Active dehumidification container having breathing function

Abstract

The present invention relates to an active dehumidification container having a breathing function, the container maintaining relative humidity inside a container at or below a predetermined level to prevent condensation from forming on cargo loaded inside the container. The container is provided with a ventilation module which allows air to flow in and out of the container and has a function of controlling humidity inside the container, the ventilation module comprising: a sensing unit for sensing a specific physical quantity inside the container; a valve unit for allowing air to flow in and out of the container or blocking the airflow on the basis of the physical quantity sensed by the sensing unit; a dehumidifying agent holder connected to the valve unit; and a dehumidifying member connected to the dehumidifying agent holder and having a dehumidifying agent inside such that the air outside the container, which has passed through the valve unit, undergoes a dehumidifying process before being introduced into the container.

Description

Active dehumidifying container with respiratory function

[0001] The present invention relates to an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function, intended to control the relative humidity inside a container to a level below a certain threshold in order to prevent condensation from forming on cargo loaded inside the container. Specifically, the invention relates to a technology that detects the temperature, humidity, or pressure inside the container and, based on this, enables airflow between the inside and outside air of the container to maintain the relative humidity inside the container at a constant level below a certain threshold.

[0002] Generally, numerous types of cargo can be selected for loading inside a container, such as rubber, leather products, household electrical appliances, plastic products, canned goods, food products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, toys, office equipment, raw hides, pulp, metal products, and wood products, but there are cargoes that are unsuitable for loading inside a container depending on the nature, volume, weight, shape, etc.

[0003] Therefore, in the case of containerized cargo, information such as size, weight, volume, and properties is identified first, and based on the confirmed cargo information, the most suitable container is selected considering the safe transportation and economic efficiency of the cargo.

[0004] Meanwhile, large cargo that is difficult to load into containers or cargo requiring frozen or refrigerated transport is specially packaged, and numerous special containers have been developed and are in use for this purpose.

[0005] For example, in the case of large cargo that is difficult to accommodate inside a container, special packaging is carried out using flat rack containers with the ceiling and side walls removed or open-top containers with an open roof, while frozen or refrigerated cargo is transported using reefer containers equipped with an insulated interior space and a refrigeration unit.

[0006] On the other hand, the transportation of general cargo, excluding the special containers mentioned above, is primarily carried out by standard containers known as dry containers. These dry containers are welded-steel structures in which each part forming the internal space is individually assembled, and are configured to provide structural strength as well as protection against corrosion and external impact.

[0007] To this end, the dry container is configured such that a plurality of steel rails, corner posts, and a frame are welded to form a skeleton, and each side is formed from a corrugated steel plate having a predetermined thickness and integrally welded to the rails, posts, and frame, thereby securing structural strength and a cushioning structure against external impact.

[0008] Meanwhile, dry containers with the above-mentioned structure are mainly used for maritime transport using ships. In the case of cargo transport by sea, the cargo may be exposed to severe changes in ambient temperature during transport, which causes condensation (dew drop), known as container rain, to occur on the inner walls of the container and the cargo, resulting in fatal damage to the loaded cargo such as mold, corrosion, oxidation, and warping.

[0009] In particular, among cargo contained inside containers, metal cargo has a relatively high thermal capacity, resulting in a surface temperature that is lower than the temperature of the air inside the container; therefore, there is a very high possibility of direct condensation occurring on the cargo surface. Furthermore, if air containing salt causes surface condensation during maritime transport, the likelihood of oxidation or corrosion of the cargo increases.

[0010] To prevent such condensation, methods such as applying an anti-rust coating to the product itself or injecting preservatives to prevent mold have been used. However, anti-rust coatings have the problem of requiring the removal of the coating layer after transportation is completed, and injecting preservatives does not serve as a fundamental solution to the condensation problem. Furthermore, special containers present undesirable issues in terms of economic feasibility when transporting large quantities of low-value cargo.

[0011] Meanwhile, refrigerated containers (also known as reefers), which are representative containers for transporting frozen or refrigerated cargo, can be viewed as so-called passive dehumidifying containers. They utilize external power to control internal humidity and temperature, setting arbitrary target values ​​for temperature and humidity and forcibly achieving them. However, it is difficult to use passive dehumidifying containers in areas where power supply is scarce.

