Dual Cooling Unit Cold Storage for Fast Substance Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultralow-temperature cold storage systems face challenges in achieving uniform temperature and efficient cooling, leading to potential malfunctions and increased time required for substance solidification, necessitating improved operational methods to enhance safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dual cooling unit system with a controller that switches between different operational modes based on temperature profiles to optimize refrigerant circulation and air flow, ensuring efficient cooling and minimizing freezing time, while prioritizing freezing over defrosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cooling unit is used to reduce temperature in the compartment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the time required for substance solidification increases and cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into two independent cooling units, each with its own refrigerant circuit, compressor, condenser, and evaporator. This segmentation allows simultaneous operation of multiple cooling paths to rapidly remove heat from the compartment during critical freezing periods, thereby reducing solidification time without requiring an overly complex single-unit system
2Productivity
If a dual cooling unit system operates in third mode (both units) continuously, then the cooling efficiency and solidification speed are maximized, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between three operational modes based on real-time temperature monitoring and phase change detection. The controller adjusts which cooling units operate and at what capacity, enabling the system to provide maximum cooling power (both units) during critical freezing phases while reducing to single-unit operation during maintenance phases, thereby optimizing the balance between cooling efficiency and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (which cooling units are active, refrigerant flow rates, compressor speeds) based on the thermal state of the compartment and the phase change status of stored substances. This parameter adjustment allows the system to match cooling output with actual demand, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining high cooling efficiency when needed
3Reliability
If the system prioritizes defrosting operations, then the evaporator performance is maintained, but the substance freezing time increases and safety of valuable substances is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary freezing of substances using both cooling units operating simultaneously before initiating defrosting cycles. By completing the critical freezing phase in advance, the system ensures substances reach safe frozen states before any defrosting activity occurs, thereby protecting valuable substances while still maintaining evaporator performance through scheduled defrosting operations
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 dual cooling unit system significantly reduces the time required for substance solidification by dynamically adjusting cooling modes based on temperature profiles, ensuring efficient and safe operation, even in the event of malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a first cooling unit comprising a first circuit for circulating a first refrigerant between a first compressor unit, a first condenser, and a first evaporator
Implementation Method 2
a first compressor unit, a first condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A cold storage and a method of operating a cold storage includes a first cooling unit operated for cooling a compartment. To ensure economic, efficient, and safe operation, and to ensure fast freezing of a substance stored in the compartment, a second cooling unit is operable according to a first, second and third modes of operation involving no, partly, or full contribution from the second cooling unit. Shifting between the different modes is inter alia determined based on a transition between three different temperature profiles in the compartment e.g. governed by phase change of a substance in the compartment.