Reusable PCM Container Structure for Stable Cold-Chain Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulated containers for transporting temperature-sensitive goods face challenges such as unpredictable temperature control, risk of payload damage due to temperature fluctuations, and non-reusability, leading to waste and health risks, especially for pharmaceutical products like vaccines.
Innovation Solution
A reusable container with a set of PCM units that form a hollow structure with support formations to maintain temperature within a selected range, using phase change materials with specific thermal properties and a rigid arrangement to absorb or supply heat, and an integrated temperature monitoring system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PCM units are arranged in a hollow structure to maintain temperature stability, then temperature control reliability is improved, but the risk of structure collapsing inwards increases under external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple discrete PCM units that are arranged to form a hollow structure. Each PCM unit is a separate component that can be individually positioned and secured, allowing the structure to maintain its shape while providing thermal regulation throughout the container volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Support formations are pre-integrated into the PCM units before assembly. These support formations (such as ribs, protrusions, or internal scaffolding) are built into the PCM unit structure in advance to prevent collapsing during subsequent use and transportation, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement after assembly.
2Loss of substance
If the container is made reusable to reduce waste, then environmental impact is reduced, but the refrigeration system durability and long-term temperature maintenance capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is segmented into reusable container infrastructure and replaceable PCM units. This allows the durable container structure to be reused multiple times while PCM units can be replaced if degraded, extending the overall system lifecycle and maintaining temperature control capability over repeated use cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses phase change materials that operate at specific temperature thresholds. By selecting PCMs with appropriate phase change temperatures matching the required storage conditions, the system maintains effective temperature control across multiple reuse cycles without degradation of the fundamental thermodynamic mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If PCM units are loosely arranged to facilitate assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates due to payload movement and air gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The PCM units feature asymmetric support formations with specific geometries (such as tapered protrusions or keyed interfaces) that provide directional guidance during assembly. This asymmetric design ensures proper orientation and positioning of each PCM unit, eliminating air gaps and ensuring consistent thermal contact while maintaining ease of assembly through self-alignment.
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 container effectively maintains temperature stability during transit, reducing the risk of payload damage and enabling long-term temperature control, thus minimizing waste and ensuring product efficacy, while being environmentally friendly and reusable.
Implementation Method 1
a set of PCM units that can be inserted into and removed from the thermally insulated storage volume, wherein each of the PCM units includes a sealable substantially rigid container for storing phase change material therein
Implementation Method 2
gel bags containing phase change materials (hereafter referred to as PCMs) that have been cooled or heated to a predetermined temperature to provide additional heating or cooling as required
Implementation Method 3
a substantially rigid body having a thermally insulated storage volume
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 6
AI summary
A reusable transportation container for transporting temperature sensitive goods. The transportation container (20) includes: a substantially rigid body (32,34) having a thermally insulated storage volume (36); means (22) for accessing the thermally insulated storage volume (36); a set of PCM units (37) that can be inserted into and removed from the thermally insulated storage volume, wherein each of the PCM units (39, 41, 43) includes a sealable substantially rigid container (35) for storing phase change material therein, said set of PCM units (37) being constructed and arranged to fit together to form a hollow structure that provides a substantially enclosed payload volume (22) for receiving the temperature sensitive goods, wherein the set of PCM units (37) is arranged to maintain the goods stored in the payload volume (36) within a selected temperature range when in use; and wherein at least some of the PCM units (39,41,43) include support formations (47) that are arranged to interact with an adjacent PCM unit (39, 41, 43) to prevent the hollow structure from collapsing inwards during use.