Open vertical refrigerated display case comprising improved nebulizing means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open vertical refrigerated display cabinets face challenges in maintaining uniform and effective humidification of products, leading to increased temperature and non-optimal shelf life due to inefficient air curtain confinement and nebulization systems.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates nebulization means with a diffusion tube having distinct fog orifices offset from the main blowing orifice, ensuring homogeneous humidification across the storage volume, with specific dimensions and arrangements to prevent fog condensation and enhance circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nebulization means are added to the display cabinet, then humidification of products is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion tube is nested within the air curtain generation means, with the tube positioned inside the cabinet and the orifices aligned with the air flow path. This nesting approach integrates the humidification function into the existing air circulation system without requiring separate external nebulization equipment, thereby improving product shelf life through enhanced humidification while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion tube acts as an intermediary element that introduces water vapor into the air curtain flow. By positioning the tube within the air curtain path and creating aligned orifices, the system uses the existing air flow as a carrier to distribute humidification evenly throughout the display cabinet, achieving reliable product preservation without complex additional humidification infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If fog is diffused through the same orifice as the air curtain, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision is compromised due to fog condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the orifice functions by providing separate orifices for air curtain generation and fog diffusion within the diffusion tube. The air curtain orifices and fog diffusion orifices are positioned at different locations and orientations, allowing independent optimization of each function. This segmentation prevents fog condensation issues while maintaining relatively simple device architecture, as the tube itself remains a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the diffusion tube are assigned different functions: certain orifices are dedicated to air curtain generation while others are dedicated to fog diffusion. The tube geometry, orifice dimensions, and positioning are locally optimized for each function, ensuring uniform fog distribution and preventing condensation while keeping the overall device structure simple and manufacturable.
3Reliability
If nebulization means are provided in the display cabinet, then product shelf life is improved through humidification, but temperature control is compromised due to fog condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-cooling the diffused fog through the cold air curtain before it contacts the products. The fog is introduced into the chilled air environment, allowing it to cool and condense controlled amounts of moisture onto the products without causing uncontrolled temperature drops. This preliminary cooling action ensures uniform humidification while maintaining stable temperature control throughout the display cabinet.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the fog by controlling its temperature, concentration, and distribution pattern. By adjusting the fog generation rate, orifice positioning, and air curtain velocity, the system optimizes the interaction between fog and cold air to achieve effective humidification without excessive condensation that would compromise temperature control. The parameters are tuned to balance humidification effectiveness with thermal stability.
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 solution provides effective and uniform humidification, improving product shelf life and maintaining temperature control within the display cabinet by ensuring fog distribution is distinct from the air curtain, thus preventing condensation and enhancing the overall refrigeration process.
Implementation Method 1
such droplets can be produced by piezoelectric elements which are also called 'nebulisators'
Implementation Method 2
means for producing cold, in particular of the evaporator type
Implementation Method 3
the thermal confinement of the space where the products displayed for sale are located is achieved by a curtain of cold air
Implementation Method 4
nebulization means with a diffusion tube having distinct fog orifices offset from the main blowing orifice, ensuring homogeneous humidification
Data Source
AI summary
An open vertical refrigerated display cabinet having a lower wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, and a front face opposite the rear wall, the face front is open to define access to a volume for storing products. A generation mechanism is provided an operable to generate an air curtain in the vicinity of the front face, circulating in service substantially parallel to the front face. The generation mechanism includes a blowing mechanism defining a main blowing orifice, and a suction mechanism located substantially directly above the blowing mechanism. A nebulization mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the upper wall to diffuse a fog in at least part of the storage volume, the nebulization mechanism including a diffusion member defining at least one diffusion orifice of the fog. Each diffusion orifice is distinct from the main blowing orifice, while being offset towards the rear wall, relative to this main blowing orifice.