Produce Cooling Chamber With Inflatable Seals and Reversible Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems for cooling freshly harvested produce are inefficient due to the need for loading and unloading through a single entrance, lack of adaptability to varying pallet and stack sizes, and reliance on unreliable damper mechanisms for airflow direction changes.
Innovation Solution
A two-module cooling apparatus with inflatable seals that allow for flexible sealing and airflow direction changes without mechanical redirection, accommodating different pallet and stack sizes, and using a single blower for both cooling and sealing, ensuring high reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single entrance door is used for loading and unloading produce containers, then the device structure is simplified, but the productivity is reduced due to sequential operations and the reliability deteriorates due to frequent door openings
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chamber is divided into multiple zones (first cooling area and second cooling area) with separate access points. Containers can be loaded at one entrance and unloaded at another, allowing simultaneous loading and unloading operations that increase productivity without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Inflatable seals are introduced as intermediary elements between the cooling chamber and external environment. These seals can be inflated to seal the chamber during cooling operations and deflated to allow container movement, enabling frequent operations without compromising the cooling environment or requiring complex mechanical door systems.
2Device complexity
If fixed sealing structures are used in the cooling chamber, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates when accommodating different pallet and stack sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system transitions from fixed to dynamic through the use of inflatable seals. These seals can be inflated to various degrees and positioned at different locations within the chamber, allowing the cooling system to adapt to different container sizes, pallet configurations, and stack heights while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing characteristics are changed by varying the inflation pressure and volume of the inflatable seals. This allows the seals to conform to different container dimensions and create effective seals without requiring complex adjustable mechanical structures, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
3Device complexity
If mechanical damper devices are used to change airflow direction, then the device structure is simplified, but the reliability deteriorates and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical damper system is replaced with an inflatable seal-based airflow control system. By inflating or deflating specific seals, airflow direction is changed without moving mechanical parts. This eliminates the reliability issues and maintenance requirements associated with mechanical dampers while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Pneumatic pressure is used to control airflow direction through the inflation and deflation of seals rather than through mechanical movement. This pneumatic system is more reliable and requires less maintenance than mechanical dampers, as it has fewer moving parts and no wear components, while still providing effective airflow direction control.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If rapid cooling of produce is achieved through forced air circulation, then the shelf life is extended, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly cooling the entire chamber at high energy consumption, the system uses inflatable seals to create localized cooling zones where produce is concentrated. Forced air circulation is applied selectively to these zones, achieving rapid cooling of produce while reducing energy consumption compared to whole-chamber high-velocity circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts airflow patterns by inflating and deflating seals in different zones based on produce location and cooling requirements. This allows the system to concentrate cooling energy where needed for rapid produce cooling while minimizing energy consumption in empty or already-cooled areas, extending shelf life with reduced overall energy use.
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 achieves efficient cooling of produce by allowing airflow direction changes without mechanical adjustments, accommodating varying pallet sizes, and maintaining high reliability, thereby extending the shelf life of produce and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
air inflatable seals which abut the containers
Implementation Method 2
containers are exposed to cooling air provided in a first direction... containers are exposed to cooling air in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for the efficient cooling of produce directed to the cooling of freshly picked produce in containers on pallets. The apparatus has a first opening for the entrance of stacks of containers to be moved through cooling enclosure. The stacks of containers are moved through to a first cooling area wherein the containers are exposed to cooling air provided in a first direction. The stacks of containers are then moved through to a second cooling area wherein the containers are exposed to cooling air in a second direction. Isolation of the containers and routing of the air flow is supplemented with air inflatable seals which abut the containers. A method for the efficient cooling of produce utilizing an apparatus as described.