Container for preserving products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for product preservation are inflexible, thermally inefficient, and lack effective thermal shielding, requiring high energy consumption and being unable to maintain optimal temperature conditions in varying atmospheric conditions.
Innovation Solution
A container with a Peltier cell and radiant body for temperature regulation, combined with thermal insulation and a heat exchanger, allowing both heating and cooling with reduced energy use, and featuring a modular design for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating means (electrical resistors) or cooling means (cooling circuit) are equipped in the container, then thermal control capability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes the thermal mass and thermal properties of its structural components (walls, door, insulation layers) to maintain temperature. The system serves itself by leveraging the inherent thermal characteristics of its construction rather than requiring continuous external energy input for heating or cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The container changes its thermal parameters by varying insulation thickness (5-15 cm depending on wall), material properties (conductivity coefficients between 0.03-0.06 W/mK), and structural configuration to achieve optimal thermal performance without active heating or cooling systems.
2Temperature
If the container is designed for specific atmospheric conditions, then thermal efficiency in that condition is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with universal thermal insulation properties that enable it to function effectively across diverse atmospheric conditions. The multi-layer insulation structure and carefully selected material properties allow the same container design to maintain thermal efficiency whether used in hot, cold, humid, or dry environments without requiring condition-specific modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The container walls are segmented into multiple layers with different thermal properties (inner wall, insulation layer, outer wall) that can independently respond to various environmental conditions. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, creating a composite structure adaptable to different atmospheric scenarios.
3Temperature
If heating or cooling systems are added to the container, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex heating and cooling systems from the container design. By removing these active thermal control devices and relying instead on passive thermal insulation and the thermal mass of the container structure itself, the system achieves temperature maintenance without the complexity of additional mechanical or electrical thermal control components.
4Temperature
If thermal insulation thickness is increased, then thermal efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container optimizes insulation thickness by changing the parameter from uniform thick insulation to a varied thickness distribution (5-15 cm depending on wall position and thermal requirements). This parameter optimization achieves high thermal efficiency while maintaining reasonable manufacturing dimensions and complexity.
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 container maintains optimal thermal conditions for product preservation, is energy-efficient, and operates flexibly in various environments, including remote areas, with autonomous power sources and monitoring capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (40) mounted on a wall of the containment body (20) and configured to generate a variation in heat energy inside the housing volume (21) so as to heat and/or cool the housing volume (21) itself
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of thermal insulation elements (25) arranged mounted in a gap defined between the outer casing (24) and the outer dimensions of the containment body (20)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A container (10) for the delivery and preservation of products, comprises a containment body (20) defining a housing volume (21); a door; a heat exchanger (40) configured to generate a variation in heat energy inside said housing volume (21). Wherein the heat exchanger (40) comprises a Peltier cell (41), and a radiant body (42). The container further comprises a power supply means selectable at least from: a photovoltaic panel and/or a storage battery and/or an aerogenerator and/or a fuel-powered endothermic generator. Such power supply means being configured to supply an electric power to said container (10) to enable a use thereof also when it is not connected to an electricity grid. And wherein said containment body (20) comprises a plurality of panels, mechanically connected to each other in a reversible manner, so that each panel can be disassembled relative to a panel to which it is connected.