Internal air adjustment device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal air adjustment devices struggle to precisely control the composition of internal air in storage containers for agricultural products, as they often discharge carbon dioxide and introduce outside air, making it difficult to achieve a suitable air composition for storage.
Innovation Solution
An internal air adjustment device with a first composition adjustment unit that supplies air with a different composition from external air into the storage and a second composition adjustment unit that discharges air with a different composition from internal air, allowing for independent control of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, and maintaining positive air pressure to prevent external air entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If outside air is introduced into the container to discharge carbon dioxide, then carbon dioxide concentration is reduced, but the composition of internal air cannot be precisely controlled to match storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The air introduction system is segmented into multiple independent channels: one channel introduces outside air for carbon dioxide discharge, while another channel introduces air with controlled composition (adjusted via gas separation membrane) for precise oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration control. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each air source for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas separation membrane is introduced as an intermediary device between the outside air source and the container interior. This membrane selectively separates carbon dioxide from oxygen in the introduced air, enabling precise control of the air composition before it enters the container, thus resolving the contradiction between carbon dioxide discharge and composition control precision.
2Quantity of substance
If a passage connecting inside and outside of the container is opened to supply outside air, then oxygen concentration is replenished, but external air with atmospheric composition enters the container
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the air introduction system are given different qualities: the passage for outside air introduction allows atmospheric air entry for basic oxygen replenishment, while a separate gas separation membrane unit provides locally modified air with precisely controlled composition. This local quality differentiation allows the system to simultaneously satisfy oxygen replenishment and composition control requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the storage container has low airtightness to allow air exchange, then gas composition can be naturally adjusted, but external air continuously enters the container
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural air exchange capability of the low-airtightness container to its advantage by introducing processed air with controlled composition through the gas separation membrane. The continuous passive air exchange through the container walls is complemented by active introduction of precisely composed air, allowing the system to maintain composition control while utilizing the inherent air exchange property rather than fighting against it.
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 solution enables precise control of internal air composition, reducing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to optimal ranges for storing plants, while maintaining positive air pressure to prevent external air ingress, even with low airtightness, thus extending storage duration and maintaining freshness.
Implementation Method 1
a gas separation membrane in which the passability of carbon dioxide is higher than the passability of oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
An internal air adjustment device that includes a first composition adjustment unit and a second composition adjustment unit. The first composition adjustment unit separates supply air from external air, the supply air having a composition that differs from a composition of the external air, and supplies the supply air into a transport container. The second composition adjustment unit separates discharge air from internal air, the discharge air having a composition that differs from a composition of the internal air, and discharges the discharge air to outside of the transport container. The internal air adjustment device is capable of properly controlling the composition of the internal air in the transport container.