Shipping Container Gas Control for Ultra Low Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional modified atmosphere packaging systems fail to maintain a consistent low oxygen environment, leading to premature spoilage of perishable food products due to high oxygen concentrations from emissions, packaging materials, and operational complexities, including high costs and limited gas treatment rates.
Innovation Solution
A controlled environment system using a shipping container with a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and inert gases, monitored by sensors and controlled by a system that releases compressed gases to maintain an ultra low oxygen concentration, typically below 6,000 ppm, to prevent spoilage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional modified atmosphere packaging is used, then the initial oxygen concentration is reduced, but oxygen concentration increases over time due to emissions and permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-charges the container with compressed inert gas (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or argon) before shipping, creating a low oxygen atmosphere environment. This preliminary action ensures that when the container is sealed, the atmosphere is already optimized for product preservation, preventing oxygen ingress from the start rather than relying on post-sealing modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inert gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or argon) to displace oxygen within the container, creating an inert atmosphere that prevents oxidation and spoilage. The compressed gas system maintains this inert environment by replenishing gas as needed, ensuring oxygen concentration remains below critical thresholds throughout the shipping duration.
2Quantity of substance
If gas permeable membranes or reactive fuel cells are used to regulate gas composition, then oxygen removal capability is improved, but system cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed gas system operates autonomously, releasing inert gas on-demand based on container pressure sensors without requiring external power, control systems, or manual intervention. The system self-regulates by monitoring pressure differentials and releasing gas only when needed, eliminating the need for complex electronic controls while maintaining effective oxygen displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the oxygen removal function from complex active systems (fuel cells, electronic controls) and replaces it with a passive compressed gas release mechanism. By removing the need for power-consuming components and complex regulation systems, the solution simplifies the overall system while maintaining effective atmosphere control through physical gas displacement alone.
3Quantity of substance
If compressed gas is released at high rate, then oxygen concentration is reduced faster, but gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas release rate is dynamically adjusted based on real-time container pressure conditions. The system releases compressed gas rapidly when pressure differential indicates oxygen ingress, then reduces or stops release when the desired atmosphere is restored. This dynamic response optimizes the balance between oxygen removal speed and gas consumption, using high release rates only when necessary rather than continuous release.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates pressure sensors that continuously monitor container internal pressure and provide feedback to the gas release mechanism. When pressure drops below a threshold (indicating potential oxygen ingress), the system triggers compressed gas release; when pressure normalizes, release stops. This feedback loop ensures gas is consumed only when needed to maintain atmosphere, preventing unnecessary gas usage while effectively controlling oxygen levels.
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 system effectively slows down the spoilage of perishable food products by maintaining a consistent ultra low oxygen environment, reducing the risk of oxidation and bacterial decomposition, and is more cost-effective and reliable than traditional systems by using stored compressed gases for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
The system or apparatus contains a composition of a mixture of gases including one or more of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and another inert gas, wherein the mixture of gases positively pressurizes the shipping container and has an ultra low oxygen concentration
Implementation Method 2
at least one source of a compressed or liquid nitrogen, a carbon dioxide, and an inert gas may be used to maintain the composition of the mixture of gases
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and apparatus are provided for maintaining an ultra low oxygen concentration in a shipping container for the purpose of preventing spoilage of perishable food products. The system and apparatus may contain a composition of a mixture of gases including one or more of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and another inert gas, wherein the mixture of gases positively pressurizes the shipping container with an ultra low oxygen concentration. The system and apparatus may use one or more sensors to monitor the composition of the mixture of gases, and may use one or more controllers to release the compressed gases into the interior of the container. The controller may release the compressed gases at a variable rate of release sufficient to maintain the ultra low oxygen concentration and to ensure consistent concentrations of the mixture of gases with the container.