Cooling device for cooling a storage space of a cooling container and a respective cooling container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling containers face inefficiencies in maintaining low temperatures over long periods, as passive methods are insufficient, and active cooling methods using solid carbon dioxide are energetically inefficient and can damage goods due to excessive cooling.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a housing divided into thermal isolation and main heat transfer zones, utilizing a coolant like carbon dioxide snow, and incorporating an eutectic material to store and release cooling energy, optimizing heat transfer and reducing coolant consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If solid carbon dioxide is used for cooling, then cooling duration is extended, but energy efficiency deteriorates and goods may be damaged due to excessive cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The housing walls are divided into a thermal isolation zone and a main heat transfer zone, segmenting the heat transfer path to control and optimize cooling efficiency while extending duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an eutectic material that changes phase at a specific temperature, dynamically adjusting the cooling parameter to maintain optimal temperature without excessive cooling
2Duration of action of stationary object
If solid carbon dioxide is used for cooling, then cooling duration is extended, but temperature control precision deteriorates causing unnecessary cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The eutectic material undergoes phase change at a predetermined temperature, automatically regulating the cooling temperature to prevent excessive cooling while maintaining duration
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change of the eutectic material provides inherent feedback control, where the material absorbs or releases heat based on temperature conditions, maintaining precise temperature control
3Power
If solid carbon dioxide is used for cooling, then cooling power is increased, but goods may be damaged due to temperature dropping below lower threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The eutectic material changes phase at a specific temperature threshold, automatically limiting the minimum temperature to prevent goods damage while allowing high cooling power
4Productivity
If thermal isolation is increased to reduce heat transfer, then cooling efficiency deteriorates, but if thermal isolation is decreased, then cooling duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into thermal isolation zone and main heat transfer zone, allowing simultaneous optimization of both insulation and heat transfer for efficient and sustained cooling
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the housing have different thermal properties - the thermal isolation zone provides insulation while the main heat transfer zone enables efficient heat exchange
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
The cooling device achieves efficient and sustained cooling with reduced energy consumption, preventing temperature drops that could damage goods, by using a high surface-to-volume ratio for heat transfer and leveraging the eutectic material to store and release cooling energy.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling device (2) further comprises an eutectic material (5) provided within a part of the coolant space (3)... the eutectic material to store and release cooling energy
Implementation Method 2
the eutectic material (5) to store and release cooling energy
Implementation Method 3
The housing walls (4) comprise a thermal isolation zone (7) having a first heat transfer coefficient
Implementation Method 4
a main heat transfer zone (6) having a second heat transfer coefficient being larger than the first heat transfer coefficient
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Cooling device (2) for cooling a storage space (13) of a cooling container (1), wherein the cooling device (2) comprises at least: - a coolant space (3) for receiving a coolant, which is confined at least partly by housing walls (4) of the cooling device (2), the housing walls (4) comprising at least two zones (6, 7, 8): ∘ a thermal isolation zone (7) having a first heat transfer coefficient; and ∘ a main heat transfer zone (6) having a second heat transfer coefficient being larger than the first heat transfer coefficient, and - an eutectic material (5) provided within a part of the coolant space (3). The storage space 13 of the cooling container 1 can be cooled by the cooling device 2 particularly energy efficiently and over a particularly long period of time. With heat transfer being suppressed in the thermal isolation zone 7 and with the eutectic material 5, the cooling device 2 can provide a cooling with a cooling power that drops particularly slowly over time.