Responsive cooling based on external factors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Perishable goods degrade during the 'last mile' of delivery due to lack of controlled environmental conditions, as large trucks with refrigeration systems cannot navigate city streets, leading to the use of smaller vehicles without environmental control, resulting in temperature fluctuations and quality loss.
Innovation Solution
A portable environmental control unit with a thermoelectric device, fan, and controller that maintains a controlled temperature based on location, destination, and internal temperature, connected to a transport container via removable cooling modules, allowing for wireless communication and operation optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large truck with a refrigeration system is used for delivery, then the perishable goods can be kept at controlled temperature, but the truck cannot navigate city streets for last mile delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the refrigeration function into a portable environmental control unit that can be separated from the main delivery vehicle. The cooling system is segmented into removable cooling modules that can be attached to different transport containers, allowing the refrigeration capability to be independently deployed in various delivery scenarios including motorcycle and bicycle deliveries.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable environmental control unit acts as an intermediary between the delivery vehicle and the transport container. It provides the temperature control function that would otherwise require a large refrigerated truck, enabling smaller vehicles to perform last mile delivery while maintaining temperature control through the removable cooling modules.
2Temperature
If a portable environmental control unit with thermoelectric device is used, then temperature control is maintained during last mile delivery, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical compression refrigeration with thermoelectric devices (Peltier devices) for cooling. This substitution eliminates the need for compressors, condensors, and refrigerants in the portable unit, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts operating parameters of the thermoelectric device based on location, destination, and internal temperature feedback. This parameter optimization allows the system to maintain effective temperature control with reduced power consumption and simplified operation compared to fixed-parameter systems.
3Reliability
If the thermoelectric device is continuously operated to maintain temperature, then product degradation is minimized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic or intermittent operation of the thermoelectric device based on feedback from temperature sensors and location data. The system activates cooling only when and where needed during the delivery route, rather than continuous operation, thereby maintaining product quality while reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor the internal temperature of the transport container and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller adjusts the thermoelectric device operation based on this feedback, activating cooling only when temperature thresholds are approached, thus maintaining reliability while optimizing 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
Preserves perishable goods by automatically controlling cooling functions, maintaining optimal temperatures during the 'last mile' of delivery, thereby reducing product degradation and ensuring higher quality arrival at consumer level.
Implementation Method 1
The environmental control unit includes a thermoelectric device
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to blow air across the thermoelectric device
Implementation Method 3
a cooling module configured to receive the air blown across the thermoelectric device and convey the air to a compartment of a transport container
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental control unit for use with a transport container is disclosed. The environmental control unit includes a thermoelectric device, a fan configured to blow air across the thermoelectric device, a cooling module, a controller in electronic communication with the thermoelectric device and the fan, and a communication module in electronic communication with the controller. The communication module is configured to transmit parameters of the environmental control unit to a computing device through wireless communication. The controller is also configured to determine a present location of the transport container, determine a destination of the transport container, evaluate an internal temperature of the transport container, and control an on or off condition of the thermoelectric device based on the present location, the destination, and the internal temperature of the transport container.