Whirlpool has filed a patent for a refrigeration appliance that includes a deicing nanocoating on the evaporator’s heat exchange surface. The coating is a hydrogel with a thermoresistive material dispersed in it, allowing the surface to melt ice when a current is applied. The appliance aims to improve efficiency and prevent ice buildup. GlobalData’s report on Whirlpool gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Whirlpool, Smart home appliances was a key innovation area identified from patents. Whirlpool's grant share as of September 2023 was 67%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A refrigeration appliance with a deicing nanocoating on evaporator
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230314060A1) describes a new refrigeration appliance with an innovative deicing system. The appliance includes a body that defines a compartment, an evaporator that flows air from the compartment over a heat exchange surface, and an evaporator fan that directs cooled air from the evaporator back into the compartment.
The key feature of this appliance is the deicing nanocoating applied to a portion of the heat exchange surface of the evaporator. The coating is a hydrogel with a thermoresistive material dispersed within it. This coated surface has an ice nucleation temperature of -15 to -40 degrees Celsius and a water contact angle of 100 to 140 degrees. When a current is applied to the de-icing coating, the thermoresistive material heats the surface, melting any ice that has formed on it.
The patent also mentions that the portion of the heat exchange surface can include heat exchange fins or both coil surfaces and heat exchange fins of the evaporator. The thermoresistive material used in the coating can be carbon or graphene oxide, with a specific mention of carbon nanotubes. The hydrogel used for the coating can be a silica gel. The ice nucleation temperature is specified to be -20 to -30 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, the patent describes an evaporator specifically designed for this refrigeration appliance. The evaporator includes a heat exchange surface with coil surfaces, evaporator fins, or a combination of both. The heat exchange surface is coated with a deicing nanocoating, similar to the one described earlier, to form heating elements associated with a discrete heating area. By selectively applying a current to these heating elements, ice build-up in the discrete heating area can be melted.
The method of defrosting the evaporator involves coating a portion of the heat exchange surface with the hydrogel-based deicing coating and operating the evaporator during a defrost cycle. The hydrogel-based deicing coating is formulated using a selected monomer, water-soluble initiator, and cross-linker, with the thermoresistive material dispersed within it. The ice nucleation temperature for this method is also specified to be -20 to -30 degrees Celsius.
In summary, this patent describes a refrigeration appliance with a unique deicing system that utilizes a hydrogel-based nanocoating with a thermoresistive material. The coating is applied to a portion of the heat exchange surface of the evaporator, allowing for efficient melting of ice build-up. The patent also includes details about the design of the evaporator and a method for defrosting it.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
