Merchandising Cooler Air Nozzle Layout for Targeted Product Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional product merchandising systems, such as coolers and vending machines, face inefficiencies in cooling due to high energy requirements, inconsistent temperature distribution, and excessive energy consumption, particularly as they cool the entire interior without targeted cooling, leading to overcooling and energy wastage.
Innovation Solution
A product merchandising system with a housing and a cooling system that includes a blower, cooling heat exchanger, deflector, and nozzle to create an airflow that targets specific rows of products, reducing cool-down time and energy consumption by maintaining a temperature gradient within the system, with the first rows cooled to a lower temperature than subsequent rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling systems cool the entire interior of the cooler, then all products are cooled to the desired temperature, but energy consumption increases and cool-down time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple nozzles positioned at different locations within the cooler interior. Each nozzle targets specific product rows or zones with cooled air, allowing selective cooling of different regions rather than uniformly cooling the entire space. This segmentation enables energy-efficient targeted cooling while maintaining appropriate temperatures for all products.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cooler are provided with different cooling characteristics through strategically positioned nozzles. The first row of products receives cooling from a first nozzle, while subsequent rows receive cooling from additional nozzles. This local quality approach ensures each zone receives appropriate cooling intensity, reducing overall energy consumption while achieving desired temperature distribution.
2Loss of time
If conventional cooling systems cool all products uniformly, then temperature distribution is consistent, but cool-down time increases and energy is wasted on already-cooled or less-priority products
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action on the first row of products through a dedicated first nozzle positioned to target this high-priority zone. By pre-cooling the most accessible and frequently purchased products first, the system reduces overall cool-down time and allows subsequent rows to be cooled at a more relaxed pace, minimizing energy wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial cooling action to different rows of products based on their priority. The first row receives full cooling attention through the first nozzle, while subsequent rows receive cooling through additional nozzles at reduced intensity or later in the cooling cycle. This partial action approach reduces energy consumption by avoiding excessive cooling of less-priority products.
3Speed
If a blower is positioned behind the heat exchanger to push air, then airflow is generated, but the system requires higher energy consumption and creates turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the blower behind the heat exchanger to push air forward, the system inverts the approach by positioning blowers in front of the heat exchanger to pull air through it. This inversion creates a more efficient airflow pattern, reduces turbulence, and decreases energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling performance.
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 significantly reduces the cool-down time of targeted products by up to 95% and decreases energy consumption by 50-90%, optimizing energy use by maintaining products at consumer-desired temperatures while minimizing unnecessary cooling of all products.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling heat exchanger, and a blower, the blower disposed forward from the cooling heat exchanger and configured to pull air through the cooling heat exchanger generating an airflow
Implementation Method 2
a blower, the blower disposed forward from the cooling heat exchanger and configured to pull air through the cooling heat exchanger generating an airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A product merchandising system includes a housing having a top surface, two side surfaces spaced apart from one another defining a width-direction of the housing, and a front surface and rear surface spaced apart from one another defining a depth-direction of the housing. The system includes a product support system configured to support rows of products along a width of the housing, each row disposed at a position along the depth of the housing, the first row being towards the front surface of the housing. A cooling system includes a cooling system including a cooling heat exchanger generating an airflow, a deflector configured to direct the airflow through the cooling heat exchanger and towards a bottom of the housing, and a nozzle below the deflector and configured to direct the airflow towards a bottom of the housing through an outlet aperture and between a first two rows of products.