Insulated Container Duct Design for Distributed Cooling and Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulated containers for refrigerated cargo face inefficiencies in cooling, including high energy consumption, poor energy/effect ratio, inefficient air flow due to open structures, and hygiene issues with aluminum T-gratings, which lead to suboptimal cooling performance and food safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
The insulated container features side walls with inner and outer faces, an insulating layer, and temperature control fluid distribution means with ducts and orifices that guide fluid flow perpendicular to the container length, eliminating the need for T-gratings and using inflatable elastic bags for improved sealing and radiant cooling, enhancing cooling efficiency and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is cooled by the refrigeration unit and flows through the container from bottom to top using T-gratings, then cooling is provided to the cargo, but high energy input is required and cooling performance in areas remote from the refrigeration unit is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is segmented into multiple sections with separate grating structures in different zones (front, middle, rear). Each zone has its own air inlet openings and flow paths, allowing distributed cooling throughout the container rather than relying on a single bottom-to-top flow path. This segmentation enables remote areas to receive adequate cooling without requiring excessive energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces horizontal air flow paths through the cargo mass by positioning grating structures at different longitudinal positions. Instead of purely vertical flow, air moves both vertically through the T-gratings and horizontally across the cargo, creating a three-dimensional cooling pattern that improves temperature distribution in remote areas.
2Temperature
If high ventilation volume is used to cool remote areas, then cooling performance improves, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Different zones of the container are equipped with grating structures optimized for their specific cooling needs. The front, middle, and rear sections have grating openings positioned and sized to create appropriate air flow patterns for each zone, ensuring that remote areas receive sufficient cooling without requiring the entire system to operate at maximum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Air is introduced at multiple points along the container length before it reaches remote areas. By pre-cooling the air and distributing it through strategically positioned grating structures, the system ensures that cooling capacity is already present in remote zones before hot air can accumulate, reducing the total energy required.
3Ease of operation
If T-gratings with open structure are used for air flow, then cooling is achieved, but hygiene performance deteriorates due to difficult cleaning access and uncontrollable cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic deep cavities and hard-to-reach areas of traditional T-gratings are eliminated by using a simplified grating structure with smaller, more accessible openings. The new design extracts the essential air flow function while removing the hygiene problems associated with deep, uncontrollable cavities that cannot be properly cleaned.
Solution Approach 2:
The grating structure is designed with simplified geometry that prioritizes ease of cleaning over maximizing air flow efficiency. Rather than using complex extruded aluminum T-gratings with deep cavities, the invention employs a simpler structure that can be easily disassembled and cleaned, accepting some reduction in air flow performance in exchange for significantly improved hygiene.
4Strength
If aluminum T-gratings are used for structural purposes, then mechanical strength is provided, but food safety is compromised due to bacteria retention
Solution Approach 1:
The material or surface properties of the grating structure are modified to prevent bacteria retention. This could involve changing from aluminum to a different material, or applying surface treatments that create a non-stick or antimicrobial surface, thereby maintaining structural strength while eliminating the food safety hazard of bacteria retention.
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 design reduces energy consumption, improves cooling performance across the container, and enhances hygiene by ensuring efficient temperature distribution and preventing parasitic flows, thus optimizing the use of cooling capacity and maintaining food safety.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating layer of insulating material being located between the inner face and the outer face
Implementation Method 2
temperature control fluid distribution means for distributing temperature control fluid in the interior of the insulated container
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an insulated container (100) comprising side walls (110, 120), a bottom wall (130), a top wall (140), a rear wall and a front wall, wherein the walls each comprise an inner face (112, 122, 132, 142) and an outer face (111, 121, 131, 141) and an insulating layer (150) of insulating material, the insulated container further comprising temperature control fluid distribution means (103) for distributing temperature control fluid in the insulated container (100), wherein the temperature control fluid distribution means (103) comprise at least two ducts (165, 175, 185, 195) being adapted to guide the temperature control fluid along the side walls (110, 120) of the container (100) and having each at least one orifice (164, 174, 184, 194) being adapted to allow a flow of temperature control fluid from one side wall (110) of the container (100) to the other side wall (120) of the container (100). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cooling cargo (25) in an insulated container (100).