Thermal insulation container and heat/cold insulation apparatus using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal insulation containers with vacuum insulation structures face limitations in maintaining heat/cold insulation for extended periods without increasing size and weight, restricting their applications, especially in scenarios requiring prolonged thermal storage like space missions.
Innovation Solution
A thermal insulation container design featuring an inner and outer container with overlapping side walls and vacuum layers, along with a thermal storage member, to enhance thermal resistance and reduce heat leakage, allowing for prolonged insulation without adding bulk or weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the amount of thermal insulation material or the thickness of the thermal insulation material is increased for improving the thermal insulation performance, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the size and weight of the thermal insulation container increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulation structure is segmented into multiple vacuum layers (first vacuum layer and second vacuum layer) separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows the insulation function to be distributed across multiple thin vacuum spaces rather than requiring a single thick insulation layer, thereby maintaining high thermal insulation performance while reducing overall weight and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container with its vacuum layer is nested within the outer container that also has a vacuum layer. This nested configuration creates multiple vacuum insulation zones within a compact structure, achieving enhanced thermal insulation without proportionally increasing the external dimensions or weight of the container.
2Temperature
If many thermal storage members are used for improving the heat and cold insulation performance, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the size and weight of the thermal insulation container increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal storage function is segmented by creating separate vacuum-insulated compartments for hot and cold storage. The partition wall divides the container into distinct thermal zones, each with its own vacuum layer, allowing independent thermal management without requiring excessive thermal storage material in a single large space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the container are assigned different thermal characteristics through the partition wall and separate vacuum layers. The inner container region can be optimized for one thermal condition while the outer container region handles another, allowing efficient local thermal management that reduces the need for bulk thermal storage materials throughout the entire container.
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 design significantly improves thermal insulation performance by increasing thermal resistance, enabling the container to maintain heat/cold insulation for several days without the need for additional insulation materials or electric power, making it suitable for diverse applications including space-relevant uses.
Implementation Method 1
a first vacuum layer continuously formed inside the first bottom portion and the first side wall portion
Implementation Method 2
thermal insulation container having a vacuum thermal insulation structure
Data Source
AI summary
[Object] To provide a thermal insulation container with which the heat/cold insulation effect is kept for longer time without increasing the size and weight of the thermal insulation container.[Solving Means] The thermal insulation container includes an inner container, an outer container, and an overlap region. The inner container includes a first bottom portion, a first side wall portion that extends in a first direction from the first bottom portion and forms a first open end portion, and a first vacuum layer continuously formed inside the first bottom portion and the first side wall portion. The outer container includes a second bottom portion, a second side wall portion that extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the second bottom portion and forms a second open end portion, and a second vacuum layer continuously formed inside the second bottom portion and the second side wall portion. The outer container is fitted onto the inner container in such a manner that an inner surface of the second side wall portion and an outer surface of the first side wall portion face each other and forms a storage portion. The overlap region is formed in such a manner that the inner surface of the second side wall portion and the outer surface of the first side wall portion overlap each other.