Transportable cooling chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportable refrigerated spaces face challenges in maintaining a uniform temperature distribution due to insufficient cooling effects from passive systems with refrigerant stores, which also restrict the usable space and complicate cleaning of heat sinks.
Innovation Solution
A transportable refrigerated space design featuring a coolant reservoir above the storage space with a heat sink and guide surface for enhanced free convection flow, using pourable ice and heat-conducting elements, and a thermally insulated door to maintain uniform temperature and facilitate easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive refrigeration system with a refrigerant store is used, then the device is simple and portable, but the cooling effect is insufficient and temperature distribution is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant store is segmented into an upper filling space and a lower cooling body space. The cooling body is further segmented into multiple cooling ribs that protrude into the refrigerated goods storage space, creating multiple cooling zones to improve temperature distribution uniformity while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to heat exchange by having cooling ribs protrude from the cooling body upward into the storage space. This three-dimensional cooling structure, combined with the inclined guide surface, creates multi-dimensional convection currents that improve temperature uniformity throughout the storage volume.
2Temperature
If a cooling body with extended cooling surfaces is placed within the storage space, then heat exchange is improved, but the usable storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling body is segmented into multiple vertical cooling ribs rather than a single large extended structure. This segmentation provides sufficient heat exchange surface area while minimizing the overall volume occupied in the storage space, as the ribs are thin and distributed rather than bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending cooling surfaces horizontally into the storage space, the invention uses vertical cooling ribs that extend upward from the cooling body. This vertical orientation exploits the vertical space above the cooling body more efficiently and reduces horizontal space occupation in the storage area.
3Temperature
If a heat sink is arranged within a flow channel to improve convection, then cooling efficiency increases, but cleaning becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling body is segmented into multiple independent cooling ribs that are separated by gaps. This segmentation allows cleaning tools and solutions to access the surfaces of individual ribs, making it possible to clean all cooling surfaces effectively, unlike a solid continuous heat sink.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling surfaces are oriented vertically rather than horizontally within a enclosed flow channel. This vertical orientation, combined with the inclined guide surface above, creates open access from the top and sides, allowing easy cleaning of all cooling surfaces without disassembly.
4Productivity
If the guide surface is highly inclined to stimulate convection flow, then circulation is intensified, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface has different inclination angles in different regions. The front portion has a steeper inclination (5-15 degrees) to strongly stimulate convection flow, while the rear portion has a gentler inclination (0-5 degrees). This local variation optimizes flow stimulation without requiring the entire structure to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface inclination angle is optimized within specific ranges (0.5-10 degrees overall, with front portion at 5-15 degrees). These parameter changes provide sufficient convection stimulation while keeping the geometric complexity low and manufacturable.
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 design achieves uniform temperature control, reduces energy consumption, and allows for efficient and easy maintenance, ensuring consistent refrigeration for food and medical supplies during transport.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink (9) arranged above the guide surface (10) and having an arrangement of several cooling ribs (11) protruding into the cooling goods receiving space (5)
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant reservoir (4) has a cooling body (9) with cooling surfaces which extend along a wall surface into the bottom area of the refrigerated goods storage space (5)
Implementation Method 3
For initiating and guiding the free convection flow, a guide surface (10) is provided within the filling material receiving space, which is arranged below the refrigerant reservoir (4)
Implementation Method 4
The housing can have a front door that is suitably thermally insulated
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transportable refrigerated space, for example for cooling food and food distribution components, with a housing (1) and with a refrigerant reservoir (4) for cooling a space (5) for refrigerated goods within the housing (1). The refrigerant reservoir (4) is arranged above the refrigerated goods receiving space (5) and has a cooling body (9) to improve the heat exchange. A guide surface (10) is provided for initiating and guiding a free convection flow circulating in the refrigerated goods receiving space (5). According to the invention, the heat sink (9) is arranged above the guide surfaces (10) and has an arrangement of several parallel cooling ribs (11) projecting into the cooling goods receiving space. A circulating free convection flow sets in, which is directed downwards along a thermally insulated wall surface of the housing and rises again on an opposite wall surface.