Refreezable Ice Barrel With Pre-Chilled Cooling Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice barrels require frequent refills and consume large amounts of water, as the ice melts over time, making them inefficient and difficult to manage, especially in locations without drainage facilities, highlighting the need for a solution to reduce ice usage and improve water conservation.
Innovation Solution
A refreezable barrel with a cooler body and integrated cooling elements that can be chilled before adding ice, reducing the temperature difference and prolonging the melting period of ice, along with an optional ice maker or refrigeration unit to minimize ice consumption, and a design that allows for easy movement and water drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional ice barrels are used to chill beverages, then the beverages can be maintained at a chilled temperature, but large amounts of ice are required and frequent refilling is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler body is pre-chilled or pre-frozen before ice is added to the barrel. This preliminary cooling action reduces the initial temperature of the container, which slows down the melting rate of subsequent ice additions and extends the duration of the chilling effect, thereby reducing the total quantity of ice needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the cooler body itself before use. By lowering the temperature of the container walls and interior surface area, the system creates a more efficient thermal environment that reduces heat transfer from the exterior, thereby slowing ice melt and reducing ice consumption.
2Temperature
If ice barrels are filled with ice multiple times to maintain chilled temperature, then beverages remain chilled, but large amounts of water are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler body is pre-chilled or pre-frozen before ice is added to the barrel. This preliminary cooling action reduces the initial temperature of the container, which slows down the melting rate of subsequent ice additions and extends the duration of the chilling effect, thereby reducing the total quantity of ice needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery and reuse of the cooling capacity in the cooler body. After the body has cooled the beverages, it retains residual coldness that can be utilized for the next batch of ice and beverages, reducing the need for complete refilling and associated water consumption.
3Temperature
If the ice barrel is moved to remove water and refill with ice, then the beverages can be re-chilled, but the process is strenuous and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler body is pre-chilled or pre-frozen before ice is added to the barrel. This preliminary cooling action reduces the initial temperature of the container, which slows down the melting rate of subsequent ice additions and extends the duration of the chilling effect, thereby reducing the total quantity of ice needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler body maintains a continuous cooling effect through its pre-chilled state, which extends the operational duration between refills. This continuity reduces the frequency of manual intervention required for water removal and ice refilling, making the operation easier and less strenuous.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ice barrel is placed in locations without drainage facilities, then it can be positioned conveniently, but water removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler body maintains a continuous cooling effect through its pre-chilled state, which extends the operational duration between refills. This continuity reduces the frequency of manual intervention required for water removal and ice refilling, making the operation easier and less strenuous.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery and reuse of the cooling capacity in the cooler body. After the body has cooled the beverages, it retains residual coldness that can be utilized for the next batch of ice and beverages, reducing the need for complete refilling and associated water consumption.
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 refreezable barrel significantly reduces the amount of ice needed to keep beverages chilled, conserves water, and simplifies the refilling process by extending the melting period of ice and allowing for remote placement without frequent water removal and refilling.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling element is disposed within the cooler body and is refreezable to mitigate temperature rise within the cooler body
Implementation Method 2
The refreezable barrel may advantageously be chilled to freeze/chill the refreezable elements before ice is placed within the cooler body. By freezing/chilling the cooler body, the temperature difference between the cooler body and the ice may be reduced.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an environmentally friendly refreezable barrel for chilling a plurality of items in an energy efficient manner that also conserves water. The refreezable barrel includes a cooler body defining an open end and a closed end portion. The cooler body defines a cavity extending from the open end towards the closed end portion. The cavity is configured to receive the plurality of items. A cooling element is disposed within the cooler body and is refreezable to mitigate temperature rise within the cooler body to prolong the melting of ice within the barrel, thereby reducing the overall amount of water used by the barrel. The refreezable barrel also includes a cooler stand defining a recess configured to engage with the closed end portion of the cooler body.