Wave-Fin Condenser Structure for Compact Refrigerator Heat Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face limitations in condenser size due to inefficient heat radiation, leading to reduced refrigerant condensation during freezing cycles, necessitating an enhancement in heat radiating efficiency and compactness.
Innovation Solution
A condenser design incorporating a refrigerant pipe, a plate fin, and a wave fin, where the plate fin is coupled to the refrigerant pipe and the wave fin is bent to form a spiral shape, enhancing heat dissipation through a brazing method using aluminum materials, which increases the heat radiating surface area and improves airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the condenser size is reduced to improve space efficiency, then the machinery compartment space is optimized, but the heat radiating efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional flat fin structures to a three-dimensional wave fin configuration with undulating surfaces. This dimensional change creates multiple heat radiation surfaces within a compact volume, allowing the condenser to maintain high heat radiating efficiency while reducing overall size. The wave fin's crests and troughs provide additional heat exchange areas without increasing the condenser's footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave fin incorporates curved and undulating surfaces instead of flat planes. The sinusoidal wave pattern creates continuous curvature that increases surface area density, enabling more effective heat radiation from a smaller volume. The curved geometry also improves airflow patterns around the fins, enhancing convective heat transfer efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the heat radiating surface area is increased to improve heat dissipation, then the condensing efficiency is improved, but the condenser size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave fin structure effectively nests multiple heat radiation surfaces within a compact configuration. The undulating pattern creates inner and outer surfaces, crests and troughs, that are nested within each other spatially, maximizing surface area density. This allows the condenser to provide extensive heat exchange area without proportionally increasing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
By transforming flat two-dimensional fin surfaces into three-dimensional wave structures, the patent adds vertical and lateral dimensions to the heat radiation surface. This dimensional transformation packs more surface area into the same footprint, improving heat dissipation without increasing the condenser's external dimensions.
3Loss of energy
If aluminum materials are used for plate fin and wave fin to enhance heat conduction, then the heat radiating efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to brazing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the plate fin and wave fin into an integrated aluminum structure, merging two separate components into one monolithic piece. This integration eliminates the need for brazing joints between plate and wave fins, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the high heat conduction benefits of aluminum. The unified structure simplifies production and assembly processes.
4Area of stationary object
If the wave fin is added to make contact with the plate fin, then the heat radiating surface area is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave fin is integrated directly with the plate fin to form a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. This merging approach increases surface area while avoiding the complexity of additional joints, fasteners, or alignment mechanisms that would be required if the wave fin were a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave fin's continuous curved geometry is formed as an integral part of the plate fin structure. This seamless curved design increases surface area without requiring complex segmentation or assembly, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving enhanced heat radiation capability.
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 enhances heat radiating efficiency, allowing for miniaturization of the condenser while maintaining effective refrigerant condensation, thereby improving space efficiency and reducing energy consumption within the limited machinery compartment.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser provided with an improved heat radiation structure
Implementation Method 2
The plate fin and the wave fin may be coupled to each other through a brazing method
Implementation Method 3
The plate fin and the wave fin may be coupled to each other through a brazing method
Implementation Method 4
a condenser to condense the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
The wave fin is provided in a way to make contact with a rear surface of the plate fin, and formed along the first direction in a bent manner
Data Source
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AI summary
A condenser and a refrigerator having the same, the condenser includes a refrigerant pipe, a plate fin coupled to one side portion of the refrigerant pipe, and a wave fin making contact with a rear surface of the plate fin. Through the structure as such, the condensation efficiency of the condenser may be enhanced, and furthermore, the condenser may be miniaturized, and thus is effective in utilizing space.