Transportable temperature control module system for food, beverage, pharmaceuticals and medical
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for maintaining safe food temperatures during transport are inadequate, as they often fail to provide both heating and cooling capabilities in a portable, convenient, and commercially viable manner, which is essential for the food service industry and consumer health.
Innovation Solution
A portable container equipped with both heating and cooling temperature control assemblies, along with interchangeable power source modules, allows for precise temperature control within a safe range for food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals, ensuring food safety and quality during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If portable containers are used to keep food chilled, then food safety is improved by delaying spoilage, but device complexity increases and heating capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The portable temperature control system incorporates both heating and cooling capabilities within a single device. The system can switch between heating mode (maintaining temperatures above 140°F) and cooling mode (maintaining temperatures below 40°F), eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling devices while comprehensively addressing food safety requirements across different temperature zones.
2Reliability
If food is chilled to prevent spoilage, then food safety is improved, but sensory quality deteriorates due to impact on texture, taste, and smell
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature based on real-time sensor feedback and user-selected preferences. Rather than maintaining a fixed cold temperature, the system can transition between cold storage, chilling (32-40°F), and warming modes, allowing food to be kept safe during transport while being warmed to optimal serving temperatures to restore sensory quality before consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both heating and cooling capabilities are added to portable containers, then temperature control versatility is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable temperature control system is divided into modular components: a control module, a heating element, a cooling element, and removable power source modules. This segmentation allows the system to provide both heating and cooling capabilities while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces and the option to use different power sources depending on the application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs temperature sensors as intermediaries that continuously monitor the internal temperature and provide feedback to the control module. This feedback mechanism enables automatic switching between heating and cooling modes, and adjusts power delivery to maintain precise temperature control within the danger zone boundaries, reducing the complexity of manual operation.
4Reliability
If precise temperature control is implemented for pharmaceuticals, then drug efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates continuous temperature monitoring through sensors that provide real-time feedback to the control module. The control module automatically adjusts heating or cooling element operation to maintain temperatures within specified ranges, ensuring pharmaceutical stability and efficacy without requiring complex manual intervention or monitoring.
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 solution effectively maintains food-safe temperatures, preventing spoilage and foodborne illnesses, while also enhancing the sensory experience of food and ensuring the integrity of pharmaceuticals during transport.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element in thermal communication with the food container and a power source in electrical communication with the heating element
Implementation Method 2
a cooling element in thermal communication with the food container and a power source in electrical communication with the cooling element
Implementation Method 3
an insulated box
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments disclose a modular and interchangeable temperature control transport system including an insulated box configured to contain at least one temperature sensitive item from a group of hot food or cold food or medical or pharmaceutical items, a heating module device coupled to the insulated box and having a circulating fan configured to move internal air from the insulated box over a heating element and back into the insulated box for keeping temperature sensitive items above a predetermined safe temperature, a cooling module device having an evaporator plate configured to maintain an adjustable temperature inside the insulated box when activated for keeping temperature sensitive items below a predetermined safe temperature, a port coupled to the insulated box configured to allow interchangeability between the heating and cooling modules, and at least one insulated box removable rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the heating and cooling modules.