Refrigerator Sub Door Cooling Structure for Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with sub doors experience increased energy loss and reduced storage performance due to heat loss and uneven temperature distribution around the sub door area, which affects the storage of perishable items.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a sub door with a cooling unit made of high heat capacity materials, such as stainless steel, and a connection member that slides to maintain temperature uniformity, along with a manufacturing method using a frame, front panel, and foamed material to enhance insulation and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sub door is installed to allow article withdrawal without opening the main door, then convenience of operation is improved, but energy loss increases due to heat loss at the sub door area
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into a main door and a separate sub door. The sub door can be opened independently for frequent access to stored articles, while the main door remains closed to maintain thermal insulation. This segmentation allows selective opening of only the necessary portion, reducing overall heat loss compared to opening the entire main door.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub door assembly is designed as a localized access point with its own insulation and sealing characteristics. The receipt space and sub door structure create a localized zone that can be opened without affecting the thermal environment of the entire storage chamber, concentrating the thermal impact to a minimal local area rather than the whole system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sub door is installed to serve as a homebar door, then functionality is improved, but storage performance deteriorates due to uneven temperature distribution around the sub door area
Solution Approach 1:
The sub door serves multiple functions: it acts as an access door for withdrawing stored articles and simultaneously functions as a homebar door for temporary mounting of bottles and cans. This multi-functionality is achieved through the horizontal support feature when opened, allowing the same structure to serve both storage access and display/pouring purposes without compromising storage performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is pre-installed on the rear surface of the sub door to preemptively cool the area that would otherwise experience heat accumulation. This preliminary cooling action ensures that even when the sub door is opened frequently or used as a homebar, the surrounding storage chamber maintains uniform temperature distribution, preventing the formation of warm zones that would compromise storage reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the sub door is opened to place articles on it, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit acts as an intermediary thermal element between the sub door and the storage chamber. When the sub door is opened for article placement, the cooling unit compensates for the incoming warm air by actively cooling the receipt space and surrounding areas, thereby maintaining temperature uniformity in the storage chamber despite the operational disturbance.
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 reduces energy loss and improves storage performance by maintaining cool air circulation and uniform temperature distribution within the storage chamber, even when the sub door is opened, effectively enhancing the storage conditions for perishable items.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling unit may be made of a metal having a high heat capacity
Implementation Method 2
a cooling unit provided on the rear surface of the sub door
Implementation Method 3
a manufacturing method using a frame, front panel, and foamed material to enhance insulation
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body provided with storage chambers having doors, one of the doors being provided with an opening, the opening having at least one stepped plane; a rack installed in the storage chamber at a height corresponding to that of the lower end of the opening; a sub door to open and close the opening; and a connection member to prevent a height difference between a rear surface of the sub door and the opening. The connection member is configured to slide relative to the sub door to cover the at least one stepped plane, whereby the connection member closes the at least one stepped plane when the sub door is closed, and opens the at least one stepped plane when the sub door is opened so that the rear surface of the sub door and the connection member form substantially a level plane with the rack.