Refrigeration device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration devices for cargo containers require cumbersome manual monitoring and adjustments to maintain low-temperature conditions for pest control during transportation, as they lack automatic control over temperature fluctuations, leading to potential failures in quarantine regulations.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration device with a control system that automatically adjusts the temperature of the cargo and interior of the container using sensors and a refrigerant circuit, allowing for continuous monitoring and precise control of the blow-out temperature and cargo temperature to maintain predetermined low-temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring and adjustment of temperature is performed, then the low-temperature treatment can be carried out, but the user workload increases and the process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration device automatically monitors cargo temperature and adjusts the refrigerant circuit operation without user intervention. The control unit continuously reads temperature sensor data and autonomously controls the compressor and expansion valve to maintain the required low-temperature conditions, eliminating manual monitoring and adjustment work
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor cargo temperature and feed this information back to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the refrigeration system parameters (compressor speed, expansion valve opening) to maintain the temperature within the required range for pest control compliance
2Extent of automation
If automatic control based on blow-out temperature is used, then the refrigeration process is automated, but the control does not account for cargo temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives real-time temperature data from sensors positioned in the cargo and uses this feedback to continuously adjust the refrigeration system. This closed-loop control ensures that cargo temperature fluctuations are detected and corrected automatically, maintaining reliable temperature control throughout the transport period
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively adjusts refrigeration parameters before cargo temperature deviations become problematic. By continuously monitoring and anticipating temperature changes, the control unit makes preliminary adjustments to the compressor and expansion valve to prevent temperature excursions that would compromise pest control treatment effectiveness
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 eliminates the need for manual adjustments, ensuring consistent low-temperature treatment and compliance with quarantine regulations, reducing user workload and ensuring effective pest control during transportation.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant circuit (10) and performs low-temperature treatment operation to treat a cargo (500) in an interior (S4) of the container (6)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigeration device (1) includes a blow-out temperature detector (SS) that detects the blow-out temperature of air blown out into the interior of the device, a cargo temperature detector (CS) that detects the temperature of a cargo, an operation controller (51) that performs cooling control of the interior on the basis of the detection temperature from the blow-out temperature detector (SS) and the detection temperature from the cargo temperature detector (CS), a storage unit (52) that stores a first set temperature (A) as a control target value for the blow-out temperature and a cargo target temperature as a target value for the temperature of the cargo, and a time measurement unit (53) that measures a treatment time elapsed for low-temperature treatment of the cargo. The operation controller (51) is configured to control the refrigerant circuit so that the blow-out temperature approaches the first set temperature (A). The time measurement unit (53) is configured to start measuring the treatment time when the temperature of the cargo is lower than the cargo target temperature.