Thermal container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable thermal containers for consumer products suffer from non-uniform temperature distribution and safety concerns due to inadequate heat exchange management and gas expansion during chemical reactions.
Innovation Solution
A portable thermal container design featuring a hermetically separated storing chamber and reaction chamber, where the reaction chamber extends along the container's largest dimension, with a storing portion and expansion portion volume ratio optimized to ensure safe gas expansion and uniform temperature distribution, and includes a safety valve for pressure relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the reaction chamber is compact to reduce container size, then portability is improved, but heat exchange uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction chamber is segmented into a storing portion (containing reactants) and an expansion portion (for gas expansion), with the storing portion further divided into multiple compartments. This segmentation allows the reaction chamber to maintain a compact overall size while creating extended thermal exchange surfaces through the distributed compartments, thereby improving heat exchange uniformity without increasing container volume.
2Reliability
If the reaction chamber volume is increased to allow gas expansion, then safety is improved, but container size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storing portion containing reactants is nested within the expansion portion, creating a compact configuration where the reaction chamber occupies minimal space. The expansion portion surrounds the storing portion, allowing sufficient volume for safe gas expansion while maintaining a compact overall container size. This nested arrangement resolves the contradiction between safety (requiring expansion space) and portability (requiring compact size).
3Speed
If the reactants are placed in direct contact to initiate reaction, then reaction speed is improved, but safety control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reactants are pre-positioned in separate compartments within the storing portion, with the partition wall designed to be breakable or removable. This preliminary arrangement allows rapid reaction initiation when the partition is breached, while maintaining safety control during storage and transport. The partition acts as a preliminary barrier that can be quickly removed to start the reaction, balancing speed and safety control.
4Reliability
If the reaction chamber is hermetically sealed to contain reactants, then reactant containment is improved, but gas expansion management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction chamber is segmented into a hermetically sealed storing portion (containing reactants) and an expansion portion connected through a controlled interface. The partition wall between them is designed to be breakable or removable, creating a controlled release mechanism. This segmentation allows the storing portion to maintain hermetic sealing for reactant containment while providing a designated expansion portion for safe gas pressure management during the reaction.
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 design enhances heat exchange uniformity and safety by allowing safe expansion of chemical reaction gases, reducing the risk of container failure and ensuring consistent product temperature.
Implementation Method 1
The reagent component and the reactive component are separated from each other and able to carry out a chemical heating or cooling reaction when in contact, respectively to heat or to cool the consumer products
Implementation Method 2
The reagent component and the reactive component are separated from each other and able to carry out a chemical heating or cooling reaction when in contact, respectively to heat or to cool the consumer products
Implementation Method 3
portable thermal containers have been developed that are capable of heating or cooling the consumer product itself, respectively by making use of an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portable thermal container (1) for consumer products (2') comprising at least a storing chamber (2) of the consumer products (2') and at least a reaction chamber (4) of a reagent component (5') and a of a reactive component (5''), wherein the reaction chamber (4) extends substantially entirely along the dimension of the largest dimension of the portable thermal container (1) and the storing chamber (2) is arranged side-by-side to the reaction chamber (4) to maximize the thermal exchange between the reaction chamber (4) and the storing chamber (2) in an homogeneous way, and the reaction chamber (4) comprises at least a storing portion and at least an expansion portion, wherein the total volume of said expansion portions is greater than the total volume of said storing portions to allow the safe expansion of the chemical reaction gases in said reaction chamber (4).