PCM Beverage Container for Rapid Cooling and Long Temperature Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal insulating beverage containers fail to maintain liquids at a desirable temperature for an extended period, typically keeping hot beverages within 98° F. to 160° F. (37° C. to 71° C.) or cold beverages within 32° F. to 50° F. (0° C. to 10° C.) for only a short duration.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanging thermal liquid container system utilizing a phase change material (PCM) liner and pods with selected melting temperatures to quickly cool and maintain beverages within a desired temperature range by transferring and storing thermal energy, allowing for extended temperature retention (up to 15 hours) through modular design and efficient heat exchange mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional thermal insulating beverage containers are used, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the liquid beverage cannot be maintained at a desirable temperature for an extended period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate functional components: an inner container holding the beverage, an outer container providing insulation, and removable PCM packs that can be independently selected and replaced. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCM packs are pre-cooled or pre-heated before use to establish the desired temperature condition. This preliminary action enables the system to immediately begin temperature maintenance when the beverage is added, extending the effective temperature control duration without requiring complex active cooling systems.
2Duration of action of moving object
If no insulation is provided (e.g., paper cup), then the container structure is simple, but the beverage temperature remains within the desired range for only a short period (5-30 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The PCM packs act as thermal intermediaries between the beverage and the ambient environment. They absorb or release heat at a relatively constant temperature during phase change, mediating the heat transfer process and maintaining the beverage temperature within the desired range for extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple materials with different thermal properties: the inner container material (e.g., plastic or metal), the insulation material (e.g., foam or air gap), and the PCM material (e.g., ice or gel). This composite structure creates a multi-layered thermal management system that extends temperature maintenance duration.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a double-walled vacuum tumbler is used, then some thermal insulation is provided, but the beverage remains in the desired temperature range for only approximately 30-90 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The active temperature control function is extracted from the container structure itself and placed into removable PCM packs. This allows the container to maintain a simpler structure while achieving extended temperature maintenance through the phase change material packs that can be easily added or removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameters by introducing PCM packs with specific phase change temperatures matched to the desired beverage temperature range. This parameter adjustment enables extended temperature maintenance without requiring complex vacuum insulation structures.
4Duration of action of moving object
If phase change material packs are added to the container, then the temperature maintenance duration is extended to 1-15 hours, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The PCM packs are designed as separate, removable modules that can be independently handled. Users can easily add, remove, or replace the packs without disassembling the entire container, maintaining ease of operation while achieving extended temperature maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCM packs are designed as disposable or easily replaceable components. After use, the packs can be discarded or recharged externally, allowing the main container structure to remain simple and reusable while the temporary PCM packs provide the extended temperature maintenance function.
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 cools hot beverages to a desired range in seconds and maintains temperature uniformity for several hours, ensuring beverages remain drinkable for an extended period.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the thermal energy of the liquid is quickly and efficiently transferred to, or absorbed by, a phase change material
Implementation Method 2
the phase change material that is disposed within one or more reservoir, bladder, compartment, cavity, container, housing, or other hollow structure
Implementation Method 3
the thermal energy stored in the phase change material can be transferred, or rejected, back into the liquid to maintain the liquid within the desired temperature range
Implementation Method 4
when the temperature of the liquid begins to decrease (e.g., the temperature of the liquid decreases below a melting temperature of the phase change material)
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanging thermal liquid container system that comprises a main body at least partially defining a liquid reservoir structured and operable to retain a liquid, and a phase change material (PCM) liner comprising a PCM liner PCM having a selected melting temperature, and/or at least one PCM pod. Each of the at least one PCM pod(s) comprising a respective PCM pod PCM having a respective selected melting temperature. Wherein the PCM liner and/or the at least one PCM pod are disposable within the liquid reservoir such that when a liquid is disposed within the liquid reservoir the liquid will contact at least one of the PCM liner and the at least one PCM pod such that thermal energy can be exchanged between the liquid and the respective at least one of the PCM liner PCM and the at least one PCM pod PCM.