Top-Mount Refrigerator Airflow Layout Without a Freezer Air Tower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional top mount refrigerator airflow systems, which use an air tower to distribute cooled air between the freezer and fresh food compartments, suffer from high restriction, leading to reduced efficiency and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The system eliminates the air tower by incorporating air outlets and returns between the compartments, allowing cooled air to flow directly from the freezer to the fresh food compartment and back to the evaporator, optimizing airflow with minimal restriction and using Venturi pipes to enhance airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an air tower with lower duct section is used to direct cooled air into the fresh food compartment, then the correct proportion of airflow is provided to both compartments, but the large amount of restriction causes the airflow system to work harder and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air tower structure from the refrigerator system. Instead of using a centralized air tower with ducts to distribute air, the system allows air to flow directly from the evaporator in the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment through the compartment partition, eliminating the restrictive ductwork while maintaining proper airflow distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow system is segmented into direct paths: cooled air flows from the evaporator through the freezer compartment, then through air outlets in the partition wall into the fresh food compartment, and returns to the evaporator. This segmentation eliminates the need for a centralized distribution system with restrictions
2Ease of operation
If an air tower is used to distribute cooled air, then airflow can be directed to both compartments, but the air tower increases device complexity and manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The air tower component is completely extracted from the system. The patent replaces this complex centralized distribution structure with simple air outlets formed directly in the partition wall between compartments, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining airflow distribution functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow distribution function is merged directly into the compartment partition structure. The partition wall itself contains the air outlets, eliminating the need for a separate air tower component and simplifying the overall system architecture
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 design reduces energy consumption by lowering the pressure required for the evaporator fan, decreases manufacturing costs by removing the air tower, and improves temperature control, resulting in enhanced energy efficiency and increased internal freezer volume.
Implementation Method 1
a cooled air stream generated by the fan is provided into the first cooling cavity area and circulated therein
Implementation Method 2
The air outlet is configured to permit at least a portion of the cooled air stream generated by the fan of the evaporator assembly and circulated in the first cooling cavity area to flow into the second cooling cavity area through the air outlet
Implementation Method 3
The air return is configured such that air from the second cooling cavity area flows into the evaporator assembly through the air return
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator assembly comprising an evaporator and a fan. The evaporator assembly is operatively positioned in the first cooling compartment and configured such that a cooled air stream generated by the fan
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration system includes an airflow system which eliminates the traditional air tower in the freezer area by utilizing at least one air outlet formed between a freezer cavity area and a fresh food cavity area. The air outlet is configured to permit at least a portion of a cooled air stream generated by a fan of an evaporator assembly and circulated in the freezer cavity area to flow into the fresh food cavity area through the air outlet. The refrigeration system also includes at least one air return formed between the evaporator assembly and the fresh food cavity area. The air return is configured such that air from the fresh food cavity area flows into the evaporator assembly through the air return.