Inactive Gas Flow Control for Storage Section Purging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article storage facilities face challenges in efficiently feeding the required amount of inactive gas to each storage section, particularly due to uniform flow rate settings that fail to accommodate varying needs, leading to inadequate cleaning of inactive gas feeding sections and inefficient gas usage.
Innovation Solution
An article storage facility with a controller that adjusts the flow rate of inactive gas for each storage section individually, allowing for specific feeding modes and patterns to ensure appropriate gas flow rates for cleaning and substrate protection, while minimizing gas consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a uniform small flow rate (second flow rate) is set for all storage sections to prevent impurity accumulation on feed nozzles, then gas consumption is reduced, but cleaning efficiency of the feed nozzles becomes insufficient and takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage sections into two groups: those containing transport containers and those without. Each group receives a different flow rate setting. This segmentation allows the system to optimize gas flow rates for different operational contexts, enabling efficient cleaning when nozzles are not in use while maintaining appropriate gas flow when containers are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow rate of inactive gas based on the presence or absence of transport containers in storage sections. The controller automatically switches between the first flow rate (when containers are present) and the second flow rate (when containers are absent), optimizing both cleaning efficiency and gas consumption in real-time.
2Productivity
If a uniform large flow rate (first flow rate) is set for all storage sections to ensure sufficient cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage sections based on container presence, applying different flow rate strategies to different segments. This prevents unnecessary high flow rates from being applied to all sections uniformly, thereby reducing overall gas consumption while maintaining adequate cleaning where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter of inactive gas based on operational conditions. When storage sections are empty, the flow rate is reduced to the second flow rate for cost efficiency. When containers are present, it switches to the first flow rate for adequate purging, thus optimizing the parameter according to actual needs.
3Loss of substance
If individual flow rate control is implemented for each storage section, then gas usage is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it manages transport device operations, monitors container presence in storage sections, and regulates inactive gas flow rates. By consolidating these functions into a single control unit, the system achieves individualized flow rate control without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors whether transport containers are present in storage sections and automatically adjusts the inactive gas flow rate accordingly. This automated feedback loop eliminates the need for complex manual control systems while achieving optimized gas usage through real-time condition-based adjustments.
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
This solution enables targeted and efficient feeding of inactive gas to each storage section, ensuring effective cleaning of the gas feeding sections and reducing gas usage, thereby maintaining substrate integrity and minimizing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
an inactive gas feeding section for feeding inactive gas to the inside of the transport container stored in the storage section
Data Source
AI summary
An article storage facility includes a controller for controlling operations of flow rate adjusting devices of inactive gas feeding sections and a specified feeding section selecting section for selecting one or some or all of a plurality of inactive gas feeding sections as specified feeding sections. For the inactive gas feeding sections of the storage sections storing the transport containers therein, the controller causes the flow rate adjusting devices to be operated according to a container storage mode in which mode the inactive gas is fed to the transport container in a predetermined feed manner. For the specified feeding sections selected by the specified feeding section selecting section, the controller causes the flow rate adjusting devices to be operated according to a specified feeding section feed mode in which mode the inactive gas is fed through the discharge openings thereof in a specified feeding section feed manner.