Front-Mounted Cold Air Intake for Refrigerated Trucks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated trucks face high energy consumption in colder regions due to the need for continuous operation of chillers, as they rely solely on internal cooling, which is inefficient when outdoor temperatures are lower than indoor temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A front-mounted external cold air intake system that absorbs airflow generated during driving and introduces external cold air into the refrigerated compartment, utilizing a U-shaped air duct, horizontal louvers, windshields, and filters to enhance air circulation and reduce chiller energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the chiller operates continuously to maintain refrigeration, then the refrigerated compartment temperature is maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly in cold outdoor conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cooling function into two parts: (1) the chiller provides baseline refrigeration capability, and (2) the external cold air intake system supplements cooling when outdoor conditions are favorable. This segmentation allows the chiller to operate at reduced capacity or intermittently during cold outdoor periods, reducing energy consumption while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The external cold air intake system acts as an intermediary between the outdoor environment and the refrigerated compartment. It selectively introduces cold outdoor air into the compartment when outdoor temperature is lower than indoor temperature, reducing the cooling load on the chiller and thereby reducing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the external cold air intake system is activated, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The front-mounted air duct structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the structural framework for mounting components and the air intake passage itself. The air duct integrates the functions of structural support, air guiding, and component mounting, thereby reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall system despite adding the cold air intake capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filters are installed to ensure air cleanliness, then air quality is improved, but the device complexity and initial energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies filters selectively at the air intake locations where outdoor air enters the refrigerated compartment. Rather than filtering the entire air circulation system, filters are placed locally at the external air intake points, providing necessary air cleaning functionality while minimizing the overall complexity and cost of the filtration system.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the air duct is designed to absorb airflow during driving, then the system utilizes natural airflow, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is designed to utilize the natural airflow generated by the truck's movement through the environment. The front-mounted positioning and directional outlets of the air duct enable it to automatically capture and channel ambient air and airflow during driving without requiring active pumping or mechanical assistance, allowing the system to serve itself using the vehicle's motion.
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 system effectively reduces energy consumption by utilizing external cold air to cool the compartment, improving energy efficiency and maintaining food quality, while ensuring cleanliness and stability of the air introduced.
Implementation Method 1
a device is mounted in the front side of a refrigerated compartment to absorb an airflow generated by the refrigerated truck during driving
Implementation Method 2
the filters are provided to isolate small particles from the front-mounted air duct, ensuring cleanness of the cold air introduced into the refrigerated compartment
Implementation Method 3
use the introduced cold air to cool the refrigerated compartment, thereby reducing energy consumption of the chillers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to refrigerated trucks, more particularly to a front-mounted external cold air intake system for a large refrigerated truck, including a refrigerated compartment, an indoor chiller unit, an outdoor chiller unit, a front-mounted air duct, air outlets, horizontal louvers, folding elbows, windshields, blade control knobs, filters, covers, wind deflectors and blades. In the front-mounted cold air intake system, the front-mounted air duct introduces outdoor cold air into the refrigerated compartment, and transmits and distributes the cold air through the air outlets. Moreover, the air window structures formed by the horizontal shutters, the folding elbows and the windshields are used for discharging air, so as to stabilize the pressure in the refrigerated compartment. The system of the present invention uses outdoor cold air to effectively cool the compartment allowing for energy saving of the refrigerated truck.