Container storage facility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container storage facilities, particularly those with racks suspended from ceilings, face challenges in detecting local reductions in oxygen concentration due to inactive gas leakage, which can prevent workers from safely approaching these areas.
Innovation Solution
A container storage facility configuration that includes multiple oxygen concentration sensor groups at varying heights and positions around the container storage rack, coupled with human detection sensors and a control device to monitor and alert workers of low-oxygen areas, ensuring safe entry by detecting and alerting workers to reduced oxygen concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a container storage rack is suspended from the ceiling with multiple container placement sections, then storage capacity and space utilization are improved, but the ability to detect local oxygen concentration reductions deteriorates due to the suspended structure limiting sensor placement options
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple sensor groups (first sensor group, second sensor group, third sensor group, and fourth sensor group) positioned at different locations and heights around the container storage rack. Each sensor group monitors specific areas, collectively providing comprehensive coverage of the suspended rack structure that would be difficult to achieve with a single sensor placement.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors are positioned at multiple vertical heights (overlapping height, first predetermined height lower than overlapping height, second predetermined height lower than overlapping height) and horizontal positions (first side, second side, further toward first side, further toward second side). This multi-dimensional sensor arrangement enables detection of oxygen concentration variations in three-dimensional space around the suspended rack, overcoming the detection limitations imposed by the suspended structure.
2Measurement precision
If oxygen concentration sensors are positioned at overlapping height with containers, then detection accuracy for leakage sources is improved, but the complexity of sensor installation and positioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor groups are designed to serve multiple functions: detecting oxygen concentration at container level (overlapping height sensors for direct leakage detection), monitoring lower areas (predetermined height sensors for diffused gas detection), and providing spatial coverage on multiple sides. This multi-functional sensor arrangement achieves comprehensive detection accuracy while using standardized sensor units that can be installed at various positions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sensor groups are positioned at different heights and locations to match the local characteristics of gas distribution. Sensors at overlapping height detect concentrated leakage near containers, while sensors at lower predetermined heights detect diffused gas patterns. This localized sensor placement optimizes detection accuracy for each specific area without requiring complex adaptive positioning systems.
3Reliability
If multiple sensor groups are deployed at different heights and positions, then comprehensive oxygen concentration monitoring is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into four distinct sensor groups positioned at different locations and heights. Each sensor group independently monitors a specific zone, and the control device aggregates data from all groups to provide comprehensive monitoring. This segmentation approach achieves reliable full-coverage monitoring while using simple, standardized sensor units that can be independently installed and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor groups deployed at different heights and positions are merged into a single integrated monitoring system controlled by one control device. The control device receives data from all sensor groups (first sensor group on first side, second sensor group on second side, third sensor group further toward first side, fourth sensor group further toward second side) and processes them collectively, achieving comprehensive monitoring coverage while consolidating control functions to manage system complexity.
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 configuration effectively detects and alerts workers to local oxygen concentration reductions around suspended container storage racks, preventing unsafe conditions and ensuring worker safety by providing real-time monitoring and alert systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor group including a plurality of oxygen concentration sensors at an overlapping height and next to each other in the first direction on a first side of the containers
Data Source
AI summary
A container storage facility includes a container storage rack including a plurality of container placement sections that are next to each other in a first direction, and further includes a first sensor group of oxygen concentration sensors next to each other in the first direction on a first side of the containers in a second direction; a second sensor group of oxygen concentration sensors next to each other in the first direction on a second side of the containers in the second direction; a third sensor group of oxygen concentration sensors next to each other in the first direction at positions further toward the first side in the second direction than the first sensor group; and a fourth sensor group of oxygen concentration sensors next to each other in the first direction at positions further toward the second side in the second direction than the second sensor group.