Cold Pack Cooling Composition With Phosphate Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling agents are often toxic, explosive, and non-recyclable, limiting their commercial success and environmental sustainability, especially with ammonium nitrate and urea-based compositions facing safety concerns and regulatory issues.

Innovation Solution

Combining ammonium phosphate compounds with strongly oxidizing compounds to create non-explosive, recyclable cooling compositions that can be reused as balanced NPK fertilizers, stabilizing mixtures like ammonium nitrate and urea, and incorporating thickening agents for enhanced safety and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ammonium nitrate and urea are used as cooling agents, then cooling capacity is improved, but safety and stability deteriorate due to explosive and combustion risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Phosphate compounds are introduced as intermediary substances that suppress the explosive and combustion properties of ammonium nitrate and urea. The phosphate acts as a stabilizing mediator that allows the cooling agents to maintain their endothermic cooling capacity while reducing safety risks associated with detonation and combustion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical composition parameters of the cooling mixture are changed by adding phosphate compounds, which modifies the physical and chemical properties of the system. This parameter change reduces the sensitivity to detonation and combustion while preserving the endothermic dissolution process that provides cooling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If traditional cooling agents are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but environmental sustainability and recyclability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidrecyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables recovery and reuse of the cooling agent mixture after it has served its cooling purpose. The spent cooling mixture, containing ammonium nitrate, urea, and phosphate compounds, can be recovered and applied as fertilizer, transforming waste material into a valuable agricultural product and eliminating the need for disposal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling agent mixture serves dual functions: first as a cooling agent through endothermic dissolution, and then as a balanced NPK fertilizer when applied to soil. This multi-functionality allows the same material to provide cooling effectiveness and then environmental benefit through recyclability as fertilizer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If highly oxidizing compounds are used to enhance cooling, then cooling capacity is improved, but combustion and explosion risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidcombustion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful oxidizing properties of compounds like ammonium nitrate and urea are converted into a beneficial stabilizing effect when phosphate compounds are added. The phosphate transforms the potentially dangerous high reactivity into a stable, safe mixture that maintains cooling capacity while eliminating combustion and explosion hazards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution provides safe, effective, and recyclable cooling agents that reduce environmental impact by converting spent cooling agents into reusable fertilizers, maintaining cooling capacity while minimizing safety risks and regulatory concerns.

Implementation Method 1

Combining ammonium phosphate compounds with strongly oxidizing compounds to create non-explosive, recyclable cooling compositions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStabilization:

Implementation Method 2

Compositions producing an endothermic reaction when mixed with water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEndothermic reaction: Endothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentUS10155698B2Cooling agent for cold packs and food and beverage containers

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 FROSTY TECH LLC

AI summary

Safe, stable, non-toxic and recyclable cooling agent compositions comprising solid particulate compounds undergo an endothermic process when mixed with water such that the resulting mixture is useful for cooling surfaces, liquids and solids. The mixtures include ammonium nitrate in an amount of at least 45 wt % of the mixture. Total nitrogen-containing salts exclusive of phosphates are present in an amount less than 68% by weight of the composition. A phosphate salt is also present in an amount as needed to stabilize the composition against detonation. A balance of additional salts is formulated to provide the mixture with a cooling capacity of at least 240 kJ/kg of the mixture.