Dual Adsorption Vessel Air Control for Stable Produce Atmospheres
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inside air control systems for transport containers fail to efficiently maintain optimal oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations for perishable goods during transportation, leading to spoilage due to inadequate control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An inside air control system utilizing a dual adsorption vessel setup with a switching mechanism and oilless pumps to alternately supply nitrogen-enriched and oxygen-enriched gases, controlled by a microcomputer to maintain target gas concentrations within the transport container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single adsorption vessel is used for gas separation, then the device structure is simple, but the continuous supply of nitrogen-enriched gas cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The single adsorption vessel is divided into two separate adsorption vessels (first and second adsorption vessels), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows one vessel to perform adsorption while the other performs desorption, enabling continuous supply of nitrogen-enriched gas without requiring a single complex vessel
2Reliability
If the pump operates continuously to maintain gas concentration, then the gas composition control is stable, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates periodically rather than continuously, alternating between adsorption phase (supplying nitrogen-enriched gas) and desorption phase (regenerating the adsorbent). The controller activates the pump only when needed to maintain target gas concentrations, reducing overall energy consumption while preserving control stability
3Use of energy by moving object
If the adjustment operation stops immediately when target concentration is reached, then energy saving is achieved, but gas concentration fluctuation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continues the adjustment operation for a predetermined time after the target gas concentration is first reached. This preliminary continuation ensures that the gas concentration remains stable and prevents fluctuation, while still limiting total operation time to save energy compared to continuous operation
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
Effectively maintains oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations within predetermined ranges, reducing spoilage and extending the freshness of transported perishable goods by ensuring a controlled atmosphere.
Implementation Method 1
The inside air control system performs an action of supplying outside air (atmospheric air) to the adsorption vessel to adsorb nitrogen in the outside air by the adsorbent
Implementation Method 2
adsorb nitrogen in the outside air by the adsorbent
Implementation Method 3
an action of decompressing the adsorption vessel using a decompression-side pump to desorb nitrogen from the adsorbent
Data Source
AI summary
In an inside air control system, a first pump supplies treatment target air to an adsorption vessel, and a second pump sucks gas from the adsorption vessel. In an adjustment operation of adjusting the composition of air in a storage, the inside air control system alternately performs a first action and a second action. When a stop condition for stopping the adjustment operation is satisfied, a controller performs stop control. In the stop control, the controller controls the second pump to suck the gas from the adsorption vessel to which the first pump supplies the treatment target air when the stop condition is satisfied, and controls the second pump to stop after the second pump has operated for a first time T1.