[0012] In particular, marine containers travel over the sea for very long periods and are exposed to various temperature and humidity environments. To prevent condensation inside the container, technology was needed to maintain relative humidity below a certain level.

[0013] The present invention aims to provide a semi-active container that has the function of dehumidifying the air inside the container by directly driving a one-way valve unit using data on temperature, humidity, and pressure inside the container.

[0014] The present invention relates to an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function for controlling the relative humidity inside a container to a level below a certain threshold to prevent condensation from occurring on cargo loaded inside the container, and the specific structure is as follows.

[0015] The present invention comprises a ventilation module having a humidity control function inside the container while communicating air inside and outside the container, and said ventilation module can be installed inside or outside the container.

[0016] The above ventilation module may include: a sensing unit that detects a specific physical quantity inside the container; a valve unit that communicates or blocks the external air and internal air of the container based on the physical quantity detected by the sensing unit; a desiccant holder connected to the valve unit; and a dehumidifying member connected to the desiccant holder and having a desiccant inside, so that the external air of the container that has passed through the valve unit undergoes a dehumidification process and then flows into the container.

[0017] It may further include: a ventilation hole formed in the side plate of the container to allow external air to flow into the ventilation module in order to communicate the air inside and outside the container; and a solar cell module provided in the side plate of the container to supply power to the valve part or the sensing part. Power may also be supplied by providing a battery instead of the solar cell module.

[0018] When the above ventilation module is located inside a container, it is preferable to further include a cable that supplies power from the solar cell module to the valve part or the sensing part, and for the cable to be positioned inside and outside the container through the ventilation hole.

[0019] The above valve section may be operated by electric or magnetic force, or by the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container.

[0020] The above dehumidifier holder comprises: a body portion that is hollow and vertically perforated to allow air to flow vertically; an inlet provided at the top of the body portion and connected to the valve portion, serving as a passage through which air passing through the valve portion flows into the interior; and a dehumidifier member catch portion for the dehumidifier member to be caught and connected.

[0021] The above dehumidifying member is composed of a plurality of first to nth dehumidifying members connected vertically in a continuous manner below the dehumidifier holder, and between each of the first to nth dehumidifying members, a connecting joint is provided that connects them while allowing air to pass through but preventing the dehumidifier from passing through, so that the air passing through the dehumidifying member is discharged into the container after undergoing a dehumidification process.

[0022] The present invention utilizes the above-described structure to detect data on temperature, humidity, and pressure inside a container and, based on this, directly drives a valve unit to maintain the humidity of the air inside the container below a certain level. Furthermore, through a desiccant provided in a desiccant holder, the present invention achieves the effect of maintaining the relative humidity of the air inside the container at a constant level below a certain level, even when external air flows into the container or internal air is discharged to the outside.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention, and

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a ventilation module of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention, and

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the ventilation module installed on the side wall of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a partial configuration of the ventilation module of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention.

[0027] The objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Additionally, the terms used are defined with respect to their functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the user's intent or practice. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0028] In addition, when describing the components of the present invention, different reference numerals may be assigned to components with the same name depending on the drawing, and the same reference numeral may be assigned even if they are different drawings. However, even in such cases, this does not mean that the components have different functions depending on the embodiment, or that they have the same function in different embodiments, and the function of each component should be determined based on the description of each component in the corresponding embodiment.

[0029] Furthermore, technical terms used in this specification shall be interpreted in the sense generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless specifically defined otherwise in this specification, and shall not be interpreted in an overly broad or overly narrow sense. Additionally, singular expressions used in this specification include plural expressions unless the context otherwise indicates.

