Warehouse Racking Airflow Sealing for Pallet Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse freezer systems face inefficiencies in maintaining consistent temperature and airflow through palletized product stacks due to irregular spacers that can cause air leakage and uneven support, leading to suboptimal heat transfer and increased energy expenditure.

Innovation Solution

A racking system with a grid of pallet bays separated by an air plenum and featuring resiliently flexible side seals and an air dam that selectively controls airflow through the openings, ensuring air flows only through intended pathways and minimizing leakage, even with unevenly stacked pallets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If irregular spacers are used to separate palletized product stacks, then air pathways are created through the product, but air leakage occurs and airflow becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidairflow consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible seals comprising resiliently deformable fibers that conform to the contours of palletized product stacks. These flexible sealing elements adapt to irregular surfaces and maintain reliable air-tight seals even when products are unevenly stacked, preventing air leakage while allowing the creation of effective air pathways through the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid. The resiliently deformable fibers can deform and adjust their configuration based on the shape and position of the palletized products, ensuring consistent sealing performance under varying conditions while maintaining reliable airflow through the intended pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If air pathways are created through palletized product stacks, then heat transfer is improved, but energy expenditure increases due to air leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible seals create reliable air-tight boundaries around the air pathways, ensuring that conditioned air flows only through the intended pathways within the palletized products. This prevents energy-wasting air leakage while maintaining consistent temperature distribution throughout the stored goods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potential harm of air leakage into a benefit by using flexible sealing materials that adapt to product irregularities. These seals transform the challenge of uneven stacking into an opportunity for creating reliable, energy-efficient airflow paths that improve temperature uniformity without increasing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of energy

If rigid seals are used to prevent air leakage, then energy efficiency is improved, but adaptability to unevenly stacked pallets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair leakage preventionVSAvoidaccommodation of uneven stacking

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes flexible seals made of resiliently deformable fibers that can conform to irregular surfaces of unevenly stacked pallets. These flexible sealing elements maintain reliable air-tight seals adaptively, preventing energy-wasting air leakage while accommodating various stacking configurations without requiring rigid, immovable seal structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system changes its physical parameters (shape, position, deformation) to adapt to different stacking conditions. The resiliently deformable fibers can alter their configuration based on the specific arrangement of palletized products, maintaining effective sealing and energy efficiency across a range of stacking scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enhances airflow management, reducing energy consumption by directing air flow efficiently through pallet assemblies with minimal leakage, allowing for consistent temperature maintenance and improved heat transfer with reduced fan power requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an air dam that selectively controls airflow through the openings, ensuring air flows only through intended pathways and minimizing leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow control:

Implementation Method 2

enhances airflow management, reducing energy consumption by directing air flow efficiently through pallet assemblies with minimal leakage, allowing for consistent temperature maintenance and improved heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS11988434B2Heat transfer system for warehoused goods

Publication Date: 2024.05.21 TIPPMANN ENGINEERING LLC

AI summary

A high efficiency airflow management system can be used to reliably and consistently draw air through palletized product stacks with a minimum of energy expenditure. A racking system is provided with a grid of pallet bays separated from an air plenum/chamber by a wall having an airflow opening for each pallet bay. An air dam selectively permits or prevents airflow through portions of the airflow opening such that airflow may be allowed to flow through the entire opening, only a portion of the opening, or none of the opening.