Rechargeable thermal battery systems for use in transporting or storing perishable items
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportation vehicles and trailers for cooling perishable items are limited in their ability to maintain cooling for extended periods, especially when the vehicle is inoperable, and require expensive large industrial chillers for simultaneous thermal battery charging.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a thermal battery system using phase change materials (PCMs) with embedded heat exchangers, coupled with a portable thermal charger and a refrigeration unit, allows for efficient cooling of cargo areas and simultaneous charging of multiple thermal batteries without the need for large industrial chillers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a refrigeration unit is used to cool the cargo area, then cooling is provided while the vehicle is operational, but cooling cannot be maintained for extended periods when the vehicle is inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools thermal batteries during operational periods, storing cold energy in advance. These charged thermal batteries then provide continued cooling during inoperable periods, extending the duration and reliability of cooling without requiring the refrigeration unit to be running continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal batteries serve as an intermediary energy storage medium between the refrigeration unit and the cargo area. The refrigeration unit charges the thermal batteries, which then discharge to cool the cargo area, decoupling the cooling function from continuous vehicle operation.
2Productivity
If large industrial chillers are used for simultaneous thermal battery charging, then multiple thermal batteries can be charged, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the charging function into multiple independent thermal battery units that can be charged simultaneously through separate fluid circuit connections. This allows incremental charging capacity without requiring a single large industrial chiller, reducing overall system cost while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigeration unit is designed with universal fluid circuit connections that can service multiple thermal battery units simultaneously. This multi-functional capability allows the same refrigeration system to charge different numbers of thermal batteries based on demand, optimizing resource utilization without requiring dedicated large-scale industrial equipment.
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 solution enables extended cooling periods, even when the vehicle is inoperable, and allows for efficient simultaneous charging of multiple thermal batteries, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal battery system comprising a phase change material (PCM) with first and second heat exchangers embedded in the PCM
Implementation Method 2
a thermal battery system comprising a phase change material (PCM) with first and second heat exchangers embedded in the PCM
Implementation Method 3
a cargo area heat exchanger located in air communication with the cargo area
Implementation Method 4
a fan for creating an airflow across the cargo area heat exchanger and into the cargo area
Implementation Method 5
an onboard pump arranged in fluid communication with the fluid conduits and configured to create a fluid flow through the first plurality of fluid conduits
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a cargo area with a heat exchanger; a thermal battery system having a phase change material (PCM) with first and second heat exchangers embedded in the PCM; fluid conduits defining fluid passageways interconnecting the cargo area heat exchanger and the first PCM-embedded heat exchanger; and a pump creating a fluid flow through the fluid conduits between the cargo area heat exchanger and the first PCM-embedded heat exchanger. The apparatus also includes external ports configured for connecting to an external charging source for charging the PCM; and fluid conduits defining fluid passageways interconnecting the external ports and the second PCM-embedded heat exchanger. The first PCM-embedded heat exchanger, pump, and cargo area heat exchanger form part of a first closed-loop circuit for transferring heat between the cargo area and the thermal battery system. The second PCM-embedded heat exchanger and external ports do not part of the first closed-loop circuit.