Refrigerated Holding Cabinet with Independent Compartment Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration systems for food holding cabinets struggle to maintain precise temperature control across multiple compartments, leading to inefficiencies in food preservation and increased complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated point-of-use holding cabinet with thermally-conductive tray-receiving members and a liquid-phase/vapor-phase refrigeration system, along with semiconductor temperature sensors and Peltier devices, allows for independent temperature control of each compartment using a plurality of gas refrigeration systems or a chilled working fluid circulation, ensuring optimal food preservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional refrigeration system is used for food holding cabinets, then the system structure is simple, but the temperature control precision across multiple compartments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is divided into multiple independent gas refrigeration systems, with each system dedicated to a specific compartment. This segmentation allows each compartment to be controlled independently, achieving precise temperature control for each section while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment is equipped with its own temperature control mechanism and refrigeration system, allowing different temperature settings for different compartments based on specific food storage requirements. This local quality approach enables optimized temperature control for each compartment rather than a uniform temperature throughout.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple independent temperature controls are implemented for each compartment, then temperature control precision improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each compartment is equipped with temperature sensors that automatically monitor and regulate the temperature within that compartment. The system uses feedback control where sensors detect temperature changes and automatically adjust the refrigeration system to maintain the desired temperature, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for programmable temperature parameters for each compartment, enabling flexible adjustment of temperature settings based on different food storage requirements. The control system can store multiple temperature profiles and switch between them, providing precise temperature control while maintaining ease of operation through automated parameter management.
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 enables precise temperature control of individual compartments, maintaining food freshness below 40°F, reducing flavor transfer, and enhancing heat absorption capacity while minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration system to remove heat from the cabinet interior
Implementation Method 2
thermally-conductive tray-receiving members
Implementation Method 3
Peltier devices, allows for independent temperature control of each compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerated point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products cold in compartments having cross sections that are substantially U-shaped. Food products are kept refrigerated using heat-absorbing, heat-exchangers thermally coupled to the U-shaped compartment. Refrigeration is provided by either a conventional reversed-Brayton cycle, one or more Peltier devices or a chilled, re-circulating liquid that does not change phase as it circulates but which is chilled by another refrigeration system, such as a conventional refrigeration system. An optional cover helps prevent food flavor transfers between compartments. Semiconductor temperature sensors and a computer effectuate temperature control.