Thermal frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated enclosures face challenges in maintaining thermal efficiency and preventing condensation on door sealing surfaces, leading to suboptimal thermal seals.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated cabinet door frame design featuring an outer frame of thermally conductive material and an inner frame of thermally insulating material, with a sealing plate forming a continuous heat transfer path to maintain the sealing surface above the dew point, preventing condensation and enhancing the thermal seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thermally insulating material is used for the door frame, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the sealing surface temperature drops below the dew point causing condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame employs different thermal conductivity properties at different locations: the outer frame member uses thermally conductive material at the sealing surface location to maintain temperature above dew point, while the inner frame member uses thermally insulating material for overall thermal efficiency. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between thermal efficiency and condensation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame is constructed as a composite structure with an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and an inner frame member of thermally insulating material. This composite design allows the outer surface to remain warm enough to prevent condensation while the inner insulation maintains thermal efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thermally conductive material is used for the door frame, then condensation is prevented, but thermal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame employs different thermal conductivity properties at different locations: the outer frame member uses thermally conductive material at the sealing surface location to maintain temperature above dew point, while the inner frame member uses thermally insulating material for overall thermal efficiency. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between thermal efficiency and condensation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame is constructed as a composite structure with an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and an inner frame member of thermally insulating material. This composite design allows the outer surface to remain warm enough to prevent condensation while the inner insulation maintains thermal efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-material door frame is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but thermal performance and condensation control cannot be optimized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame is constructed as a composite structure with an outer frame member of thermally conductive material and an inner frame member of thermally insulating material. This composite design allows the outer surface to remain warm enough to prevent condensation while the inner insulation maintains thermal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner frame member is nested within the outer frame member structure. The inner frame member of insulating material is positioned inside the outer frame member, creating a nested configuration that optimizes both thermal performance and structural integrity.
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 design improves thermal efficiency, minimizes condensation, and provides a more positive thermal seal between the frame and the door, maintaining the temperature of the sealing surface above the dew point.
Implementation Method 1
The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface of the sealing plate and the outer surface of the forward end of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path of material more thermally conductive than the thermally insulating material of the inner frame member
Implementation Method 2
an inner frame member of a thermally insulating material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention features a refrigerator cabinet door frame. The frame includes a thermally conductive outer frame, a thermally insulating inner frame member, and a sealing plate. The outer frame member includes a forward end having an outer surface that is disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and a rearward end defining a joint. The inner frame member includes a first end retained in the joint, and a second end. The sealing plate includes a first edge coupled to the outer frame member at the rearward end, forward of the joint, a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and a thermally conductive sealing surface. The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface and the outer surface of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path.