Automated storage system including multiple climate zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage systems with temperature zones face challenges such as high costs, complex control systems, and reduced storage capacity due to the need for hermetically sealed jackets and continuous air curtains to prevent thermal losses, which also complicate maintenance and fire protection.
Innovation Solution
An automated storage system with a tub that encloses the low-temperature zone circumferentially but remains open upwards, allowing natural convection to retain cooler air without the need for mechanical gates or air curtains, and uses lifters for vertical transport, eliminating the need for horizontal transfer conveyors and reducing overall system complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If hermetically sealed jackets are used to enclose low-temperature zones, then thermal losses are prevented, but system costs and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ceiling element from the hermetically sealed jacket structure, creating an open top design. This removes the need for complex sealing mechanisms at the top of the low-temperature zone while maintaining thermal efficiency through natural convection patterns. The jacket remains sealed at the bottom and sides but is intentionally opened at the top to eliminate complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses natural convection currents to maintain temperature separation without requiring active sealing mechanisms. The cooler air naturally sinks and warmer air rises, creating self-regulating air flows that maintain thermal zones without complex mechanical or electronic control systems.
2Temperature
If air curtains are operated continuously to prevent cold air emergence, then thermal separation is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous air curtain operation, the system relies on periodic natural convection cycles where cooler air naturally sinks and warmer air rises. This passive periodic thermal exchange maintains temperature separation without continuous energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air curtain system with a passive thermal convection system. Natural buoyancy forces driven by temperature differences replace the need for mechanically powered air curtains, significantly reducing energy consumption.
3Loss of energy
If movable gates are used for horizontal passage of storage goods, then thermal losses are reduced, but control complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the movable gate element from the system entirely. Storage goods are transferred vertically through the open top of the tub rather than horizontally through sealed gates, eliminating the need for complex gate mechanisms and their associated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of horizontal transfer through sealed gates, the system inverts the transfer direction to vertical movement through the open top. This reverses the traditional approach and eliminates the need for thermal sealing at transfer points.
4Loss of energy
If hermetically sealed jackets are used, then thermal efficiency is improved, but accessibility and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ceiling sealing element, creating an open top design that provides direct access to the interior of the low-temperature zone. This allows easy accessibility for maintenance and fire protection while maintaining thermal efficiency through sealed bottom and side walls.
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 solution reduces investment costs, simplifies control efforts, maintains storage capacity, and enhances accessibility and fire protection by eliminating the need for complex sealing and continuous air flow, while ensuring efficient temperature separation between zones.
Implementation Method 1
An automated storage system with a tub that encloses the low-temperature zone circumferentially but remains open upwards, allowing natural convection to retain cooler air
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed a picking method (100) as well as an automated storage system (12) including a high-temperature zone and a low-temperature zone. The storage system comprises: at least one rack (30) including several rack levels (36) on top of each other and an aisle (32) laterally adjacent to the rack (30); a plurality of shuttle (50) in the aisle for storing and retrieving storage goods (70) in and from storage locations (42) of the at least one rack (30) and for horizontally transporting the storage goods (70); a stationary lifter (16) for vertically transporting the storage goods (70); and a tub (34) defining the low-temperature zone (52); wherein, in a height region of at least one of the rack levels (36), the tub (34): encloses, in a circumferentially closed manner, a group of contiguous storage locations (42) and the lifter (16); encloses closed downwards the group of contiguous storage locations (42); encloses closed, or closable, downwards the lifter (16); and is open upwards.