Hybrid Rigid-Flexible Cold Store Door Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermally insulating sliding doors for cold rooms face challenges in maintaining energy efficiency and durability, as swing doors are not suitable for quick openings, while rigid doors are prone to damage from rapid passage and flexible doors require excessive heating and ventilation to prevent freezing.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulating sliding door design featuring a combination of rigid and flexible areas, where the rigid area extends across the door's width for a strong frame connection and the flexible area, located on the passage side, reduces damage from quick passage, with additional features like edge heating, seals, and a security element to prevent injury and improve insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid door leaves are used, then good frame connection and tight sealing are achieved, but the door leaf is easily damaged during rapid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is divided into multiple segments: rigid areas for structural integrity and frame connection, and flexible areas for damage resistance during rapid passage. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the door leaf have different mechanical properties - rigid areas provide structural stability and sealing, while flexible areas absorb impact during rapid passage. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between connection strength and damage resistance.
2Strength
If flexible door leaves are used, then damage from rapid passage is reduced, but extremely strong frame heating and ventilation are required to prevent freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is segmented into rigid and flexible areas, where only the flexible areas require heating to prevent freezing. This reduces the total heating energy required compared to entirely flexible doors, while still providing damage resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Heating elements are applied locally to the flexible areas of the door leaf rather than the entire door, matching the heating application to the specific regions that require it. This reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining functionality.
3Reliability
If the rigid area extends to the underside of the door leaf, then good frame connection on the outside is ensured, but the flexible area coverage for damage protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is divided into rigid and flexible areas with clearly defined boundaries. The rigid area extends to the underside to ensure frame connection, while the flexible area covers the passage side for damage protection. This segmentation optimizes both functions within the same structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door leaf has asymmetric distribution of rigid and flexible areas, with rigid areas positioned to optimize frame connection and flexible areas positioned to maximize damage protection during passage. This asymmetric design allows both functions to coexist effectively.
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 hybrid door design maintains thermal insulation while minimizing damage from rapid passage and ensuring safety, with improved frame connection and reduced energy consumption for heating, enhancing overall operational efficiency and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The frame-side seals are made using sealing rubbers, which are heated via the frame to prevent freezing in the deep-freeze area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a sliding door for cold stores, particularly deep-freeze stores. Said sliding door ensures good sealing towards the frame while preventing damage when driving too fast through the not fully open door. In order to do so, at least one door leaf (2, 3) of the sliding door for cold stores is provided with at least one rigid (4) and at least one flexible (5) area.