Method for freezing a liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for freezing liquids, particularly liquid drugs, in containers face issues with expansion-related stresses and mechanical damage due to uneven freezing, leading to container buckling and difficulty in stacking during transport and thawing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves exposing the container to a cooling element like cold gas, with insulation on at least a portion of the surface to control the freezing process, ensuring that the liquid freezes uniformly without encasing non-frozen liquid, using U-shaped insulation bodies and a foam to manage expansion and provide additional protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the liquid is frozen from the exterior using circulating air freezers, then the freezing process can be initiated, but the liquid in the interior remains non-frozen and expands, causing stresses that rupture the frozen edge layer and damage the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional freezing approach by insulating the edge regions and cooling only the central region of the container. This causes the liquid to freeze from the center outward rather than from the edges inward, preventing the formation of an enclosed non-frozen bubble that would cause expansion damage. The cooling element is positioned to cool the bottom central region while insulation bodies cover the edge regions, reversing the typical freezing sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different thermal properties to different regions of the container: the central region is left uninsulated to allow cooling, while the edge regions are covered with insulation bodies. This local differentiation of thermal characteristics ensures that freezing occurs in a controlled sequence from center to edge, preventing structural damage while achieving complete freezing.
2Productivity
If the liquid freezes from the exterior, then the freezing process begins, but the expanding non-frozen liquid in the interior causes the frozen edge layer to burst and the container to buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the conventional freezing sequence by preventing freezing at the edges and promoting freezing at the center. This inversion eliminates the problematic scenario where expanding interior liquid bursts the frozen edge layer, thereby maintaining container shape integrity while still achieving efficient freezing through the central cooling approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies insulation bodies to the edge regions before the freezing process begins, pre-preventing the formation of frozen edge layers that would later be subjected to expansion stresses. This preliminary protective action ensures that when the liquid freezes, it does so in a controlled manner from the center outward without causing structural damage.
3Device complexity
If the liquid is frozen uniformly, then the freezing process is simple, but the expansion of water upon freezing causes stresses that can damage the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces local quality differentiation by applying insulation bodies to specific edge regions while leaving the central region uncovered for cooling. This creates a controlled non-uniform freezing pattern where the center freezes first and the freezing front progresses outward, managing expansion stresses while maintaining a relatively simple overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of different container regions by adding insulation bodies to the edges, thereby controlling the heat transfer characteristics. This parameter modification allows the freezing process to proceed with controlled stress distribution, preventing container damage while maintaining process simplicity.
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 approach prevents the rupture of frozen layers, allows for safe stacking and transport, and ensures uniform freezing without mechanical damage, maintaining the integrity of the containers and the frozen liquid.
Implementation Method 1
the container is cooled substantially directly by the cold gas at a surface of a second volume portion of the container
Implementation Method 2
so that the liquid freezes therethrough in the at least one first volume portion later than in the second volume portion
Implementation Method 3
the container is insulated at a surface of at least a first volume portion of the container
Implementation Method 4
the water experiences an increase in volume upon freezing
Data Source
AI summary
A method for freezing a liquid located in a container, in particular a liquid drug, includes exposing the container to a cooling element such as cold gas in order to freeze the liquid. The cold gas preferably flows around the container, and/or the liquid is cooled in another way in order to freeze the liquid. The container is insulated at a surface of at least one first volume portion of the container, and the container is cooled nearly immediately at a surface of a second volume portion of the container by the cold gas such that the liquid freezes through later in the at least one first volume portion than in the second volume portion.