Container system with a controlled environment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing small, portable container systems for controlled environments lack accuracy and convenience in regulating humidity and temperature, particularly requiring frequent attention for water reservoir refills and not effectively managing excess humidity.
Innovation Solution
A compact controlled environment system with integrated humidity and temperature regulation, utilizing peltier cells for accurate control, an evaporation pad for humidity adjustment, and thermal conductors for temperature distribution, along with an electronic control system for autonomous operation without a water reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water reservoir is used for humidity control, then humidity can be maintained, but frequent refilling is required reducing convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically collects water from external air through the water condenser and redistributes it via the evaporation pad, eliminating the need for manual refilling while maintaining humidity control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external air interface as an intermediary water source, allowing the system to harvest moisture from the environment rather than relying on a finite internal reservoir
2Reliability
If existing humidity control systems are used, then basic humidity maintenance is achieved, but accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity sensor provides continuous feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the water condensation and evaporation processes to maintain precise humidity levels within the specified range
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters including condensation temperature and evaporation rate to achieve precise humidity control accuracy of ±5% relative humidity
3Ease of operation
If a compact form is used for portability, then mobility is improved, but effective humidity and temperature control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (humidity sensing, temperature control, water condensation, and evaporation) into a single integrated compact unit, achieving reliable environmental control in a portable form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of water (condensation from vapor to liquid, evaporation from liquid to vapor) to efficiently control humidity within the compact chamber volume
4Device complexity
If excess humidity is not effectively managed, then system simplicity is maintained, but article preservation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex dehumidification equipment, the patent inverts the approach by using the same water condenser and evaporation infrastructure to manage both humidity increase and excess humidity removal through controlled phase transitions
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
Provides precise and efficient control of humidity and temperature, enhancing the preservation of articles by eliminating the need for frequent water refills and offering a high degree of autonomy and portability.
Implementation Method 1
collect water from the external air by cooling the cooling element below the dew point of the external air and collecting said water on the evaporation pad
Implementation Method 2
evaporation pad mounted in the container system in gaseous communication with the controlled environment chamber
Implementation Method 3
water condenser configured to collect water from the gaseous environment inside the controlled environment chamber by cooling of the condenser element and cooling element below the dew point of the gas inside the controlled environment chamber
Implementation Method 4
the cooling element of the water condenser of the humidity increasing system comprises one or more peltier cells
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A controlled environment system (2) for storing articles (1 ) in a controlled environment, comprising a container system (4), a humidity regulation system (6), a temperature regulation system (8) and an electronic control system (10) connected to the humidity and temperature regulation systems for control thereof, the container system comprising a controlled environment chamber in which the temperature and degree of humidity is regulated by the temperature and humidity regulation systems, the humidity regulation system comprising at least one chamber humidity sensor arranged to measure the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber, a humidity reducing system adapted to reduce the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber (12) and a humidity increasing system (18) adapted to increase the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber (12).