Electrohydrodynamic Display Case Airflow for Ethylene Breakdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Perishable products in display cases face shortened shelf-life due to ethylene gas emission and bacterial growth, which existing technologies fail to effectively manage, leading to rapid ripening or flowering and contamination.
Innovation Solution
An electro hydrodynamic thrust device is integrated into the display case to ionize air, creating reactive oxygen species that break down ethylene and sanitize surfaces, thereby extending the shelf-life of products without refrigeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If refrigeration is used to preserve perishable products, then shelf-life is extended, but energy consumption increases and refrigeration equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical refrigeration system with an electrohydrodynamic thrust device that uses electrical fields to ionize air and generate reactive oxygen species. This substitution eliminates the need for refrigeration equipment while achieving similar preservation effects through chemical oxidation of ethylene and sanitization of surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters within the display case by introducing ionized air and reactive oxygen species. Instead of changing temperature (refrigeration), the system alters the chemical composition of the atmosphere to break down ethylene and kill bacteria, thereby extending shelf-life without energy-intensive cooling.
2Reliability
If ethylene gas accumulates in the display case, then product ripening accelerates, but shelf-life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of ethylene gas (which accelerates ripening) into a beneficial process by using reactive oxygen species to break down ethylene into harmless substances. The electrohydrodynamic device generates ions that oxidize ethylene, transforming this ripening-accelerating gas into a mechanism for extending shelf-life.
3Reliability
If bacterial growth is allowed to occur, then natural decomposition happens, but contamination increases and shelf-life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reactive oxygen species generated by the electrohydrodynamic thrust device as strong oxidants to sanitize surfaces and kill bacteria. These highly reactive oxygen-containing ions oxidize bacterial cell walls and organic matter, providing rapid sanitization that extends shelf-life without requiring refrigeration or chemical disinfectants.
4Reliability
If existing technologies are used to manage ethylene and bacteria, then some preservation effect is achieved, but effectiveness is insufficient and products still deteriorate rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or chemical preservation methods with an electrohydrodynamic system that generates ionized air. This substitution provides a more effective preservation mechanism by directly ionizing the air to create reactive oxygen species that rapidly break down ethylene and sanitize surfaces, significantly improving preservation effectiveness and shelf-life extension.
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 effectively reduces ethylene levels and kills bacteria, prolonging the freshness of perishable goods by using ionized air to react with ethylene and sanitize surfaces, maintaining product quality without the need for refrigeration.
Implementation Method 1
The electro hydrodynamic thrust device ionizes a portion of the quantity of gas. The ionized gas includes at least one reactive oxygen species, and the at least one reactive oxygen species reacts with the ethylene to break down the ethylene.
Implementation Method 2
an electro hydrodynamic thrust device positioned in the case. The electro hydrodynamic thrust device ionizes a portion of the quantity of gas
Implementation Method 3
connecting the electro hydrodynamic thrust device to a power source, and creating an ion wind with the electro hydrodynamic thrust device. The method further includes moving air through the electro hydrodynamic thrust device with the ion wind
Data Source
AI summary
A display assembly for containing and displaying perishable products includes a case having at least one wall and defining an internal volume, a quantity of gas contained in the case, the gas including ethylene emitted from the perishable products, and an electro hydrodynamic thrust device positioned in the case. The electro hydrodynamic thrust device ionizes a portion of the quantity of gas. The ionized gas includes at least one reactive oxygen species, and the at least one reactive oxygen species reacts with the ethylene to break down the ethylene.