[0030] In this application, terms such as "composed" or "comprising" should not be interpreted as necessarily including all of the various components or steps described in the specification, and should be interpreted as potentially excluding some of the components or steps, or including additional components or steps.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a ventilation module of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention, FIG. 3 shows the ventilation module installed in an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial configuration of a ventilation module of an active dehumidifying container having a breathing function according to the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container according to the present invention. The container (100) according to the present invention comprises a bottom plate (110) located at the bottom, a top plate (120) spaced apart from the top of the bottom plate (110), and a side plate (130) installed vertically on the side between the bottom plate (110) and the top plate (120). Additionally, the container of the present invention includes a rear panel (140) and a front panel (150) installed at the rear and front, respectively, which are vertically arranged between the bottom plate (110) and the top plate (120), and this is similar to a general container structure. Furthermore, posts (P) that bear the load of the container in a vertical direction are provided at the corners of the container. Each face of the container is formed by integrally welding a corrugated steel plate having a predetermined thickness.

[0033] The present invention is a container having an active dehumidification function, characterized by: 1) a sealed container in which the interior of the container where the cargo is located is sealed to prevent air inside the container from freely escaping to the outside or air outside from freely entering the container; to this end, the gaps inside the container are sealed or welded to ensure complete sealing. 2) a sealed container configured in this way, which is provided with a passage through which the air inside the container and the air outside can communicate, which is an air passage through a ventilation module to be described below.

[0034] That is, the container according to the present invention has a structure in which the interior of the container is completely sealed when the door is closed, so the interior and exterior of the container are completely sealed except for the air passage through the valve section. To this end, the container of the present invention has the parts where the bottom plate (110), top plate (120), side plate (130), rear panel (140), and front panel (150) come into contact with each other welded or sealed to completely seal the interior. In this way, the interior of the container is sealed from the outside, and the air inside the container communicates with the outside air only through the ventilation module.

[0035] The reason for configuring air passages through ventilation modules in this manner is that if the interior of a container is completely sealed off by blocking external air, the side walls may bulge or collapse due to changes in air pressure caused by internal temperature fluctuations. In other words, when containers are loaded onto ships and sail across the ocean, they are exposed to various temperature environments. Problems arise because, in a sealed state, a drop in internal temperature causes internal pressure to decrease, leading to the collapse of the side walls, while a rise in internal temperature causes internal pressure to increase, resulting in the side walls protruding outwards.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a ventilation module (200, 300, 400) provided in the container of the present invention to communicate air inside and outside the container, and Fig. 3 shows the ventilation module installed on a container side plate (wall) as an example. That is, an opening is formed in the container wall, and the ventilation module described below is positioned at the location where the opening is formed.

[0037] In other words, the present invention is characterized by having a ventilation module (200, 300, 400) that communicates air inside and outside the container and has a humidity control function inside the container, and the ventilation module may be installed inside or outside the container. In the following description, the installation inside the container is used as an example.

[0038] The above ventilation module comprises a valve unit (200) that communicates or blocks the external air and internal air of the container based on a specific physical quantity inside the container, a desiccant holder (300) connected to the valve unit, and a dehumidifying member (400) connected to the desiccant holder. A desiccant is provided inside the dehumidifying member (400), so that the external air of the container that has passed through the valve unit undergoes a dehumidification process and then flows into the container. Here, a sensing unit that detects a specific physical quantity may be further included to detect the specific physical quantity inside the container. The valve unit communicates or blocks the external air and internal air of the container based on the physical quantity detected by the sensing unit. At this time, the physical quantity inside the container detected by the sensing unit is one or more of temperature, humidity, and pressure, but is not limited to the physical quantities presented herein. The sensing unit may be formed integrally with the valve unit, but may also be separated from the valve unit and positioned inside the container to more effectively detect the specific physical quantity.

[0039] In addition, to communicate air between the inside and outside of the container, a ventilation hole (135) formed in the container side plate (130) may be provided to allow outside air to flow into the container. In addition, the ventilation module may be installed inside or outside the container, and if the ventilation module is installed outside the container, it is installed adjacent to the ventilation hole, and if the ventilation module is installed inside the container, the outside air passing through the ventilation hole (135) flows into the valve part (200) of the ventilation module (see FIG. 3).

[0040] In addition, the valve or sensing unit may require power supply for operation, and for this purpose, a battery may be placed or a solar cell module (250) may be placed externally. When a solar cell module is placed for power supply, it is preferable to place it on the side plate of the container. In addition, when the ventilation module is located inside the container, a cable is provided to supply power from the solar cell module to the valve or sensing unit, and the cable is placed inside and outside the container through the ventilation hole (135).

