Cooling Station Dock Sealing to Reduce Cold Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling stations for containers suffer from cold loss and energy inefficiency due to the presence of warm ambient air, which heats up the interior, especially when the container is not docked.
Innovation Solution
A cooling station with a closure element that automatically moves between open and closed positions to minimize cold loss when the container is undocked or docked, using a multi-phase refrigerant like binary ice to maintain a consistent cooling effect without the need for internal refrigeration units, and a heat exchanger design that absorbs heat through latent phase change without temperature change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the docking points are permanently open to allow container docking and undocking, then the ease of operation is improved, but warm ambient air enters the cooling station and heats up the interior, increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, transitioning from a static opening to a dynamic system that adapts its state based on operational requirements. This allows the docking point to be open during container docking/undocking operations and closed during normal cooling operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and energy consumption
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the closure element remains closed to prevent warm air entry, then energy efficiency is improved, but the container cannot be docked or undocked, reducing operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic closure element that can transition between closed and open states, allowing the cooling station to maintain high energy efficiency during normal operation while still providing full docking/undocking capability when needed. The movable design ensures operational flexibility is preserved without compromising energy efficiency
3Temperature
If a traditional refrigeration unit is used within the cooling station, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration function is extracted from the cooling station and relocated to an external source. The cooling station receives pre-cooled circulating air from outside, eliminating the need for an internal refrigeration unit. This simplifies the device structure and reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control through the heat exchanger system
4Temperature
If containers are equipped with internal cooling units, then temperature control during transport is improved, but the weight and size of containers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is extracted from the container and centralized in the external cooling station. Containers are designed without internal cooling units, reducing their weight and size. The cooling station provides centralized cooling to multiple containers through the circulating air system, achieving temperature control during transport without the burden of internal cooling equipment in each container
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 solution significantly reduces cold loss and energy consumption by maintaining a consistent temperature range and efficient cooling, allowing for the use of smaller, lighter containers that can be easily moved without internal cooling units, thus optimizing energy use and reducing waste heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
The multi-phase refrigerant, which can in particular contain a solid ice phase suspended in a liquid phase, is flowable, in particular pumpable, and can therefore be supplied to the cooling station from an external refrigerant source... A multiphase refrigerant can absorb heat from the circulating air flow and transform it into latent heat by melting part of the solid phase of the refrigerant without changing the temperature of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
A multiphase refrigerant can absorb heat from the circulating air flow and transform it into latent heat by melting part of the solid phase of the refrigerant without changing the temperature of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the cooling station according to the invention has a particularly simple structure and is easy to manufacture and still enables effective and energy-efficient cooling of the circulating air flow through the container to be cooled if the cooler is designed as a heat exchanger that contains a multi-phase, free-flowing refrigerant on the cold side
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a cooling station (140) for at least one container that is to be cooled. Said cooling station comprises a housing which surrounds a space for accommodating a chilled material, at least one fan (238) for generating a circulating air flow through the container, at least one cooler (240) for cooling the circulating air flow, and at least one docking station (142) encompassing at least one first docking point (222) for discharging the circulating air flow from the container that is to be cooled and at least one second docking point (226) for delivering the circulating air flow to the container that is to be cooled. In order to devise a cooling station that operates in a particularly energy-efficient manner, the cooling station further comprises at least one element (232) for sealing a docking point of the cooling station when the cooling station contains no container that is to be cooled.