Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport containers for temperature-sensitive goods face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature due to heterogeneous energy input and the need for separate regions for active and passive temperature-control elements, leading to power consumption and susceptibility to failure.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer enclosure design integrating latent heat accumulators and active temperature-control elements directly into the wall elements of the container, eliminating the need for air circulation and allowing for uniform heat transfer through conduction, reducing power consumption and susceptibility to failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate regions for active and passive temperature-control elements are used, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity and susceptibility to failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines active and passive temperature-control elements into a single integrated wall structure rather than using separate regions. The multilayer wall design integrates latent heat accumulators (passive) and active temperature-control elements (active) in direct thermal contact, allowing both functions to operate within one unified structure, thereby reducing device complexity and susceptibility to failure while maintaining temperature control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated wall structure serves multiple temperature control functions simultaneously. The same wall structure provides both passive temperature control through latent heat accumulators and active temperature control through integrated elements, making the system more versatile while reducing the number of separate components needed
2Temperature
If air circulation is used for heat transfer, then temperature distribution is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical air circulation system with direct thermal conduction through the multilayer wall structure. Heat transfer occurs through the integrated latent heat accumulators and active temperature-control elements embedded in the walls, eliminating the need for fans or blowers to circulate air, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining uniform temperature distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The latent heat accumulators in the wall structure automatically provide temperature regulation through phase change without requiring external energy input. The system uses the thermal mass and phase change properties of the materials in the walls themselves to maintain temperature, reducing reliance on energy-consuming active cooling or heating systems
3Use of energy by moving object
If latent heat accumulators are used, then temperature control efficiency is improved, but reliability decreases due to complete phase change depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-charges the latent heat accumulators in the wall structure before the transport mission begins. The accumulators are brought to the appropriate phase state in advance so that they can immediately provide temperature control when needed, ensuring reliable operation throughout the mission without depletion issues
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design ensures continuous temperature control by combining latent heat accumulation with active temperature-control elements. When the latent heat accumulators approach complete phase change, the active elements maintain temperature control, ensuring uninterrupted and reliable temperature regulation throughout the entire transport duration
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 configuration ensures a compact, efficient, and reliable temperature control system that maintains uniform temperature within the container, reducing power consumption and the risk of local temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
Passive temperature-control elements are, however, depleted once the temperature equalization with the interior of the transport container has been completed. A special type of passive temperature-control elements are latent heat accumulators, which are able to store thermal energy in phase-change materials, whose latent heat of fusion, heat of solution or heat of absorption is substantially higher than the heat they are able to store on account of their normal specific heat capacity.
Implementation Method 2
The transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods comprises an interior for receiving the transport goods and an enclosure enclosing the interior and comprising a heat insulation
Implementation Method 3
They are based on the conversion of a non-thermal type of energy into a thermal type of energy. The release or absorption of heat in this case, for instance, takes place in the context of a thermodynamic cycle process, e.g. by using a compression refrigerating machine.
Implementation Method 4
Another active temperature-control element configuration operates based on the thermoelectric principle by using so-called Peltier elements.
Implementation Method 5
A multilayer enclosure design integrating latent heat accumulators and active temperature-control elements directly into the wall elements of the container, eliminating the need for air circulation and allowing for uniform heat transfer through conduction
Data Source
AI summary
A transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods includes an interior for receiving the transport goods and an enclosure enclosing the interior and provided with a heat insulation, wherein at least one latent heat accumulator and at least one active temperature-control element are provided for controlling the temperature in the interior. The enclosure is preferably a multilayer enclosure, wherein a heat insulation, a latent heat accumulator, and optionally an active temperature-control element, are configured as mutually separate, superimposed layers of the enclosure.