Supercooling Storage with Zoned Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supercooling systems face challenges in reliably preventing ice crystal nucleation in stored supercooled objects and efficiently maintaining a supercooled state, often requiring complex apparatuses with high power consumption and safety concerns, as well as inadequate control over temperature gradients within cooling spaces.
Innovation Solution
A supercooling system comprising a cooling apparatus with a storing unit, temperature control means, and a control unit that maintains temperatures below the maximum ice crystal formation zone, utilizing a boundary film to separate and control temperature zones, and a fan for air circulation, allowing independent control of supercooling and heat supply to prevent nucleation and maintain a stable supercooled state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional cooling system is used to cool stored objects below freezing point, then the temperature can be reduced to maintain supercooled state, but ice crystal nucleation occurs causing the objects to freeze
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different temperatures to different locations within the storage space. The lower portion is maintained at a higher temperature (above freezing point) while the upper portion is cooled to below freezing point. This local temperature differentiation prevents ice crystal nucleation in the lower portion while achieving supercooling in the upper portion, resolving the contradiction between temperature reduction and supercooled state maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage space is divided into two distinct temperature zones using a partition wall: a lower warm zone and an upper cold zone. This segmentation allows independent temperature control in each zone, enabling the system to maintain supercooled conditions in the upper zone without causing freezing throughout the entire space, thus solving the reliability issue of supercooled state maintenance.
2Reliability
If high voltage electric field or magnetic field is applied to maintain supercooled state, then ice crystal nucleation can be prevented, but the apparatus becomes complex and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electromagnetic field generation systems with a simple thermal field-based solution. Instead of using high voltage generators or magnetic field apparatus, the system uses a partition wall with differential heating/cooling to create temperature zones that naturally prevent ice crystal nucleation. This substitution dramatically simplifies the apparatus while maintaining reliable supercooled state maintenance.
3Productivity
If uniform cooling is applied throughout the storage space, then cooling efficiency is high, but temperature gradients cause ice crystal formation in certain zones
Solution Approach 1:
The invention intentionally creates non-uniform temperature distribution by dividing the storage space into zones with different thermal characteristics. The lower zone is heated to prevent ice crystal formation while the upper zone is cooled for supercooling. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by making temperature non-uniform in a controlled manner that prevents ice crystals while maintaining overall cooling efficiency.
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 prevents ice crystal nucleation, maintains a stable supercooled state with adjustable temperature control, reduces power consumption, and ensures safe operation by managing temperature gradients and air circulation, enabling extended storage of supercooled objects.
Implementation Method 1
supercooling means the phenomenon that a molten object or a solid is not changed although it is cooled to a temperature below the phase transition temperature in an equilibrium state
Implementation Method 2
a boundary film is provided to limit the air and heat exchange between the upper and lower portions of the storing space
Implementation Method 3
a fan element circulating the air in the lower portion of the storing space by forcible convection
Data Source
AI summary
A supercooling system includes a cooling apparatus and a supercooling apparatus. The cooling apparatus includes a storing unit storing an object, a cooling unit, and a main control unit controlling the cooling unit to maintain the temperature in the storing unit at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid. The supercooling apparatus includes an independent storage room having a storing space, a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the independent storage room, a temperature control unit mounted in the independent storage room and controlling the internal temperature and a sub-control unit controlling the temperature control unit based on the sensed temperature from the temperature sensing unit to store the liquid in a supercooled state.