Aircraft Galley Trolley with Movable Walls and Phase Change Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current galley trolleys in aircraft require significant amounts of dry ice for refrigeration, which is wasteful and logistically challenging, and often result in uneven cooling, leading to food safety issues due to temperature fluctuations and the need for additional dry ice to account for delays.
Innovation Solution
A galley trolley design featuring movable walls and a phase change material located between thermally conductive and insulating layers, allowing for optimized cooling and reduced dry ice usage by enhancing cooling efficiency and maintaining temperature stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If blocks of dry ice are loaded into the refrigeration compartment, then the refrigeration effect is achieved, but the quantity of dry ice required is excessive and wasteful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of phase change materials (melting from solid to liquid) to absorb heat and maintain refrigeration. This replaces the traditional dry ice method, achieving the same cooling effect while reducing substance loss through more efficient heat absorption during the phase change process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the refrigeration system by introducing phase change materials with specific melting points and latent heats tailored to different compartment requirements. This allows optimization of cooling efficiency and reduction of overall dry ice consumption by targeting heat absorption more precisely.
2Temperature
If greater capacity for dry ice is required, then the refrigeration effect is enhanced, but the capacity of the main compartment for storage of comestibles is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds phase change material containers within the wall structures of the trolley compartments. This nesting approach integrates the refrigeration function into the existing structure without requiring separate dedicated spaces, thereby maintaining storage capacity while achieving enhanced refrigeration effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the phase change materials from occupying horizontal storage space to being integrated into the vertical wall structures. This dimensional reorganization allows refrigeration capacity to be achieved without sacrificing the main compartment's storage volume.
3Temperature
If blocks of dry ice are placed in the refrigeration compartment, then cooling is provided, but uneven cooling occurs leading to temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different phase change materials with different melting points to different compartments and locations based on their specific thermal requirements. This localized approach ensures each area receives appropriate cooling, preventing temperature fluctuations and achieving uniform temperature distribution throughout the trolley.
4Temperature
If significant quantities of dry ice are used to account for delays, then temperature stability during delays is maintained, but logistical complexity and handling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-cools the phase change materials and positions them in the trolley before the flight. This preliminary action ensures that the refrigeration system is ready to maintain temperature stability during any delays without requiring additional dry ice or complex last-minute adjustments, thereby reducing logistical complexity.
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 effectively reduces cooling times, increases cooling efficiency, and maintains food at safe temperatures for extended periods, minimizing waste and logistical challenges associated with dry ice handling.
Implementation Method 1
A galley trolley design featuring movable walls and a phase change material located between thermally conductive and insulating layers
Implementation Method 2
maintaining temperature stability
Implementation Method 3
phase change material located between thermally conductive and insulating layers
Implementation Method 4
insulating layers, allowing for optimized cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A trolley (1, 2, 3), e.g. a galley trolley of an aircraft, the trolley (1, 2, 3) having a housing (10, 210, 310) and a compartment (C, 2C, 3C) for the location of goods, the housing (10, 210, 310) comprising walls (11, 11′, 12, 12′, 13, 211, 211′, 212, 212′, 311, 311′, 312, 312′, 313) and a door (14, 214, 214′, 314), at least one of said walls being movable between a first condition where it is proximate the compartment (C, 2C, 3C) and a second condition where it is further from the compartment (C, 2C, 3C).