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http://dx.doi.org/10.7736/KSPE.2015.32.8.727

Study of Structural Stiffness of Refrigerator Cabinet Using the Topology Optimization of a Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP)  

Jeong, Gil-Eon (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Kang, Pilseong (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Youn, Sung-Kie (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Yeo, Inseok (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Song, Tae-Ho (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
Kim, Jun O (DMC R&D Center, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Kim, Dae Whan (DMC R&D Center, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Kuk, Keon (DMC R&D Center, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering / v.32, no.8, 2015 , pp. 727-734 More about this Journal
Abstract
Currently, polyurethane (PU) foam is used in most refrigerators as a thermal insulator, whereby the material contributes to structural stiffness by joining the refrigerator cases; however, refrigerator PU foam induces a low thermal efficiency and results in environmental contamination. To resolve these issues, we applied the vacuum insulated panel (VIP) instead of PU form in the design of a new refrigerator type, whereby the VIP significantly contributes to the rectification of the previously mentioned issues. The VIP structure, however, cannot effectively hold refrigerator cases, so the present study investigated a new frame-structure concept by evaluating the stiffness using the topology optimization of refrigerator cases. Lastly, a refrigerator prototype comprising an optimal frame structure was built and subject to a stiffness test, and a comparison of the test results with those of a conventional refrigerator show that the structural stiffness of the prototype is sufficiently effective.
Keywords
Topology optimization; Structural stiffness; Refrigerator; Cabinet;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 5  (Citation Analysis)
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