Apparatuses and methods for providing temperature controlled portable container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery systems for perishable goods, such as dairy and frozen foods, often fail to maintain optimal temperature conditions during transportation and storage, leading to product spoilage and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A portable, insulated refrigeration container system equipped with a temperature control device using vortex tube technology, allowing for independent temperature regulation and integration with a host temperature control system, ensuring products remain within a safe temperature range without the need for continuous power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional refrigeration systems are used during delivery, then temperature control is maintained, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature control function from a complex traditional refrigeration system and implements it through a simplified phase change material-based system. The PCM capsules contain the refrigerant function, while the insulated container provides passive cooling without requiring complex mechanical refrigeration components, motors, or continuous power supply systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic phase change of materials (solid-liquid transitions of PCM) to provide temperature control. The phase change occurs at specific temperature thresholds, automatically absorbing or releasing heat as needed without continuous active control, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining effective temperature regulation during delivery.
2Temperature
If active refrigeration systems are used, then temperature control is reliable, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change materials serve themselves by automatically absorbing heat when temperature rises above the phase change point and releasing heat when temperature drops below it. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for external power sources, control systems, or active refrigeration components, thereby drastically reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable temperature control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple handling steps are used (distribution center to vehicle to customer), then delivery flexibility increases, but temperature control reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent PCM capsules distributed throughout the container. This segmentation allows the temperature control function to be maintained across different handling scenarios - whether the container is stationary, being transported, or undergoing transfers - as each capsule independently contributes to the overall thermal regulation, ensuring reliability throughout the entire delivery chain.
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
The system effectively maintains perishable goods at safe temperatures during transport and storage, extending product safety and longevity, and allows for flexible placement and use at customer locations, reducing handling time and the need for traditional refrigeration appliances.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of phase change materials configured to maintain the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
a second plurality of phase change materials configured to maintain a temperature of the heat transfer medium circulating between the first plurality of phase change materials and the insulated storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing temperature control. An apparatus for temperature control comprises a portable housing configured for delivery of items, an insulated storage compartment in the portable housing and configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable housing, a temperature control device configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment, and a host coupler configured to couple with a host temperature control system to allow the host temperature control system to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment. Wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment without the host coupler being coupled to the host temperature control system.