[0041] The operation of the above valve part may be driven by such electric force or by magnetic force such as a magnet, or it may be driven by the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container.

[0042] The above valve section (200) is equipped with a plate (210) attached to the side plate of the container, a valve body (220) having a valve inside to control air flow, and a connection section (230) that allows air passing through the valve body to flow into the dehumidification section (300).

[0043] Based on specific physical quantities (temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.) inside the container detected by the sensing unit, the valve unit (200) opens and closes the valve inside the valve body to release internal air or introduce external air. Additionally, a control unit may be further included to receive physical quantity data detected by the sensing unit, make a judgment, and control the operation of the valve unit. If necessary, a fan and a motor may be further provided to allow external air to be introduced more effectively when the valve unit is open.

[0044] Looking at the operating principle, when the pressure inside the container is a specific physical quantity, if the pressure inside the container becomes higher than a specific value, the one-way valve inside the valve section opens, allowing air inside the container to be released to the outside. At this time, another one-way valve connected to the dehumidification section becomes closed. If the pressure inside the container becomes lower than a specific value, the valve inside the valve section opens, allowing air from outside the container to flow into the container. At this time, the one-way valve is closed when releasing the air to the outside.

[0045] However, since the outside air entering the container contains moisture, if it is introduced directly into the container, it increases the relative humidity inside the container, which becomes a problem. To solve this, the present invention ensures that the air introduced into the container passes through the desiccant holder (300) and dehumidifying member (400), which will be described below, before entering the container, thereby maintaining the humidity inside the container below a specific value. The desiccant holder (300) has a structure that is hollow vertically, and the dehumidifying member (400) is a bag-type member that is continuously arranged vertically within the desiccant holder and contains a desiccant inside to perform dehumidification.

[0046] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the dehumidifier holder (300) has a body portion (310) that is vertically perforated and hollow so that air can flow vertically. At the top of the body portion (310), an inlet (320) is formed, which is a passage for air passing through the valve portion (200) to flow into the interior, and a dehumidifier member hook portion (330) is formed to be hooked and connected to the dehumidifier member (400). The dehumidifier holder (300) can be hung at an appropriate location on the side wall of a container, and a hook portion (340) for this purpose may be formed at the top of the body portion (310). FIG. 3 illustrates, by way of example, the dehumidifier holder being hung at an appropriate location on the side wall of a container using the hook portion (340).

[0047] The above dehumidifying member (400) is composed of a plurality of first dehumidifying members (410), second dehumidifying members (420), third dehumidifying members (430), fourth dehumidifying members (440), etc., which are connected vertically and continuously below the dehumidifying member holder (300). For convenience, the lowest dehumidifying member is referred to as the nth dehumidifying member. Then, air passing through the dehumidifying member holder (300) and discharged to the lower part of the body portion (310) of the dehumidifying member holder flows into the interior of the dehumidifying member (400). Since a powder-type dehumidifying agent is provided inside the dehumidifying member (400), moisture contained in the external air is removed. Then, the air from which moisture has been removed is discharged to the outside through the lower part of the dehumidifying member (400) and enters the interior of the container.

[0048] If we look closely at the process of air passing through the dehumidifying member (400), the air first enters the interior of the first dehumidifying member (410) through the upper part of the first dehumidifying member (410) located at the top, and then exits through the lower part of the first dehumidifying member (410). Then, the air exiting through the lower part of the first dehumidifying member (410) does not exit outside the dehumidifying member but immediately flows into the interior of the second dehumidifying member (420) through the upper part of the second dehumidifying member (420), and then exits through the lower part of the second dehumidifying member (420). By repeating this process, the air passes through the nth dehumidifying member located at the bottom, and then is discharged through the lower part of the nth dehumidifying member and enters the interior of the container. However, since the first dehumidifying member (410), the second dehumidifying member (420), the third dehumidifying member (430), and the fourth dehumidifying member (440) are equipped with a powder-type dehumidifying agent inside, the external air is dehumidified through this process and flows into the container. The arrows A1, A2, and A3 shown in FIG. 2 indicate the direction of air flow.

