Bulk Bin Ventilation Insert for Convective Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Standard bulk containers struggle to dissipate heat effectively, leading to increased spoilage and transportation costs of perishable products due to inadequate ventilation.

Innovation Solution

A bulk bin assembly with a ventilation insert that creates an air flow channel through the container, allowing ambient air to flow in and out, reducing the need for vacuum-cooling operations by enhancing heat transfer and temperature differential.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If standard bulk containers are used without ventilation inserts, then the container structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but heat dissipation is inadequate leading to increased product spoilage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into functional zones using a ventilation insert that divides the interior space. The insert includes side walls with ventilation openings that segment the container into a first region (above the insert) and a second region (below the insert), allowing differentiated air flow patterns for improved heat dissipation while maintaining structural organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation insert acts as an intermediary component between the container walls and the stored products. It mediates heat transfer by providing a structured pathway for air circulation through ventilation openings in its side walls, enabling efficient convective cooling without requiring direct modification of the container structure or product packaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If ventilation openings are added to container walls, then air flow is improved for cooling, but structural strength and integrity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow capabilityVSAvoidcontainer wall strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation functionality is segmented from the main container walls and implemented in the ventilation insert's side walls. This allows the container walls to remain intact and structurally strong, while the insert provides the necessary ventilation openings for air flow without compromising the overall container strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation insert is constructed from corrugated board material that provides structural flexibility and strength. The corrugated structure maintains wall integrity while allowing for the incorporation of ventilation openings, balancing structural requirements with air flow needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If vacuum-cooling operations are used to maintain product freshness, then product spoilage is reduced, but transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct freshness maintenanceVSAvoidcooling operation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation insert enables the container to perform self-cooling through natural convection currents. Ambient air enters through ventilation openings in the container walls and flows through the insert's internal passages, automatically removing heat from stored products without requiring external vacuum-cooling equipment or energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes pneumatic principles by employing natural convection air currents to achieve cooling. The ventilation openings and internal passages create pressure differentials that drive air flow through the container, enabling passive thermal management without mechanical cooling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 bulk bin assembly effectively reduces spoilage and transportation costs by maintaining product freshness through improved convective cooling, potentially eliminating the need for costly vacuum-cooling operations.

Implementation Method 1

permit ambient air to flow through the ventilation opening and through the insert opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9868562B2Bulk bin assembly with a horizontal ventilation insert and method for forming the same

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES LLC

AI summary

A bulk bin assembly formed from a plurality of blanks material is provided. The bulk bin assembly includes a container portion including a plurality of side walls, wherein at least one side wall has a ventilation opening defined therein. The bulk bin assembly further includes a ventilation insert including a plurality of side panels and at least one insert opening defined in at least one side panel. The ventilation insert is positioned within a cavity of the container portion such that an air flow channel defined by the plurality of side panels is in air flow communication with the ventilation opening of the container portion to permit ambient air to flow through the ventilation opening and through the insert opening.