Assembly and cooling and chilling method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Half-height refrigerated shelves lack flexibility in accommodating goods with varying cooling requirements, as they typically provide a uniform cooling environment that may not meet the specific temperature needs of different products.
Innovation Solution
A cooling method that divides the circulating air flow into external and internal streams, with the external stream cooling the goods room cover and the internal stream directly cooling the goods, allowing for customizable temperature control by combining the streams after the goods room cover is passed, and optionally directing flows above and below the goods for enhanced cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a uniform cooling environment is provided in half-height refrigerated shelves, then the cooling system is simple to operate, but it cannot meet the specific temperature needs of different products
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent air streams: an outer stream that flows outside the goods room cover and an inner stream that flows inside the goods room cover. Each stream can be controlled independently, allowing different temperature zones to be created for different products while using a single cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the goods room are provided with different cooling characteristics through the dual-stream system. The outer stream cools the goods room cover and provides a first cooling class, while the inner stream directly cools the goods and provides a second cooling class, enabling local temperature customization without system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the circulating air flow is divided into outer and inner streams for selective cooling, then temperature flexibility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single circulating air flow is segmented into two functional streams based on their path and purpose: the outer stream for cooling the cover and providing ambient cooling, and the inner stream for direct product cooling. This segmentation is achieved through the physical configuration of the goods room cover rather than complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The goods room cover serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural element, a thermal barrier, and a flow divider. By positioning the cover to divide the air stream into outer and inner paths, the system achieves cooling differentiation without adding separate control devices, maintaining simplicity while enabling versatility.
3Temperature
If the display cover is made larger to provide better cooling protection, then goods requiring cooler storage can be placed under it, but the cover becomes harder to open and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The goods room cover is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion provides the larger cooling protection area, while the movable portion (hinged or sliding) can be opened for restocking. This segmentation allows the cover to maintain its large protective surface while remaining easy to operate when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The display cover transitions from a static, fully fixed structure to a dynamic structure with movable sections. The movable portion can be opened or adjusted to facilitate restocking operations, while the fixed portion maintains the larger cooling protection area, combining both benefits of extended cooling coverage and operational ease.
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 method increases flexibility in presenting goods by allowing for different cooling classes to be stored together, ensuring even cooling and energy efficiency by recombining the air streams, while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating air cooling flow (50) guided through the goods space (20) is divided into an outer flow (51) running outside a movable goods room cover (30) and an inner flow (52) running inside the goods room cover (30)
Data Source
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AI summary
To increase the flexibility regarding the goods that can be presented or offered in a half-height refrigerated display case in a structurally simple way, a cooling or keeping-cold method for cooling or keeping goods in a half-height refrigerated display case can be characterized by a recirculating air cooling flow that splits into an external flow running outside an openable product compartment cover and an internal flow running inside the product compartment cover, and then reunites the external and internal flows after the product compartment cover has been passed.