Patent Grant
11536505
This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application Number PCT/IB2016/000281, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, designating the United States of America and published in the English language, which is an International Application of and claims the benefit of priority to Indian Patent Application No. 3256/DEL/2015, filed on Oct. 9, 2015. The disclosures of the above-referenced applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties.
The present invention generally relates to the field of cold containers, and particularly, to a system maintaining chilled-frozen and constant temperature in the cold storage during cold chain transportation.
The cold containers and/or the storages are widely used for variety of industrial and consumer purposes i.e., transporting the goods over long geographic distances. The cold containers in today's rapidly growing world possess applications in almost every sphere of life and vary across the industries. The continuous and long working of cold containers require large amount of working and cooling efficiency, thus resulting in greater demand for power generation and resulting a huge amount of emission of CO2.
In addition, there are encountered severe design complications in the designing and manufacturing of the cold storages required to cater to different needs of different industries. The design of the cold containers form a critical aspect in ascertaining the efficiency associated with the operation of the cold storages. Most important deficiency is that there is no uniform airflow in the conventional cold containers resulting in temperature differential.
Also, the conventional cold containers of the type as known in the art have high designing and manufacturing costs associated with them, thus, making the manufacturers inclined towards adopting such designs which are not competitive in the context of the purposes they are required to serve. Thus, the complex, unresolved, and costly design parameters of the cold storages results in the loss of efficiency and hence, making a huge loss to the industries and the economy on the whole.
Therefore in view of foregoing, there is an exigency of a new, improved, simplified, and cost-effective cold storage that takes care of all the aforesaid technical, safety, and cost-related constraints without affecting the cooling efficiency and other performance related parameters.
It is an object of the present invention to maintain chilled\frozen temperature inside the cold storage.
It is another object of the present invention to arrange coolant layers on the roof of the cold storage.
It is yet another object of the present invention to incorporate the compressor at the top for freezing the coolant layer thereby generating and circulating uniform airflow in the storage.
It is yet another object of the present invention to position the coolant layers adjacent to the compressor for effectively circulating airflow in the cold storage.
It is, yet another object of the present invention to have a coolant holder for uniformly adjusting coolant plates and allow efficient airflow from top to bottom in the cold storage.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide holes at the base of the cold storage.
It is a further object of the present invention to insulate the cold storage for maintaining desired temperature in the cold storage.
The present invention relates to a system maintaining chilled/frozen temperature in a cold storage. The system is formed of a plurality of coolant layers which are uniformly placed on the roof of the storage. Each coolant layer includes multiple coolant plates stacked in rows and columns. The system further incorporates a compressor generating airflow and circulating airflow in a circular pattern from top to bottom in the cold storage; and maintaining temperatures in the range −30° C. to +25° C. in the storage. The plurality of coolant layers are placed in close proximity to the compressor for effectively circulating airflow. The system also provides a coolant holder frame for uniformly adjusting the multiple coolant plates in the plurality of coolant layers, and thus, allowing for efficient airflow from top to bottom in the storage. Further, the base of the storage is provided with holes throughout the area for sucking the air circulated by the compressor in order to improve the circulation of airflow in the storage. Also, the cold storage is insulated to increase the thermal insulation coefficient to maintain the desired temperature in the storage, thereby freezing the coolant layers.
The Compressor airflow circulate the frozen air in order to freeze the coolant; once the coolant get frozen. Also, the air temperature in the system depend, upon the coolant freezing point. Once coolant is completely frozen, compressor stops and coolant start realizing energy depending upon the coolant's freezing point; it could chilled or frozen. Further, the Coolant holder frame is design in such a way that it not only holds the coolant but also allows coolant realize energy from top to bottom.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of coolant layers is rectangular shaped.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of coolant layers have dimensions 40 cm*30 cm*3.5 cm.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there are two coolant layers placed on the roof of the storage.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there are three coolant layers placed on the roof of the storage.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each layer of the plurality of coolant layers comprises eighty plates.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the coolant holder frame is a stainless steel frame.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cold storage is cold chain logistics, cold container, refrigerated container; and chilled or frozen cold storage.
A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to various embodiments set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following drawings wherein:
The following presents a detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the present invention to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.
The present invention relates a cold storage system for maintaining chilled or frozen temperature during transport. Further, the invention relates to a hybrid container involving the use of a coolant to keep the container at a desired temperature at all times i.e., even after the compressor has stopped working. The positioning of the coolant in the container forms a key aspect of the present invention and helps achieve the objective of maintaining the chilled temperature inside the container.
The terms “container” and the “cold storage” have been used interchangeably in the context of the present invention, and are not supposed to be misunderstood in construing the meaning and scope of the subject matter forming a part of the present invention.
Referring to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention in its best form describes a system 100 as shown in
The cold storage 102 as described hereinbefore and hereinafter in the present invention refers to the multitude of things including, but not limited to, cold chain logistics; cold container; refrigerated container; chilled or frozen cold storage.
