Cellulose Insulated Packaging for Cold-Chain Volume Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal insulating materials for cold chain shipments, such as EPS containers, suffer from poor volume efficiency, environmental concerns, and limited recycling options, leading to increased costs and waste.
Innovation Solution
A temperature insulated packaging system using cellulose-based materials, including a container and a liner with cellulose insulation sheets, which are coated with biodegradable plastics, to provide improved insulation and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If EPS containers are used for thermal insulation, then insulating qualities are satisfactory, but volume efficiency is poor and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the insulation material from expanded foam (EPS) to compressed fiber material, which can be densely packed. This parameter change in material density and structure achieves both good thermal insulation and high volume efficiency, allowing the container to be compact when empty yet provide adequate insulation when in use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fiber-based insulating material with controlled porosity that traps air pockets for thermal insulation while maintaining compressibility. The porous structure provides insulation performance similar to EPS but allows the material to be compressed into a compact state for efficient shipping and storage
2Temperature
If EPS containers are used for thermal insulation, then insulating qualities are satisfactory, but recycling options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition from synthetic foam (EPS) to natural or biodegradable fiber materials. This parameter change in material type enables the container to be recyclable through existing paper and cardboard recycling infrastructure, while the fiber structure and air trapping mechanism maintain thermal insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction combining fiber-based insulating material with recyclable container structures. This composite approach uses materials that can be processed through standard recycling facilities, eliminating the recycling difficulties associated with EPS while preserving insulation qualities through the layered composite design
3Object-affected harmful factors
If inflated air or foamed corn starch is used as green insulation, then environmental friendliness improves, but volume efficiency remains poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the insulating material from expanded or inflated forms (which occupy large volume) to compressed fiber form. This parameter change allows the environmentally friendly material to be densely packed during shipping and storage, achieving high volume efficiency while maintaining insulation performance when deployed in the container
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 offers enhanced insulation performance with a higher R-value and better volume efficiency, reducing waste and lowering costs by utilizing renewable and easily recyclable materials.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature insulated packaging system having improved insulating capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature insulated packaging system includes a container having interior surface bounding an interior volume and a liner disposed within the interior volume and at least partially bounding a compartment configured to receive an item for temperature insulated shipping. The liner includes a first sleeve made of cellulose material and at least partially bounds a channel. The first sleeve has an outside wall disposed adjacent to the container and an opposing inside wall disposed adjacent to the compartment configured to receive the item for shipping, the channel being disposed between the inside wall and the outside wall. At least one insulation sheet is disposed within the channel of the first sleeve, the at least one insulation sheet being made of a cellulose material and having a plurality of recesses formed thereon.