Container Storage Gas Distribution via Positional Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container storage facilities face challenges in maintaining uniform flow rates of cleaning gas across all storage sections due to variations in piping routes and container types, leading to inconsistent gas supply to containers.
Innovation Solution
A container storage facility with a branch-type supply pipe and a control unit that directs container placement to storage sections with higher gas flow rates from the end area of the supply pipe, ensuring uniform gas distribution by prioritizing storage in sections with higher flow rates when no containers are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If containers are stored in storage sections closer to the gas source first, then the storage process is simplified, but the flow rate of cleaning gas becomes non-uniform across different storage sections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the storage section group to identify which sections will receive higher flow rates based on their position in the supply pipe. This allows the control unit to proactively assign containers to appropriate sections before gas supply issues arise, ensuring uniform flow distribution from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of container assignment strategy based on the spatial parameters of the storage sections relative to the gas source. By adjusting which storage section receives which container based on their positional parameters, the system achieves uniform gas flow distribution while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If containers are stored in storage sections farther from the gas source first, then gas flow uniformity improves, but the storage operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically performs the complex task of analyzing storage section characteristics and assigning containers to optimal positions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual intervention to achieve uniform gas flow, maintaining ease of operation while improving flow uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by continuously monitoring the actual gas flow rates in each storage section and using this information to optimize container assignment. The control unit adjusts storage decisions based on feedback about flow distribution, achieving uniformity without increasing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If cleaning gas is supplied to storage sections with high flow rates, then contamination prevention is effective, but gas wastage increases due to excessive flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by matching the gas supply characteristics to the specific needs of each storage section. Storage sections that require higher flow rates for effective contamination prevention are assigned accordingly, while sections with lower requirements receive appropriate flow rates, minimizing overall gas wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of supplying excessive gas to all storage sections uniformly, the system applies partial action by providing gas only at the levels needed by each specific storage section. This prevents gas wastage in sections that don't require high flow rates while ensuring adequate protection in sections that do.
Data Source
AI summary
A container storage facility includes a storage rack that has a plurality of storage sections as a storage section group, a gas supply device for supplying a cleaning gas to the storage sections via a branch-type supply pipe, a transport apparatus for transporting containers to the storage sections, and a control unit for controlling operation of the transport apparatus. When a container is first stored in a storage section included in the storage section group, the control unit controls operations of the transport apparatus so as to transport the container to a storage section to which the cleaning gas is supplied from an end area of the supply pipe.