Transportation container for protecting temperature sensitive products, transportation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature-sensitive products face challenges during transportation due to inadequate thermal protection and monitoring in air, ground, and sea transportation modes, leading to potential damage from temperature fluctuations and lack of visibility, especially when refrigeration units fail or are unplugged.
Innovation Solution
A modular transportation container system with a secondary chamber that creates an air gap for insulation, using materials with insulating and phase-changing properties, and incorporates a ventilation system and tracking technology for temperature control and monitoring, ensuring consistent temperature and real-time monitoring via GSM and satellite communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If special insulated ULDs with refrigeration devices are used for air transportation, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ULD into multiple temperature zones (cold zone and ambient zone) separated by an interior partition wall, allowing different products to be stored at different temperatures without requiring a single complex refrigeration system for the entire container
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system is nested within the ULD structure, with the refrigeration device integrated into the partition wall and thermal insulation layers embedded within the wall structure, creating a compact nested arrangement
2Temperature
If refrigeration units are used in sea containers, then temperature control is improved, but reliability decreases when units fail or are unplugged
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal insulation layers are incorporated into the partition wall structure before the refrigeration unit fails or is unplugged, providing a buffer that maintains temperature stability during periods when active refrigeration is unavailable
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall design allows the cold zone to benefit from thermal mass and insulation that slows heat transfer, converting the potential harm of refrigeration failure into a delayed temperature change that provides additional protection time
3Quantity of substance
If sea containers are used for transportation, then cost is reduced, but monitoring visibility and security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are integrated into the partition wall and ULD structure to continuously monitor temperature conditions in both zones, providing real-time feedback on the state of temperature-sensitive products during transportation
4Quantity of substance
If ground transportation is used, then cost is reduced, but temperature maintenance and air circulation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall provides localized thermal insulation and temperature control in the cold zone, ensuring that temperature-sensitive products receive adequate protection even during ground transportation where overall container temperature control may be insufficient
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 system effectively maintains a stable temperature range between -35°C and 30°C, protecting products from thermal abuse and providing continuous monitoring and tracking, ensuring the integrity of temperature-sensitive goods during transportation.
Implementation Method 1
The technique utilized to accomplish the air exchange can vary depending on the size of the chamber, the materials used in constructing the chamber, and the physical and chemical characteristics of products transported or distributed
Implementation Method 2
One or more of the materials in the wall can posses insulating and/or phase changing properties
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method and apparatus for protecting temperature sensitive products during air, ground, or sea transportation. Specific embodiments of the invention relate to a chamber built inside a trailer or sea container where temperature sensitive products are placed to have additional protection against the environmental conditions encountered during the transportation and distribution periods. The dimensions and modularity of the chamber can vary depending on the trailer or sea container the chamber is designed to be used with. This chamber can be preassembled and inserted into the desired trailer or sea container or can be assembled inside the trailer or sea container. The chamber system can include insulated and or non-insulated walls, conveyor system, ventilation system, temperature and asset (trailer or sea container) location tracking. The location tracking can utilize, for example, cellular (GSM) and/or satellite communication, with or without GPS tracking. Each wall of the chamber can be composed of a single material or a combination of dissimilar materials. One or more of the materials in the wall can posses insulating and/or phase changing properties. Different layers of the wall may incorporate different materials.