Bag-in-box Container Thermal Conduction Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid dispensers, such as those using bag-in-box containers, face challenges in rapidly cooling or heating the contents due to poor heat conduction properties of the container materials, leading to slow temperature equilibration and limited availability of cooled or heated water.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser system that includes a receptacle with a thermal conduction pad in thermal contact with the liquid storage container, allowing for efficient heat transfer and rapid cooling or heating of the liquid, along with a temperature regulation unit to maintain the desired temperature, and a bag-in-box container design with thermal conduction windows for enhanced heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional bag-in-box containers are used for liquid storage, then the container provides good sealing and portability, but the poor heat conduction properties of the container materials result in slow cooling or heating of the liquid contents
Solution Approach 1:
The container structure is segmented into distinct thermal zones: insulated walls for most of the container body to maintain temperature, and strategic thermal conduction windows at specific locations (top and bottom) to enable rapid heat transfer. This segmentation allows the container to simultaneously maintain temperature stability while enabling fast cooling/heating when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the container wall have different thermal properties. The majority of the container walls maintain insulating properties, while specific localized areas (thermal conduction windows) have enhanced thermal conduction properties. This local quality differentiation enables targeted heat transfer without compromising overall temperature maintenance.
2Productivity
If the entire liquid storage container is cooled or heated, then continuous access to temperature-controlled liquid is available, but the heat transfer efficiency is limited by the container material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conduction windows are pre-positioned in the container structure to enable rapid heat transfer when the container is placed in a temperature-controlled environment. This preliminary design feature ensures that when cooling or heating is needed, the container can quickly respond without waiting for slow heat diffusion through the entire container wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conduction windows act as intermediary elements between the container interior and the external temperature-controlled environment. These windows facilitate efficient thermal coupling, allowing the liquid contents to reach the desired temperature faster while the insulated walls prevent excessive heat loss during dispensing.
3Power
If thermal conduction windows are added to the bag-in-box container, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conduction windows are integrated into the existing container structure as nested features. The windows are formed within the container wall structure itself, utilizing the existing manufacturing processes and materials. This nesting approach adds thermal conduction capability without requiring separate external components or significantly complicating the overall container construction.
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 enables rapid and efficient cooling or heating of the entire contents of the liquid storage container, maintaining the desired temperature and providing continuous access to cooled or heated liquid without contamination, outperforming traditional methods by utilizing thermal conduction pads and strategically designed bag-in-box containers.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal conduction pad in thermal contact with the liquid storage container, allowing for efficient heat transfer and rapid cooling or heating of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a temperature regulation unit to maintain the desired temperature
Implementation Method 3
a bag-in-box container design with thermal conduction windows for enhanced heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for relative rapid cooling or heating of the contents of a liquid storage container provides a receptacle for receiving the liquid storage container therein and positioning a thermal transfer portion of the liquid storage container in thermal conductive relationship with a thermal conduction pad associated with the receptacle. Thermal energy is effectively and efficiently transferred from the thermal conduction pad to the liquid in the liquid storage container. The thermal conduction pad is controlled to provide and maintain the desired temperature to the liquid. The liquid is dispensed directly from the container. Various types of containers can be used in the dispenser, with a special bag-in-box container having a inner container and outer box with thermal conduction windows in the box to provide good heat transfer between the thermal conduction pads and the inner container constituting an aspect of the invention. A special rigid container can also be used.