Translucent Insulating Portion for Algae Culture Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing culturing devices that irradiate microalgae through side walls with light-transmitting heat insulating materials face challenges in enhancing heat insulation while maintaining a large light-receiving area, as the foam insulation blocks light.
Innovation Solution
A culturing device with side walls made of light-transmitting materials and a light-transmitting heat insulating portion that forms an air layer to insulate the interior, allowing light to pass through and increase the heat insulation property without blocking light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If foam heat insulating material is adhered to the side walls of the culturing tank, then the heat insulation property is improved, but the light receiving area is reduced because the foam insulation blocks light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous heat insulating material instead of solid foam material. The porous structure allows light to pass through while maintaining heat insulation properties. The air pockets within the porous material provide thermal insulation, while the open structure permits light transmission to reach the microalgae.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite heat insulating material that combines multiple properties: light transparency and thermal insulation. This composite material is designed to have both optical transparency for light transmission and thermal insulation properties for heat blocking, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Illumination intensity
If light is shone through the side walls of the culturing tank, then the light receiving area is improved, but the heat insulation property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The porous heat insulating material is positioned between the light source and the culturing tank side walls. The porous structure allows light to penetrate through while the air pockets provide thermal insulation, preventing heat loss from the tank interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating portion acts as an intermediary layer between the external environment and the culturing tank. This intermediate structure selectively transmits light while blocking heat transfer, mediating between the requirements for light transmission and thermal insulation.
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 device effectively increases heat insulation and light distribution to microalgae, enhancing culturing conditions by maintaining a suitable temperature and light exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a light-transmitting heat insulating portion configured to cover the side walls, wherein the heat insulating portion forms an air layer that insulates the interior of the culturing tank
Implementation Method 2
the side walls of the light-transmitting culturing tank are covered by a light-transmitting heat insulating portion... the interior of the culturing tank can be satisfactorily irradiated with light through the heat insulating portion, the air layer, and the side walls
Data Source
AI summary
A culture device is provided with a culture tank having sidewalls that are formed from a translucent material, and cultures fine algae in a culture liquid that is accommodated in the culture tank and through which light is emitted via the sidewalls. The culture device is provided with a translucent insulating part that covers the sidewalls. The insulating part forms an air layer that insulates the inside of the culture tank. A culture device is provided with a culture tank having sidewalls that are formed from a translucent material, and cultures fine algae in a culture liquid that is accommodated in the culture tank and through which light is emitted via the sidewalls. The culture device is provided with a translucent insulating part that covers the sidewalls. The insulating part forms an air layer that insulates the inside of the culture tank.