Cold Room Combination Vent and Light to Prevent Ice Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief vents in cold rooms are inadequate in managing air pressure differentials, leading to condensation, frosting, and potential door closure issues, and are often inefficient due to large air movements and ice formation on valves, which can cause safety hazards and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A cold room vent with a gravity-biased valve assembly that allows for multiple angular orientations and includes an integrated LED light assembly to prevent ice formation, featuring dual-stage venting for both positive and negative pressure changes, and a heat sink to maintain valve functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If large sized vents are used to equalize pressure quickly, then pressure equalization speed is improved, but ice block formation and safety hazards worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The vent is divided into multiple small vent holes instead of a single large opening. This segmentation allows air to pass through multiple pathways, increasing the overall effective area for pressure equalization while preventing ice blocks from forming and blocking the entire vent. The distributed small holes reduce the risk of complete blockage and improve safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple small sized vents are used, then ice block formation is reduced, but pressure equalization capacity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple small vent holes are distributed across the vent structure, creating numerous parallel airflow pathways. This segmentation approach increases the total effective venting area while maintaining small individual hole sizes that are less susceptible to complete blockage by ice.
3Use of energy by moving object
If passive ports are used to maintain neutral air pressure, then energy consumption is reduced, but unwanted air migration worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The vent incorporates a heated zone around the vent holes to create a local temperature gradient. This localized heating prevents condensation and frosting at the vent opening, allowing the passive port to function effectively without unwanted air migration, while energy consumption remains low due to the localized nature of the heating.
4Ease of operation
If vents are used to relieve pressure during door opening, then door operation is improved, but condensation and frosting worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The vent creates a localized heated environment at the vent opening through resistive heating elements. This local heating prevents the temperature drop that causes condensation and frosting, while still allowing the vent to function in relieving pressure during door opening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are activated in advance of potential condensation formation, preemptively warming the vent area to prevent moisture accumulation before it can occur during door opening cycles.
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 effectively manages air pressure changes, prevents ice formation on valves, ensures safe and efficient door operation, and reduces inventory and maintenance costs by allowing the same valve components to function in various orientations and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an integrated LED light assembly
Implementation Method 2
a heat sink to maintain valve functionality
Implementation Method 3
a gravity-biased valve assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A combination light and pressure relief vent is disclosed which includes a housing, a valve assembly, and a light assembly. The housing include a multi-radial positionable valve body, port tube, and an outside louver. The valve assembly includes a low positive pressure exhaust valve, a high positive pressure exhaust valve, a low negative pressure intake valve, and a high negative pressure intake valve. The light assembly includes a heat sink casing which defines a heat chamber and which includes a projection extending into the heat chamber. The casing is coupled to an LED module wherein heat generated by the LED module is transferred through the casing to the heat chamber to warm the valve assembly.