Method of stacking refrigerated shipping containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
When refrigerated shipping containers are stacked close to each other, hot exhaust air from one container can enter the condensers of nearby containers, leading to elevated air temperatures, increased power consumption, and potential system shutdowns due to recirculation, which degrades the quality of stored cargo.
Innovation Solution
The method involves categorizing containers as low or high temperature units and positioning them based on temperature categorization, wind direction, and condenser airflow patterns to minimize the impact of heated air recirculation, including maximizing spacing and orienting condensers to face open air, with high temperature containers typically on top or downwind of low temperature ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If refrigerated shipping containers are stacked close to each other, then space utilization is improved, but heated air recirculation causes elevated condensing pressure and increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating container stacking arrangements based on their temperature categories. High temperature containers and low temperature containers are assigned different positioning strategies within the stack, creating localized optimal conditions for each type rather than applying a uniform stacking approach. This resolves the contradiction by allowing dense stacking overall while creating local zones that prevent heated air recirculation between condensers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wind direction as an additional dimensional factor in container stacking arrangement. By considering the horizontal dimension (wind direction) in addition to vertical stacking, the system can position containers to leverage prevailing winds for dissipating heated air away from nearby condensers. This multi-dimensional approach allows maintaining high space utilization while preventing recirculation through strategic positioning along the wind dimension.
2Volume of moving object
If refrigerated shipping containers are stacked close to each other, then space utilization is improved, but heated air recirculation leads to system trip-offs and operational interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized protective zones around condensers by strategically positioning high and low temperature containers. This local differentiation ensures that each cond器 operates in an optimized airflow environment, preventing recirculation that would cause trip-offs. The local quality approach maintains reliable operation while allowing overall high space utilization through efficient stack configuration.
3Volume of moving object
If refrigerated shipping containers are stacked close to each other, then space utilization is improved, but heated air recirculation degrades cargo quality due to interrupted refrigeration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent protects cargo quality by creating local protective environments around temperature-sensitive containers. Through strategic stacking arrangements that consider wind direction and temperature categories, the system ensures continuous refrigeration for cargo-stored containers even when densely packed. This local quality approach prevents harmful recirculation effects while maintaining high overall space utilization.
4Use of energy by moving object
If high temperature containers are positioned to minimize heated air impact on low temperature containers, then power consumption is reduced, but stacking flexibility is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the stacking arrangement adaptive to wind direction conditions. Rather than fixing containers in rigid predetermined positions, the system dynamically adjusts positioning based on prevailing wind patterns. This dynamic approach reduces power consumption by leveraging natural wind flow to dissipate heated air, while simultaneously maintaining stacking flexibility to accommodate different operational scenarios and container configurations.
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 approach reduces power consumption by 10%-15% and minimizes system trip-offs by mitigating the effects of heated air recirculation, improving the operational efficiency and cargo preservation in refrigerated shipping containers.
Implementation Method 1
Air cooled reefers use ambient air to cool condensers and discharge heated air back to the surroundings
Implementation Method 2
some of the hot exhaust air from one reefer may enter the condensers of reefers located nearby
Data Source
AI summary
Method of stacking refrigerated shipping containers (10) including categorizing a plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) as a low temperature container (L) or a high temperature container (H), each of the refrigerated shipping containers (10) having a condenser (16). The method also includes disposing the plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) relative to each other based on the temperature categorization of the refrigerated shipping containers (10).