Multi-Chamber Refrigerated Container for Chilled and Frozen Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cool boxes are limited in their ability to maintain temperature for both chilled and deep-frozen products simultaneously, often resulting in either the chilling or freezing of products, and have short effective transport times due to the constraints of cooling materials like eutectics, which cannot be increased without making the container unmanageable.
Innovation Solution
A container with separate cooling chambers and corresponding coolant chambers connected via fluid lines allows for selective temperature control, enabling the simultaneous transport of chilled and frozen products by using dry ice in some coolant chambers and air in others, with a lid design that promotes natural convection and optional active convection for extended temperature maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a single cold room with eutectic cooling is used, then the cool box can transport chilled or frozen products, but the transport time is limited and the eutectic amount cannot be increased without making the box unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent coolant chambers, each capable of holding different amounts of cooling material. This allows the total cooling capacity to be increased by adding more chambers or larger chambers without making the entire box unmanageable. The segmentation also enables different zones to be optimized for different transport durations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant chambers are integrated within the insulating wall structure of the container, with channels formed in the walls to distribute coolant to multiple cooling zones. This nesting approach maximizes the use of available space, allowing increased coolant capacity without proportionally increasing the external dimensions of the box.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single cold room is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously maintain different temperatures for chilled and frozen products
Solution Approach 1:
The single cold room is segmented into multiple independent cooling zones by providing separate coolant chambers for each zone. Each zone can be independently controlled by regulating the coolant flow to its specific chamber, enabling simultaneous maintenance of different temperatures for chilled and frozen products while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant distribution system is designed to be multi-functional, with a single insulating wall structure serving both as the container wall and as the coolant distribution manifold. The same basic structure supports multiple cooling zones, making the system adaptable to different temperature requirements without requiring completely separate systems for each zone.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling space is divided by a double-acting wall element with separate receptacles, then deep-freeze and chilled temperatures can be maintained, but the transport time remains limited by the eutectic amount
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant chambers are nested within the insulating wall structure, with channels formed directly in the walls to distribute coolant. This allows the cooling system to be integrated into the container structure itself, maximizing space utilization and enabling extended transport times by increasing coolant capacity without proportionally increasing external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for adjustment of cooling parameters by controlling the flow of coolant to different chambers. By regulating which chambers receive coolant and in what quantities, the system can adapt to different transport duration requirements and temperature profiles, extending beyond the fixed limitations of eutectic-based systems.
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 effectively maintains temperatures between 5°C and -24°C for at least 48 hours, allowing for the simultaneous transport of chilled and frozen products while minimizing weight and size, with adjustable temperature settings and monitoring for optimal performance.
Implementation Method 1
The container has a lid on the upper side opposite the underside, which is used to close at least two cooling chambers of the container together is formed, wherein the coolant chambers associated with the cooling chambers that can be closed by the cover are arranged in the cover, and wherein the cover is designed in such a way that when the cover is closed, because one of the cooling chambers closed by the cover is in fluid communication with a coolant chamber in the cover.
Implementation Method 2
one coolant chamber is connected to a cooling chamber via at least one fluid line and at least two coolant chambers are connected to one another via at least one fluid line
Implementation Method 3
selective accommodating Coolant, wherein one coolant chamber is connected to a cooling chamber via at least one fluid line
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) for transporting refrigerated and/or deep-frozen products, in particular foodstuffs. The container (1) for transporting refrigerated and/or deep-frozen products, with an underside (2) designed as a storage area, comprises at least two separate refrigerating chambers (7, 8) for accommodating refrigerated or deep-frozen products and one of the number of refrigerating chambers (7, 8) corresponding number of coolant chambers (9, 10) for selectively receiving coolant. Each coolant chamber (9, 10) is connected to a cooling chamber (7, 8) via at least one fluid line (11). At least two coolant chambers (9, 10) are connected to one another via at least one fluid line (12).