Temperature-Controlled Drawer Fan Coordination to Reduce Over-Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator appliances face challenges in maintaining precise temperature control within the temperature-controlled drawer, often resulting in excessive cooling due to the proximity of the fresh food evaporator and uneven air circulation, leading to increased system complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator appliance with a sealed system including a compressor, evaporator, and evaporator fan, where a controller operates the evaporator fan when the compressor is off to increase the temperature of the temperature-controlled drawer, and a secondary fan is used to circulate air from the chilled chamber through the drawer for independent temperature control without additional components like heaters or dampers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fresh food evaporator is positioned adjacent the temperature controlled drawer, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the drawer experiences excessive cooling and becomes the coldest portion of the fresh food chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air circulation system into separate zones by introducing a dedicated drawer fan that circulates air independently within the temperature controlled drawer, separating the thermal management of the drawer from the main fresh food chamber cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local air circulation control by positioning the drawer fan specifically within the temperature controlled drawer to create localized air flow patterns, allowing different temperature management strategies for different regions of the fresh food chamber
2Measurement precision
If conventional fan and damper mechanisms are used to control drawer temperature, then temperature control capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature control function from the main evaporator system by introducing a dedicated drawer fan, eliminating the need for complex damper mechanisms and heaters that would otherwise be required to achieve precise drawer temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer fan serves multiple functions: it circulates air within the drawer to prevent excessive cooling, maintains uniform temperature distribution, and works in coordination with the evaporator fan to provide flexible temperature management without requiring additional heating or damping components
3Use of energy by moving object
If the evaporator fan is turned off, then energy consumption is reduced, but cool air settles at the bottom causing uneven temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic air circulation control by coordinating the operation of the evaporator fan and drawer fan based on temperature conditions, allowing the system to adapt air flow patterns to maintain uniform temperature distribution while minimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful air circulation by having the drawer fan operate independently to maintain temperature uniformity within the drawer even when the evaporator fan is off, ensuring continuous protection against temperature stratification without continuous high-energy operation
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 configuration allows for precise temperature control of the temperature-controlled drawer, reducing the risk of over-cooling and simplifying the system, thereby enhancing reliability and reducing service costs while maintaining desired temperature settings.
Implementation Method 1
A fan may circulate air through the cold evaporator before delivering the cooled air through an opening into the chilled chamber
Implementation Method 2
In the condenser, hot, high pressure gas refrigerant condenses into liquid and expels heat
Implementation Method 3
The liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion device where it rapidly expands and passes into the evaporator as a two-phase refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
A fan may circulate air through the cold evaporator before delivering the cooled air
Implementation Method 5
a secondary fan may be attached to the temperature controlled drawer and may be selectively operated by the controller to circulate air from the chilled chamber through the temperature controlled drawer
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance having a temperature controlled drawer with improved temperature control is provided. A sealed system including a compressor, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan may be configured for cooling the fresh food chamber. A controller is configured to operate the evaporator fan when the compressor is off in order to increase the temperature of the temperature controlled drawer. Additionally, or alternatively, a secondary fan may be attached to the temperature controlled drawer and may be selectively operated by the controller to circulate air from the chilled chamber through the temperature controlled drawer. In this manner, the temperature of the temperature controlled drawer may be more precisely controlled regardless of whether the compressor is running.