Automatic vending machine equipped with a heat storage material unit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In automatic vending machines, the installation of heat storage materials within the product accommodating compartment is limited by space constraints, leading to reduced efficiency in heat dissipation and storage, as only a portion of the material's surface area is utilized, necessitating an increase in volume to compensate.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a heat storage material unit within the heat-insulating panels of the vending machine, using a metal container with high thermal conductivity and covering it with an exterior material, allows for improved heat transfer and efficiency by exposing the container's surface to the compartment atmosphere, even when embedded, thus enhancing solidification and melting efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If heat storage material is installed inside the product accommodating compartment, then heat storage capacity is improved, but space for product accommodation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage material unit is nested within the heat-insulating panels of the vending machine. The metal container holding the heat storage material is embedded in the heat-insulating panels, allowing the heat storage function to be integrated into the existing structural components without occupying additional product accommodation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-insulating panels serve dual functions: providing thermal insulation for the product compartment and housing the heat storage material unit. This multi-functionality allows the same structural element to contribute to both insulation and heat storage capabilities.
2Volume of stationary object
If heat storage material is embedded in heat-insulating panels, then space utilization is improved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage material unit uses a metal container with high thermal conductivity specifically at the heat transfer interface. This localized high thermal conductivity ensures efficient heat exchange between the heat storage material and the compartment atmosphere, while the rest of the system maintains its insulation properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storage material unit combines a metal container (high thermal conductivity) with heat storage material (phase change material). This composite structure leverages the thermal conductivity of metal for efficient heat transfer while utilizing the phase change properties of the heat storage material for temperature regulation.
3Quantity of substance
If heat storage material volume is increased to compensate for reduced surface area exposure, then heat storage capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By ensuring high thermal conductivity at the heat transfer surface through the metal container, the system maximizes the effectiveness of the exposed surface area. This eliminates the need to increase volume to compensate for limited exposure, as the quality of heat transfer at the surface is optimized.
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 configuration improves the heat storage and dissipation efficiency of the heat storage material, allowing for reduced volume requirements while maintaining effective temperature control within the vending machine, without altering its external dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat storage material that stores heat by changing physically or chemically
Implementation Method 2
a heat storage material that stores heat by changing physically or chemically
Implementation Method 3
a metal container with high thermal conductivity... allows for improved heat transfer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
In order to improve the efficiency of solidification and melting of a heat storage material, in a heat storage material unit 200 a heat storage material 180 covered with a coating material 181 is accommodated in a metal accommodating container 210 having a high thermal conductivity, and the heat storage material unit 200 is embedded in a thermal insulation panel 100 in such a way that the accommodating container 210 is exposed inside a merchandise accommodating compartment, thereby enabling a surface of the heat storage material 180 that is embedded in the thermal insulation panel 100 also to exhibit an action equivalent to that if the accommodating container 210 is exposed in the merchandise accommodating compartment as a heat transfer element, thereby improving the efficiency of solidification (heat storage) and melting (heat dissipation) of the heat storage material 180.