Container Air Cleaning Using Pressure-Driven Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated shipping containers face challenges in maintaining air quality due to the buildup of gases like carbon dioxide and ethylene, and the growth of microbes, which can be exacerbated by ventilation that increases energy usage and introduces outside contaminants, leading to moisture loss and undesirable conditions for perishable goods.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that integrates an atmosphere treatment assembly with existing air movers in refrigerated containers, utilizing a pressure differential to circulate contaminated air through an air cleaning device, such as a UV ozone system, without the need for a separate fan, effectively removing contaminants like ethylene, odors, and microorganisms, and can be retrofitted or integrated into new systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation is used to remove contaminants from the container, then air quality is improved, but energy consumption increases and outside contaminants are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ventilation systems with a chemical/photocatalytic air cleaning system that uses activated carbon filters and UV-C lights to neutralize contaminants in place, eliminating the need to mechanically exchange air and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining air quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces activated carbon filters and UV-C lights as intermediary substances that mediate between the contaminated air and the container environment, capturing and neutralizing contaminants without requiring direct air exchange with the outside, thus avoiding both energy loss and introduction of external contaminants
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high ventilation rates are used to clean air, then contaminant removal is improved, but moisture loss from perishables increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical air exchange with photocatalytic oxidation and filtration processes that clean air in situ, preventing moisture evaporation that would occur during high-rate ventilation while still achieving effective contaminant removal through chemical neutralization
Solution Approach 2:
The air cleaning system operates autonomously within the sealed container environment, using UV-C irradiation and activated carbon to self-neutralize contaminants without requiring external air flow that would carry away moisture, thus maintaining both air quality and moisture balance
3Quantity of substance
If ventilation is used to remove gases like carbon dioxide and ethylene, then gas buildup is reduced, but outside contaminants and humidity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs activated carbon filters as intermediary substances that selectively adsorb harmful gases like carbon dioxide and ethylene from the air while blocking outside contaminants and humidity, enabling gas concentration control without compromising the sealed container environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical ventilation that exchanges air masses with selective adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition processes that treat air in place, removing specific harmful gases through chemical interaction with activated carbon and UV-C treatment while maintaining container sealing against external contaminants
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 solution reduces energy consumption by minimizing ventilation, maintains air quality within the container, and eliminates contaminants without additional energy expenditure, ensuring the freshness and quality of perishable goods while avoiding moisture loss.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a pressure differential to circulate contaminated air through an air cleaning device, such as a UV ozone system, effectively removing contaminants like ethylene, odors, and microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
A portion of the contaminated atmosphere on the second side of the air mover circulates through the atmosphere treating unit in a second direction opposite the first direction and back to the first side of the air mover
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for cleaning contaminated air in an enclosed space, such as a transportation trailer or a shipping container. An air mover in the space circulates contaminated atmosphere from an area of low pressure to an area of higher pressure. The resulting pressure differential is used to draw a reverse, partial air flow through an air cleaning device. The repeated cycling of a portion of airflow results in cleaning of the atmosphere and a general reduction of the contaminant from the enclosed space.