Air control apparatus, refrigeration apparatus, and transport container
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Solution Overview
Problem
The performance of gas separation membranes in air control apparatuses deteriorates over time when the system is stopped, leading to reduced permeability of oxygen and carbon dioxide, affecting the controlled atmosphere in transport containers used for perishable goods.
Innovation Solution
The air control apparatus includes a controller that initiates a preliminary operation to supply target air to the gas separation membranes after a predetermined period of inactivity, increasing the internal pressure and expanding the membranes to maintain their performance by preventing contraction and moisture buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air control apparatus is stopped for a predetermined period, then energy consumption is reduced, but the gas separation membrane performance deteriorates due to contraction and moisture buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The controller executes a preliminary operation before the predetermined period expires to supply target air to the gas separation membranes, increasing internal pressure and expanding them to prevent contraction and moisture buildup, thereby maintaining performance while allowing extended stopping periods for energy savings
Solution Approach 2:
The controller periodically supplies target air to the gas separation membranes during the stopping period at predetermined intervals, preventing performance deterioration while allowing the apparatus to remain stopped for energy conservation
2Reliability
If the air control apparatus operates continuously, then gas separation membrane performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the controller implements periodic operation by supplying target air to the gas separation membranes at predetermined intervals during the stopping period, maintaining membrane performance while significantly reducing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary operations before the predetermined stopping period expires to prepare the gas separation membranes, allowing the apparatus to stop subsequently for energy savings while ensuring performance is maintained
3Reliability
If target air is supplied frequently to maintain membrane performance, then gas separation performance is preserved, but productivity is reduced due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the elapsed time from the last preliminary operation and compares it against the predetermined period, executing target air supply operations only when the monitored time indicates performance deterioration is imminent, thereby avoiding unnecessary operations while maintaining gas separation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The controller executes preliminary operations based on predetermined time intervals rather than continuously, performing maintenance actions only when needed to prevent performance deterioration, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring gas separation performance
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 approach effectively recovers and maintains the gas separation performance of the membranes, ensuring the controlled atmosphere remains effective for transporting fresh products by preventing deterioration due to inactivity.
Implementation Method 1
gas separation membranes to which target air is supplied... Some of the components in target air flowing through the gas separation membranes (such as oxygen and carbon dioxide) permeate through the gas separation membranes
Implementation Method 2
supply target air to the gas separation membranes... increasing the internal pressure and expanding the membranes
Data Source
AI summary
An air control apparatus includes: a gas separation membrane to which target air is supplied; and a controller configured to execute a first action of reducing deterioration in performance of the gas separation membrane due to stop of the air control apparatus for a predetermined period.