Vacuum-Insulated Refrigerator Door Structure for Long Vacuum Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door insulation methods are inefficient in maintaining a vacuum, leading to energy loss and reduced cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulated door structure comprising a first and second wall member with a tubular member, a hermetic barrier layer, and cavity insulation material, which creates a hermetically sealed cavity volume to maintain a partial vacuum, enhancing insulation and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional refrigerator door insulation methods are used, then the door structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but energy loss increases and cooling performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The door structure is divided into multiple wall members (first wall member, second wall member, third wall member) that are offset relative to each other, creating separate cavities. This segmentation allows for vacuum insulation between walls while maintaining structural integrity and enabling modular manufacturing approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested cavities where inner wall members are positioned within outer wall members, creating concentric insulation layers. The first, second, and third wall members form nested structures with cavities between them, allowing vacuum insulation to be integrated within the door assembly without requiring complete disassembly or complex external attachments.
2Temperature
If vacuum insulation is implemented, then insulation performance improves, but maintaining the vacuum becomes difficult leading to reduced vacuum retention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs barrier layers comprising flexible films that line the cavities between wall members. These barrier layers prevent gas permeation and maintain the vacuum seal over time. The flexible nature of these films allows them to conform to the cavity shapes while providing hermetic sealing, thus preserving vacuum integrity throughout the door's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure utilizes composite construction with different wall members made from various materials (metal, plastic, or other suitable materials) combined with barrier layers and vacuum insulation. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its specific properties—structural strength from metal walls, sealing from barrier films, and thermal insulation from the vacuum—resulting in a door that maintains vacuum integrity while providing superior insulation performance.
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 effectively reduces energy loss and improves cooling performance by maintaining a vacuum within the door structure, leading to enhanced insulation and prolonged vacuum retention.
Implementation Method 1
A cavity insulation material is disposed within a cavity volume defined by an interior volume of the door structure, wherein the cavity volume is hermetically sealed, wherein the cavity volume includes an at least partial vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated door structure comprises a first wall having a first edge, outer sidewalls that extend from the first edge to a perimetrical lip, a first inner surface and a first outer surface. A second wall has a second inner surface, a second outer surface and a second edge coupled to the perimetrical lip forming a cavity volume. The second wall includes inner sidewalls defining a second wall opening. The inner sidewalls extend to a back wall and define a second wall offset. A tubular member includes a first end coupled to a first conduit opening in the first wall and a second end coupled to a second conduit opening in the second wall offset. A barrier layer is disposed on the first and second walls and the tubular member. A cavity insulation material is disposed within the cavity volume which is hermetically sealed.