[0049] To this end, the first dehumidifying member (410), the second dehumidifying member (420), the third dehumidifying member (430), and the fourth dehumidifying member (440) are connected to each other through a connecting joint (500). The connecting joint is provided with an air passage that allows air to pass through while preventing the internal dehumidifying agent from passing through. The connecting joint can be formed in various forms, such as stitching.

[0050] Additionally, the uppermost first dehumidifying member (410) forming the dehumidifying member (400) may be provided with a hook (400a) for hanging the dehumidifying member on the dehumidifier holder (300). Furthermore, a sealing band (400b) may be provided on the upper edge of the first dehumidifying member (410) for sealing while it is hung on the dehumidifier holder (300). When the first dehumidifying member (410) is hung on the dehumidifier holder (300), the upper edge of the first dehumidifying member (410) is made to adhere to the body part (310) of the dehumidifier holder by means of the sealing band, thereby preventing air from the dehumidifier holder (300) from entering the dehumidifying member (400) and being discharged.

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates the process of hanging a dehumidifying member on the dehumidifier holder (300) using the ring (400a) of the dehumidifying member (400). FIG. 4 illustrates only the first dehumidifying member (410) for convenience.

[0052] In the drawing, the inlet (320) located at the top of the dehumidifier holder (300) is shown as being directly connected to the valve section (200). However, there may be a separate connecting pipe (not shown) made of a flexible material between the inlet of the dehumidifier holder (300) and the valve section, so that the valve section (200) and the dehumidifier holder (300) can be positioned vertically. Additionally, the valve section may be located in a place suitable for the inflow of outside air into the container, and the dehumidifier holder (300) and the dehumidifying member may be installed in a place where the internal space of the container can be efficiently utilized (e.g., a corner of the container).

[0053] That is, the ventilation module can be installed inside or outside the container. When the ventilation module is installed inside the container, it is preferable to attach it to the container side plate (wall). Considering the efficiency of the cargo receiving space inside the container, the dehumidification unit is preferably provided in the inner curved gap of the post (P) located at the corner of the container.

[0054] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ventilation module is provided that communicates air inside and outside the container and has a humidity control function inside the container, and said ventilation module is installed inside or outside the container, and The above ventilation module is, A sensing unit that detects a specific physical quantity inside the above container; A valve unit that connects or blocks the external air and internal air of the container based on a physical quantity detected by the sensing unit; A desiccant holder connected to the above valve part; and An active dehumidifying container characterized by including a dehumidifying member connected to the dehumidifying holder and having a dehumidifying agent inside, so that external air of the container passing through the valve part undergoes a dehumidification process and then flows into the container.

2. In Paragraph 1, An active dehumidifying container characterized in that the physical quantity inside the container detected by the above-mentioned sensing unit is one or more of temperature, humidity, and pressure.

3. In Paragraph 2, A ventilation hole formed in the side plate of the container to allow external air to flow into the ventilation module in order to communicate the air inside and outside the container; and An active dehumidifying container characterized by further including a solar cell module provided on the side plate of the container to supply power to the valve part or the sensing part.

4. In Paragraph 3, When the above ventilation module is located inside a container, it further includes a cable that supplies power from the solar cell module to the valve part or the sensing part. An active dehumidifying container characterized in that the above cable is positioned inside and outside the container through the above ventilation holes.

5. In paragraph 3, the desiccant holder is, A hollow body portion that is vertically perforated to allow air to flow vertically; An inlet provided at the top of the body portion and connected to the valve portion, which is a passage through which air passing through the valve portion flows into the interior; and An active dehumidifying container characterized by including a dehumidifying member catch portion for connecting the above-mentioned dehumidifying member.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above dehumidifying member is composed of a plurality of first to nth dehumidifying members that are continuously connected vertically below the dehumidifier holder, and Between each of the above first to nth dehumidifying members, a connecting joint is provided that connects them while allowing air to pass through but preventing the dehumidifying agent from passing through. An active dehumidifying container characterized in that air passing through a dehumidifying element is discharged into the container after undergoing a dehumidification process.

7. In Paragraph 1, An active dehumidifying container characterized in that the above valve part is operated by a combination of electric force, magnetic force, or mechanical force combining these, or by a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container.

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