Solid Wood Cold Room Construction for Sustainable Insulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cold rooms and refrigeration systems are not environmentally friendly due to the use of non-sustainable insulation materials and lack of sustainable construction methods.

Innovation Solution

The use of solid wood for walls and ceilings, combined with insulating materials like wood fiber, to create a self-supporting and energy-efficient cold room structure, which can be integrated into modular building systems for flexible and sustainable construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional insulation materials are used in cold rooms, then insulation performance is achieved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidinsulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining solid wood structural elements with wood fiber insulation material. The wall structure consists of a outer solid wood shell, an intermediate wood fiber insulation layer, and an inner solid wood shell, creating a composite construction that achieves both thermal insulation and environmental sustainability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that provide both insulation performance and ecological compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters from conventional synthetic insulation materials to natural wood fiber materials with specific thermal properties. The wood fiber material has a thermal conductivity of 0.04-0.08 W/(m·K), which provides adequate insulation performance while being environmentally friendly. This parameter change in material selection resolves the contradiction between insulation effectiveness and environmental compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If solid wood is used for walls and ceiling, then environmental friendliness is improved, but structural strength and insulation capability must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidstructural strength and insulation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite material construction with three distinct layers: an outer solid wood shell providing structural strength and weather resistance, an intermediate wood fiber insulation layer providing thermal isolation, and an inner solid wood shell providing interior structural support. This composite structure maintains both strength and insulation capabilities while using environmentally friendly solid wood materials throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different functions to different parts of the wall structure. The outer wood shell is designed for structural strength and exterior protection, the intermediate wood fiber layer is optimized for thermal insulation, and the inner wood shell provides interior structural support and finishing. Each local component is optimized for its specific function while contributing to the overall environmental friendliness of the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If modular building systems are used, then construction flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cold room into modular building components that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The wall structures with integrated insulation and the solid wood elements are pre-fabricated as modules, allowing flexible construction and easy adaptation to different cold room sizes and configurations. This segmentation provides construction flexibility while keeping individual module complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs universal design principles where the solid wood components serve multiple functions: structural support, thermal insulation framework, and aesthetic finishing. The modular elements are designed to be multi-functional, reducing the number of separate components needed and simplifying the overall assembly process despite the flexibility in configuration options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides a more environmentally friendly cold room solution by utilizing sustainable materials for insulation and construction, offering improved energy efficiency and flexibility in building design and expansion.

Implementation Method 1

The walls and ceiling are at least partially, at least predominantly or in at least one layer, made of solid wood (possibly made of several shells or layers of solid wood, also possibly with at least one layer of insulating material, for example made of wood fiber, between the solid or solid wood layers)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3945170A1Cold room and system therewith
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 TEGUT GUTE LEBENSMITTEL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3945170A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3945170A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3945170A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Cold storage room (50), characterized in that the walls and ceiling are formed from at least one layer of solid wood.