Polyvinyl Alcohol Moisture Removing Bag for Passive Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehydration and desiccant technologies are inefficient, requiring significant energy and time, causing uneven drying, damaging products, and having limited moisture absorption capacity, selectivity, and specificity, which leads to increased costs and environmental waste.
Innovation Solution
A container made from a moisture-wicking, air-impermeable polyvinyl alcohol sheet is formed into a folded structure with sealed edges, creating an open-ended pouch that effectively removes moisture from objects by using a breathable, hydrophilic material like Hydropol™, which can be sealed using heat, laser, or adhesive methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional desiccant materials (silica gel, activated carbon, molecular sieve) are used to remove moisture, then moisture absorption capacity is achieved, but the materials have limited absorption capacity and need frequent replacement or regeneration, leading to increased costs and environmental waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable polyvinyl alcohol container that is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for regeneration or replacement of the desiccant material. This resolves the contradiction by accepting the loss of the container itself rather than requiring repeated use and maintenance of the moisture absorption material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the container material from conventional plastics to polyvinyl alcohol, which has inherent moisture absorption properties. This parameter change allows the container itself to function as the desiccant, achieving high moisture absorption capacity without requiring separate desiccant materials that would need regeneration.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional dehydration methods (sun drying, oven drying, freeze-drying) are used to remove moisture from objects, then moisture removal is achieved, but significant energy, time, and space are required, and uneven drying occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The polyvinyl alcohol container performs moisture removal passively through its inherent hygroscopic properties, without requiring external energy input. The container automatically absorbs moisture from the stored object through diffusion and capillary action, eliminating the need for oven heating, freezing, or solar exposure that would be required by traditional dehydration methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical dehydration systems (ovens, freezers, solar dryers) with a chemical/biological absorption mechanism. The polyvinyl alcohol material chemically absorbs moisture through hydrogen bonding and capillary action within its polymer structure, substituting the need for thermal or mechanical energy input.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional dehydration methods are used to remove moisture from objects, then moisture removal is achieved, but product quality is damaged due to heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal dehydration methods with passive chemical absorption. The polyvinyl alcohol container removes moisture through capillary action and hydrogen bonding without heat application, thereby preventing thermal damage to heat-sensitive products while achieving effective moisture removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high (oven drying) or variable (sun drying) to controlled low temperatures. The polyvinyl alcohol absorption process occurs effectively at ambient or refrigerated temperatures, maintaining product quality by avoiding heat-induced degradation of color, texture, and flavor.
4Quantity of substance
If traditional desiccant materials are used to control moisture, then moisture control is achieved, but the materials lack selectivity and absorb both water and volatile compounds, affecting product purity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using polyvinyl alcohol, which has specific chemical properties (hydrophilic groups in the polymer chain) that selectively attract water molecules through hydrogen bonding. This local chemical property provides selectivity for water over other volatile compounds, improving product purity while maintaining moisture control.
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 method achieves efficient dehydration with higher moisture removal capacity compared to traditional materials, maintaining product quality and reducing environmental impact by minimizing the need for frequent replacement and regeneration of desiccants.
Implementation Method 1
moisture wicking, air impermeable polyvinyl alcohol sheet
Implementation Method 2
breathable, hydrophilic material like Hydropol™
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dehydrating an object includes forming a container from a moisture wicking, air impermeable, polyvinyl alcohol sheet. The sheet is folded upon itself to form a folded structure having layer of the sheet in facing relationship with a second layer of the sheet. The first layer is sealed to the second layer along the length of a first open edge. The first layer is sealed to the second layer along the length of a second open edge; the opposed to the first open edge forming an open-ended container at a remaining open edge. An object to be dehydrated is placed in the container and the first layer is sealed to the second layer along the remaining layer.