control system into two independent loops: the primary loop maintains the fresh food compartment at its set point temperature, while the secondary loop independently supplies cold air to the icemaker. This segmentation allows ice production without compromising the temperature stability of the fresh food compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary loop heat exchanger serves as an intermediary that provides dedicated cold air to the icemaker without drawing from the fresh food compartment's air supply. This intermediary system enables ice production while maintaining the fresh food compartment temperature at the desired set point.
3Ease of operation
If the icemaker is located in the fresh food section for convenience, then ice delivery is improved, but the cool air is insufficient to freeze water
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a secondary loop heat exchanger as an intermediary cold air source specifically for the icemaker located in the fresh food section. This heat exchanger provides sufficiently cold air to enable water freezing, overcoming the limitation of the fresh food compartment's insufficiently cold air while maintaining the convenient front-door ice delivery location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by providing a dedicated secondary loop heat exchanger specifically at the icemaker location within the fresh food section. This localized cold air source ensures that the specific area where ice formation occurs receives sufficiently cold air, while the rest of the fresh food compartment maintains its normal temperature for food storage.
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 solution enhances ice production rates and maintains consistent compartment temperatures, reducing the complexity of air ducts and temperature fluctuations, while allowing for zone-specific temperature control and flexible applications like fast chilling or thawing.
Implementation Method 1
A first heat exchanger is in flow communication with the reservoir and is configured to have the medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the temperature-controlled region.
Implementation Method 2
using a propylene glycol and water mixture to maintain precise temperature control in a compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary loop temperature control circuit for a temperature-controlled region in a compartment of a refrigerator is shown. The secondary loop temperature control circuit has a reservoir, configured to have a medium flow there through. A first heat exchanger is in flow communication with the reservoir and is configured to have the medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the temperature-controlled region.