Chamber-Insulated Liquid Storage Container to Reduce Insulation Cost
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid storage containers with external insulation are expensive due to the need for custom insulation shapes matching the container's curved surfaces, making them costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A container with no external insulation, instead featuring an accessible chamber inside which is lined with flat, thermally insulating plates, allowing for flexible insulation regardless of the container's shape, using materials like foamed polystyrene or vacuum insulation to minimize thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the outside of the container is lined with insulating material to provide thermal insulation, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the complexity increases due to the need to adapt to curved surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the insulating material not on the outside of the container but on the inside of the chamber that houses the container. This reversal allows using simple flat panels instead of custom-shaped insulation, dramatically reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation system is segmented into separate flat panels that can be independently manufactured and assembled on the chamber walls. This segmentation allows each panel to be produced as a simple flat component rather than as a custom-shaped piece conforming to the container's curvature.
2Loss of energy
If the outside of the container is lined with insulating material to provide thermal insulation, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to custom shaping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the insulation placement to the chamber interior, the system eliminates the need to adapt insulation to the container's curved surface. The flat panels on the chamber walls provide uniform insulation without requiring complex shaping or custom fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat insulating panels serve as universal components that can be applied to any container shape within the chamber. The insulation system becomes independent of the specific container geometry, providing a universal solution that works with cylindrical, spherical, or any other shaped containers.
3Loss of energy
If the chamber is sized to accommodate the container with insulation, then the thermal insulation is maintained, but the accessibility for human operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation is segmented into thin flat panels placed on the chamber walls rather than as a thick layer on the container. This segmentation maintains thermal insulation effectiveness while preserving adequate space within the chamber for human access and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation is moved from the radial dimension (on the container surface) to the wall dimension (on the chamber interior surfaces). This dimensional relocation preserves the thermal barrier function while maintaining the internal volume available for human operation and container placement.
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 approach reduces production costs while maintaining effective thermal insulation, allowing for efficient temperature control of liquids, including water and other substances, with the option for underground or above-ground installation and integrated heating/cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
lined on its inner surface with a plate-shaped thermal insulation
Implementation Method 2
minimize thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 3
Vacuum insulation bodies can also be used, in which the actual insulation body is completely enclosed in an airtight shell and evacuated, thus reducing thermal conductivity to a minimum
Implementation Method 4
the walk-in chamber is filled with a gas, for example, air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a receptacle for storing a liquid, said receptacle having no insulation immediately on the outer surface thereof but being erected in a chamber which is accessible to a person and the inner surface of which is lined with a panel-shaped thermal insulation.