Eco-friendly ice pack to be easily separated and discharged
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice packs pose disposal challenges due to harmful refrigerants and cumbersome separation processes, with existing solutions not addressing the need for an eco-friendly and efficient disposal method.
Innovation Solution
An eco-friendly ice pack design incorporating a water-repellent polyester foam that maintains the ice pack's shape and prevents refrigerant absorption, allowing easy separation and discharge, using a phase change material and a sealed outer case made of nylon and polyethylene, with a non-woven fabric layer for water prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a superabsorbent polymer is used as a refrigerant to enable easy disposal through sewer discharge, then the disposal convenience is improved, but it causes sewer pipe clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful property of water absorption is extracted from the refrigerant system by introducing a water-repellent material that prevents the refrigerant from being absorbed, thereby eliminating the sewer clogging problem while maintaining disposal convenience
Solution Approach 2:
A water-repellent material acts as an intermediary between the refrigerant and the environment, preventing direct contact and absorption that would lead to sewer pipe clogging, while still allowing for easy disposal through the sewer system
2Reliability
If ammonium nitrate or ammonium chloride is used as a refrigerant to achieve effective cooling, then the cooling performance is improved, but the disposal becomes difficult due to harmful substance regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical composition of the refrigerant is changed from harmful substances (ammonium nitrate/chloride) to eco-friendly alternatives (water-based refrigerants), maintaining cooling performance through phase change properties while enabling easy and environmentally compliant disposal
3Power
If a separate pack is sealed in the shell for instantaneous cooling effect, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the pack may be broken by exterior power without user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The water-repellent material is pre-positioned within the sealed pack structure to provide preliminary protection, ensuring that even if the pack is accidentally damaged, the refrigerant remains contained and the cooling function is preserved
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 enables easy and environmentally friendly disposal of the ice pack, maintaining cooling capacity and energy efficiency, while reducing disposal costs and environmental impact by using recyclable materials and preventing refrigerant absorption.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant including a phase change material changing phase according to temperature
Implementation Method 2
having water repellency to the refrigerant to avoid mixing with the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the surroundings can be maintained at low temperature through endothermic action of the ice pack
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an eco-friendly ice pack, which includes a water repellent material that maintains the shape of the ice pack and does not absorb a refrigerant, so that it can be easily separately discharged after use of the ice pack. In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an eco-friendly ice pack including a refrigerant including a phase change material changing phase according to temperature, an outer case including the refrigerant and being formed by sealing in order to prevent the refrigerant from being discharged to the outside, and a water repellent supporter being disposed in the outer case, holding the shape of the ice pack to prevent the shape of the ice pack from being changed according to the shape of the refrigerant, and having water repellency to the refrigerant to avoid mixing with the refrigerant.