Cooling device and cooling method including high humidity storage area and adjustable fan

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration storage houses face limitations in maintaining stable high humidity due to excessive humidification or dehumidification, leading to issues like corrosion, mold, and humidity instability, restricting their use to specific regions and periods.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device and method that utilizes a heat exchange unit with moisture-adhering heat transfer units, adjusting the refrigerant inlet temperature and fan speed to maintain high humidity without external humidification, using the moisture in the air and foods to generate stable water vapor for cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a freezer and humidifier are used together for refrigeration storage, then refrigeration can be performed in any region and period, but excessive humidification and humidification insufficiency occur causing humidity instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregion and period adaptabilityVSAvoidhumidity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat transfer unit's surface moisture serves the dual function of both cooling (through evaporation) and humidification (through water vapor generation). The system uses its own operational byproduct (condensed moisture on heat transfer surfaces) to achieve humidification, eliminating the need for separate humidifier control and preventing humidity instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the cooling function and humidification function into a single integrated process. The heat transfer unit simultaneously performs heat exchange and generates water vapor through evaporative cooling, combining what were previously separate freezer and humidifier operations into one unified mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If a humidifier is used to maintain high humidity, then humidity can be increased, but mist droplets touch the vegetables causing corrosion and mold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity levelVSAvoidcorrosion and mold

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat transfer unit acts as an intermediary that generates water vapor through controlled evaporation rather than direct mist spraying. The moisture evaporates from the heat transfer unit surface into the air as water vapor, serving as a mediator between the cooling system and the stored vegetables, preventing direct droplet contact while maintaining humidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical mist spraying system with a thermal evaporation process. Instead of using a humidifier to spray mist mechanically, the system uses the thermal energy from the heat transfer unit to evaporate moisture naturally, substituting a thermal process for a mechanical one to eliminate droplet formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If snow is used for refrigeration storage, then high humidity can be maintained naturally, but refrigeration storage cannot be performed when snow melts away

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity stabilityVSAvoidregion and period limitation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameters of the cooling system from relying on solid snow to using a controlled phase change system. The heat transfer unit maintains surface moisture that evaporates continuously, changing from a snow-dependent solid phase system to a controlled liquid-vapor phase change system that operates independently of environmental snow conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Stable high humidity is maintained for food refrigeration, preventing issues like corrosion and mold, while simplifying equipment and reducing dependence on external humidifiers, allowing use across regions and periods.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange between a medium circulating in the cooling device and air circulating in the box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the air flows in the heat exchange unit in the state in which the moisture adheres to the heat transfer unit of the heat exchange unit, whereby water vapor cooled while maintaining high humidity is generated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

an adjusting unit that maintains a state in which moisture adheres to a heat transfer unit of the heat exchange unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS12422182B2Cooling device and cooling method including high humidity storage area and adjustable fan

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 MAYEKAWA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

To provide a cooling device that can refrigerate foods and stably maintain high humidity without being limited by a region and a period. A cooling device includes a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant circulating in a freezer and air circulating in a box and an adjusting unit that maintains a state in which moisture adheres to heat transfer units of the heat exchange unit.