Heated or cooled drinkware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drinkware containers fail to retain the temperature of heated liquids for an extended period, making the drinking experience unsatisfactory, especially when a microwave is not available for reheating.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container with active temperature control, featuring a phase change material (PCM) and heating elements, controlled by a circuitry system that senses and adjusts temperature, allowing for prolonged retention of heated liquids at a desired temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional drinkware containers are made of ceramic, plastic or metal materials, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the temperature of heated liquid is not retained for very long
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner container wall, an insulating layer containing phase change material, and an outer container wall. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function (heat retention, temperature regulation, structural support) independently, solving the contradiction between simple structure and extended temperature retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material undergoes parameter changes (phase transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states) at specific temperatures to absorb or release heat. This dynamic parameter change enables the material to actively regulate liquid temperature over extended periods, transforming a passive container into an active temperature-control system.
2Ease of operation
If users reheate liquid in the container by placing it in a microwave oven, then the liquid temperature can be restored, but this is inconvenient, time consuming and not always possible
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material is pre-positioned within the insulating layer in solid form before use. When hot liquid is poured into the container, the material automatically begins absorbing heat and transitioning phases, providing passive cooling without requiring user action. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for active reheating operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container system performs temperature regulation automatically through the phase change material's inherent thermodynamic properties. The material self-regulates liquid temperature by absorbing excess heat during phase transitions, eliminating the need for external microwave intervention and making the system self-sufficient for temperature maintenance.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a phase change material and heating elements are added to achieve active temperature control, then the temperature of heated liquid can be retained for an extended period, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material serves as an intermediary between the hot liquid and the external environment. It mediates heat transfer by absorbing excess thermal energy during phase transitions, preventing direct heat loss from the liquid to the surroundings. This intermediary function extends temperature retention without requiring complex active heating or cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits phase transitions (solid-liquid-gas) of the phase change material to create a passive thermal regulation mechanism. As the material transitions between phases at specific temperatures, it absorbs or releases latent heat, maintaining liquid temperature within a desired range without requiring complex electronic controls or high-energy consumption devices.
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 container effectively maintains the temperature of a heated liquid for several hours, enabling users to enjoy beverages at a consistent temperature over an extended period, even when on the move.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material (PCM) configured to transition from one phase to a second phase to remove heat from a liquid disposed in the chamber that has a temperature above a temperature of the phase change material to lower the temperature of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
the phase change material configured to transition from one phase to a second phase to remove heat from a liquid
Implementation Method 3
one or more heating elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber
Implementation Method 4
one or more heating elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber
Implementation Method 5
one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter of the liquid or operating parameter of the temperature control system
Data Source
AI summary
A container with active temperature control is provided. The container has a body with a chamber that receives a liquid. A temperature control system housed in the portable body has one or more heating element in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber to heat the liquid. Control circuitry controls the operation of the one or more heating elements and one or more power storage elements to provide electrical energy to the one or more heating element and/or control circuitry. The control circuitry controls the one or more heating elements to add heat to the liquid in the receiving portion to maintain the temperature of the liquid at a predetermined temperature or increase the temperature of the liquid above said predetermined temperature. The container can have a cooling element (e.g., a phase change material) that can remove heat from the liquid poured into the chamber.