Container Storage Facility Gas Flow Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container storage facilities face challenges in maintaining uniform flow rates of cleaning gas across containers with varying ventilation resistance, leading to inconsistent cleaning efficacy due to differences in container manufacturers and models.

Innovation Solution

The facility categorizes containers by their ventilation resistance values and uses a control unit to transport containers of similar resistance types to the same storage section groups, ensuring that cleaning gas is supplied uniformly by adjusting flow rates based on the number and type of containers in each group.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If containers from different manufacturers and models are stored together in the same storage section group, then the storage facility can accommodate diverse container types, but the flow rate of cleaning gas becomes non-uniform due to varying ventilation resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer type diversityVSAvoidcleaning gas flow rate uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The storage rack is divided into multiple storage section groups, and containers are segmented into different types based on ventilation resistance. Each storage section group is assigned to store containers of a specific type, ensuring uniform flow rates within each group while maintaining overall system versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different storage section groups are assigned different container types based on their ventilation resistance characteristics. This local differentiation ensures that each group receives cleaning gas at appropriate flow rates tailored to the specific container type stored there, resolving the uniformity issue while preserving overall adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the cleaning gas flow rate is increased to ensure sufficient supply to all containers, then containers with high ventilation resistance receive adequate cleaning gas, but containers with low ventilation resistance receive excessive gas causing pressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning gas supply adequacyVSAvoidcontainer pressure variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The gas supply system is segmented into multiple independent storage section groups, each equipped with its own flow rate adjustment unit. This allows each group to receive cleaning gas at flow rates optimized for the specific container types stored there, preventing both insufficient supply and excessive pressure buildup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow rate of cleaning gas is adjusted based on the container type and ventilation resistance characteristics of each storage section group. By changing the flow rate parameter according to the specific group's requirements, the system ensures adequate supply without causing pressure issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If flow rate adjustment units are provided for each individual storage section, then precise control of cleaning gas flow to each container is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning gas flow rate control precisionVSAvoidnumber of flow rate adjustment units

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple storage sections with similar container types and ventilation resistance characteristics are merged into storage section groups that share a common flow rate adjustment unit. This reduces the total number of adjustment units while maintaining sufficient control precision for each group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each flow rate adjustment unit serves multiple storage sections within its group, making it a multi-functional component. This universal approach allows a single adjustment unit to effectively control cleaning gas flow to multiple containers of the same type, reducing system complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach ensures a uniform flow rate of cleaning gas across all containers within a storage section group, enhancing the cleaning efficacy while minimizing manufacturing costs by avoiding the need for precise orifice formation and reducing the number of flow rate adjustment units.

Implementation Method 1

a gas supply device configured to supply a cleaning gas to the storage sections

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentUS10373851B2Container storage facility

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 DAIFUKU CO LTD

AI summary

A container storage facility includes a storage rack having a plurality of storage sections as storage section groups, a gas supply device configured to supply a cleaning gas to the storage sections via a branch-type supply pipe, a transport apparatus configured to transport containers to the storage sections, and a control unit configured to control operations of the transport apparatus. When a plurality of containers are to be stored in the storage sections, the control unit controls the operations of the transport apparatus so as to transport the containers of the same type to the storage sections that belong to the same storage section group.