Segmented-Chamber Tray Design for Uniform Dry Ice Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature-controlled shipping containers experience non-uniform temperature distribution within the payload area due to the sublimation of dry ice, leading to warmer temperatures over the payload and colder temperatures underneath.
Innovation Solution
The use of trays with internally segmented chambers to contain the cooling agent, such as dry ice, which are designed to enclose the payload from all sides and prevent the dry ice from sinking, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and increased cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If dry ice is disposed over, under, and/or on the sides of a payload using trays, then cooling capacity is increased, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform (warm over payload, cold under payload)
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple separate compartments (first compartment for dry ice, second compartment for payload, third compartment for insulation material). This segmentation prevents dry ice from directly contacting the payload and sinking to the bottom, thereby maintaining uniform temperature distribution while preserving cooling capacity.
2Power
If dry ice is allowed to sublime and travel down to the bottom of the payload area, then cooling effect is enhanced, but temperature uniformity deteriorates (cold accumulation at bottom)
Solution Approach 1:
The tray structure segments the cooling agent containment space into a dedicated first compartment separated from the payload area by the tray bottom. This prevents the harmful effect of dry ice sinking and accumulating at the bottom while maintaining the cooling effect through controlled sublimation within the confined compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray bottom acts as an intermediary barrier between the dry ice compartment and the payload area. It allows thermal energy transfer (maintaining cooling effect) while preventing the physical movement of dry ice particles to the bottom of the payload area (maintaining temperature uniformity).
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 trays provide uniform temperature distribution and enhanced cooling capacity by trapping the cooling agent within segmented chambers, maintaining the payload area within a predetermined temperature range from 25°C to -80°C, and allowing for easy assembly and storage.
Implementation Method 1
temperature may be warm over the payload and cold under the payload due to the dry ice sublimating and traveling down to the bottom of the payload area
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of trays may be configured to enclose a payload from six sides... maintaining the payload area within a predetermined temperature range from 25°C to -80°C
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods of trays for uniformly cooling a payload are provided. A tray includes a body. The body includes an internal wall, a plurality of side panels in connection with the internal wall panel and a plurality of dividers in connection with the internal wall panel and one or more of the plurality of side panels. The plurality of dividers may define a plurality of chambers, each chamber of the plurality of chambers at least partially bounded by a divider of the plurality of dividers and/or (ii) the internal wall panel. Each chamber of the plurality of chambers is configured to receive a portion of a cooling agent inserted into the body. A cover panel attached to the body.