Phase-Change Transport Packaging for Passive Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping containers for temperature-sensitive payloads are inefficient and costly, often requiring electrical power and complex mechanical devices to maintain temperature within a narrow range, leading to waste due to inadequate temperature control at remote locations.
Innovation Solution
A transport package utilizing a combination of thermal insulation materials and multiple phase change materials, where one phase change material is thermally conditioned to act as a buffer, maintaining the payload temperature within a desired range without the need for a power source or mechanical devices, by employing water-based and other phase change materials strategically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical power sources and mechanical devices are used to maintain temperature, then temperature control reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change materials are pre-conditioned to automatically absorb or release heat when the payload temperature deviates from the desired range, eliminating the need for external power sources or mechanical control devices. The system serves itself through the inherent thermal properties of the phase change materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperatures to provide passive thermal regulation. These materials absorb heat during melting and release heat during freezing, maintaining payload temperature without active control mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If thermal preparation is performed on site or just in time, then temperature control precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change materials are thermally conditioned (frozen or heated as appropriate) before being inserted into the shipping container. This preliminary preparation ensures that the materials are ready to immediately buffer temperature fluctuations upon shipment, eliminating the need for on-site thermal preparation and enabling just-in-time delivery without compromising temperature control precision.
3Temperature
If complex mechanical cooling devices are used, then temperature control capability is improved, but ease of operation and ease of manufacture worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential temperature buffering function from complex mechanical cooling devices and implements it through simple phase change materials. This eliminates moving parts, reduces operational complexity, and maintains effective temperature control through passive thermal regulation.
4Loss of substance
If adequate temperature control equipment is provided at remote locations, then material waste is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change materials act as thermal intermediaries that transfer heat between the payload and the external environment during shipping. This passive thermal mediation protects temperature-sensitive materials during transport to remote locations without requiring complex temperature control equipment at the destination, thereby reducing material waste while avoiding the need for sophisticated local infrastructure.
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
Effectively protects temperature-sensitive materials from extreme ambient temperatures, reducing material waste and costs by maintaining payload temperature within a predetermined range throughout delivery, even in hostile environments, without the need for electrical power or complex mechanical systems.
Implementation Method 1
one or more different phase change materials, with one or more of the phase change materials being thermally conditioned prior to insertion into the container
Implementation Method 2
a device that evaporates water into a vacuum and uses the latent heat of vaporization to chill and maintain the temperature of a payload
Implementation Method 3
Shipping containers for transporting temperature sensitive payloads typically include insulation materials, such as foam peanuts, expanded foams, etc.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a transport package which efficiently maintains payload temperature within a predetermined temperature range during delivery through regions having ambient temperatures outside the desired range. The transport package is used for transporting temperature sensitive materials and thermally protecting the materials from cold and hot ambient temperatures in a manner that does not require a power source or other mechanical devices. Aspects of the invention relate to a temperature maintaining packaging system having an outer container, thermal insulation materials and two or more different phase change materials.