Cold-storage agent, refrigerated container, and method for refrigerated transportation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold-storage agents and refrigerated containers face challenges in maintaining a temperature range of -22 to -18°C for extended periods, leading to inefficiencies in food preservation and transportation, and existing methods consume excessive energy and have poor containing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cold-storage agent comprising water, ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium sulfate, with specific ratios, and a refrigerated container design with heat-insulating properties and refrigerant holding portions, allows for efficient refrigeration and transportation of refrigerated targets at different temperature ranges without the need for specialized facilities or cooling devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cold-storage agents (metal salt aqueous solutions) are used, then cooling effect is achieved, but supercooling occurs and facility limitations arise for freezing the cold-storage agent
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the cold-storage agent by formulating a specific eutectic mixture of ammonium chloride (20-40 mass%), potassium chloride (10-30 mass%), and sodium sulfate (10-30 mass%). This composition modification enables the mixture to freeze at temperatures close to the target temperature (within -3°C), eliminating supercooling issues and facility limitations while maintaining effective cooling performance.
2Temperature
If refrigerated containers using ice or dry ice are used, then refrigeration is achieved, but temperature control precision is poor for food preservation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the thermal properties of the refrigerant by using a eutectic mixture with specifically controlled composition ratios. This enables the refrigerant to maintain a stable freezing point close to -18°C, providing precise temperature control suitable for food preservation, unlike conventional ice (0°C) or dry ice (-78.5°C).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite refrigerant system by combining multiple salt hydrates (ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium sulfate) in specific proportions. This composite approach leverages the eutectic effect to achieve a customized freezing point that precisely matches food preservation requirements, improving temperature control precision.
3Temperature
If refrigerated containers using pumps for refrigeration are used, then refrigeration is achieved, but containing efficiency decreases due to space requirements and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for complex mechanical refrigeration systems (pumps, compressors, power supplies) by using a passive cold-storage agent based on phase change of a eutectic salt mixture. This simplifies the container design, maximizes containing efficiency, and removes energy consumption concerns while maintaining effective refrigeration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold-storage agent performs refrigeration autonomously through its phase change properties, requiring no external power source or mechanical assistance. The eutectic mixture naturally freezes and melts at the desired temperature, providing self-regulating refrigeration that improves containing efficiency and eliminates energy consumption issues associated with pump-based systems.
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 extends refrigeration time to several tens of hours, improves operational safety, and enables long-distance transportation of refrigerated goods without a cooling device, while maintaining efficient refrigeration and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a cold-storage agent including: water; ammonium chloride; potassium chloride; and sodium sulfate
Implementation Method 2
content of the ammonium chloride, the potassium chloride, and the sodium sulfate satisfies the following Formula (1)
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerated container main body having a heat-insulating property
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
Provided is a cold-storage agent freezing at a temperature range of a freezer in a household refrigerator and excellent in cooling retaining performance. In a cold-storage agent including: water; ammonium chloride; potassium chloride; and sodium sulfate, content of the ammonium chloride, the potassium chloride, and the sodium sulfate satisfies the following Formula (1): 1.0<ammonium chloride/(potassium chloride +sodiumsulfate)<5.0