Cold storage unit, moving body, ice slurry supply system, cold storage article transport system, cold storage method for cold storage article, and transport method for cold storage article
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold storage units using dry ice face issues with carbon dioxide leakage, pressure buildup, and environmental impact, as well as high costs due to non-recyclable and inefficient cooling sources.
Innovation Solution
A cold storage unit with a heat-insulating structure and a partition wall filled with an ice slurry made from brine and flake ice, allowing for efficient cooling and recycling of the refrigerant, and featuring a supply and discharge system for the ice slurry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If dry ice is used as a cold source in a cold storage container, then cooling capacity is provided, but carbon dioxide is generated and leaks into the cargo chamber or atmosphere causing environmental harm and pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the refrigerant from solid (dry ice) to liquid (ice slurry of brine and flake ice). This parameter change allows the refrigerant to be contained in a sealed chamber without pressure buildup from sublimation, while eliminating CO2 emissions. The liquid ice slurry can be pumped and circulated efficiently, providing the needed cooling capacity without the harmful side effects of dry ice sublimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the non-recyclable dry ice with a recyclable ice slurry system. The brine and flake ice can be recovered, reused, and regenerated at distribution bases, transforming a disposable cold source into a sustainable, circular cooling system that eliminates continuous consumption of new refrigerant material.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a sealed cooling chamber structure is used to prevent carbon dioxide leakage, then CO2 containment is improved, but pressure buildup occurs and the chamber may deform
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the refrigerant from solid dry ice that sublimes to gas to a liquid ice slurry that does not undergo phase change under storage conditions. This eliminates the pressure buildup problem entirely, as the liquid refrigerant remains stable in the sealed chamber without generating gas pressure that could deform the structure.
3Temperature
If dry ice is used for cold storage, then cooling is provided, but the cold source cannot be recycled leading to high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a recovery and recycling system where the ice slurry is discharged from the cold storage unit, regenerated at distribution bases, and reused for subsequent cooling cycles. This transforms the linear disposable model into a circular economy system, eliminating continuous material consumption and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice slurry system is designed to be self-regenerating through the natural melting and refreezing cycles. The brine solution continuously circulates, absorbing heat during evaporation and releasing it during condensation, providing sustained cooling without requiring external energy input for the phase change process itself.
4Reliability
If conventional freezers with power sources are used for cold storage, then reliable cooling is provided, but high power consumption occurs especially for long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention pre-cools the cargo by filling the cold storage unit with ice slurry before shipment. This preliminary cooling action stores thermal energy in the phase-change material, allowing the cargo to remain cooled throughout transit without requiring active power input during transportation. The latent heat of fusion of the ice slurry provides sustained cooling over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical freezer system requiring continuous electrical power with a passive thermal storage system using ice slurry. The cooling effect is maintained through the physical properties of the phase-change material rather than mechanical compression and refrigeration cycles, eliminating the need for power sources during cold storage.
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 enables long-duration cold storage with high capacity, zero carbon dioxide emission, and cost-effective recycling of the cooling source, enhancing environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a gap between the casing and the partition wall is filled with an ice slurry that is a mixture of brine and flake ice acquired by freezing the brine
Implementation Method 2
flake ice acquired by freezing the brine
Implementation Method 3
a casing that defines a cold storage space has a heat insulating structure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cold storage unit that has a high cold storage capacity, does not generate carbon dioxide, and enables recycling of the cold source. Also provided are a moving body and an ice slurry supply system. In the cold storage unit, a casing that defines a cold storage space has a heat insulating structure, a partition wall that faces the casing is provided at least at a top portion of the cold storage space, and a gap between the casing and the partition wall is filled with an ice slurry that is a mixture of brine and flake ice acquired by freezing the brine. In addition, it is possible to provide a supply port for supplying the ice slurry into the gap and a discharge port for discharging the ice slurry from the gap.