The present invention in the preferred embodiment describes the system for a 20 F container as shown in
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 is formed with a plurality of coolant layers 104. Each coolant layer of the plurality of coolant layers is rectangular shaped, having dimensions 40 cm*30 cm*3.5 cm. However, the shape and size of the coolant layers can vary as per the requirement and design of the cold storage, and as can be perceived by a person skilled in the art. The coolant layers are uniformly placed on the roof of the cold storage covering the entire roof, with each coolant layer having multiple coolant plates 106 stacked in rows and columns as shown in
The cold storage system in its preferred embodiment makes use of at least two and preferably three coolant layers with each coolant layer having as several units of coolant plates to cover the entire area therein. However, the number of coolant layers 104 provided on the roof of the cold storage 102 and the coolant plates 106 forming the coolant layers are not restricted to the one's as described herein, but there can be any number of coolant layers and coolant plates as required by the system (depending on the factors such as size of the container) and perceived by the person skilled in the art such that the objective of effectively cooling the cold storage is met without any compromise.
It is in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention that the coolant plates 106 are adjusted uniformly and held intact in the coolant layers 104 with the help of a coolant holder frame 108 as shown in
Referring to an embodiment of the present invention as shown in
The compressor 110 generates airflow at an increased pressure and at −30° C. temperature. The circulation of the cool energy in the form of airflow supplied by the compressor starts right from the compressor top roof back and circulated in a circular pattern from top roof back to top roof front, and to the bottom of the cold storage. The compressor as employed in the system of the present invention is capable of maintaining the temperature of the cold storage in the range −30° C. to +25° C.
It is in furtherance to an embodiment of the present invention that the base of the cold storage is provided with holes 112 throughout as shown in
Referring
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system allows for insulation of the cold storage. The thickness of the insulating material used is approximately 50˜90 mm more than what is used in the conventional cold storages. This helps in increasing the insulation thermal k value, and thus resulting in improved efficiency of the system.
The system as provided in the present invention is a breakthrough concept having easy and simple installation as illustrated hereinabove. The focus markets for the cold storage described hereinabove being the cold chain logistics in the area of sea, train and truck, in addition to use as preservation chilled\frozen container. The new usages of this invention bring a capability where for example a 20 Feet or any other sized container with these capabilities could support frozen and chilled temperature without power sources while on move in train/sea/trailer. The present system also offers varying other significant applications, such as, “it could work as stationary/mobile preservation device; used in emergency situations viz., in disaster backup or management for providing sufficient food supply & preservation.”
It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are merely illustrative principles of the present invention and that many variations may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, intended that such variations be included with the scope of the claims.
The testing of the performance of the cold storage system was done by placing sensor at various places in the inside the container. The specific points where the sensors were placed are as follows:
The test was conducted by Okinawa government officials in order to ensure industry standard as perishables cold chain is reliable/industry standard and meets industry compliance.
The data was measured with respect to the temperature at various points at different temperatures. The graph was then prepared with the data collected with time plotted at X-axis and temperature at Y-axis. The said graph is represented in
It was found that invariably the temperature within the container remained constant over a twenty four hours.
The testing of the performance of the cold storage system was done by placing sensor at various places in the inside the container. The specific points where the sensors were placed are as follows:
The data was measured with respect to the temperature at various points at different temperatures. The graph was then prepared with the data collected with time plotted at X-axis and temperature at Y-axis. The said graph is represented in
It was found that invariably the temperature within the container remained constant at all the place of the container over a one hundred and thirty hours.
The testing of the performance of the cold storage system was done in winter by placing sensor at various places in the inside and outside the container. The specific points where the sensors were placed.
The data was measured with respect to the temperature at various points at different temperatures. The graph was then prepared with the data collected with time plotted at X-axis and temperature at Y-axis. The said graph is represented in
When conducted test during winters and found a constant temperature at all the location of the container. It was also found that once ambient temperature is lower the support hours are more than summer due to high ambient temperature. Also, even the ambient temperature fluctuation inside is lesser as temperature remain same and impact of ambient temperature fluctuation has very less impact. This indicates that ambient temperature fluctuation would not impact on product temperature also. A conventional refrigerated container could not retained the constant temperature at all the location of the container. The equally distribution of coolant on roof helps to keep same temperature at all the location.
Cold temperature slows down the chemical and biological processes in foods and the accompanying deterioration and the loss of quality. The storage life of fresh perishable foods such as meats, fish, fruits, and vegetables can be extended by several days by cooling, and by several weeks or months by chilling or freezing. Fruits and vegetables continue to respire and generate heat during storage; most foods freeze over a range of temperatures instead of a single temperature; the quality of frozen foods is greatly affected by the rate of freezing; the velocity of refrigerated air affects the rate of moisture loss from the products addition to the rate of heat transfer, and so forth.
Dehydration, or moisture loss, causes a product to shrivel or wrinkle and lose quality. Therefore, proper measures must be taken during cold storage of food items to minimize moisture loss, which also represents a direct loss of the salable amount. A fruit or vegetable that loses 5 percent moisture, for example, will weigh 5 percent less and will probably be sold at a lower unit price because of loss of quality.
Thus it is necessary parameter for an efficient cold storage system to have minimum weight loss during freezing. From the data provided in Table 1, it is very clear that the percent weight loss due to loss of water in Lettuce, cabbage, tomato and radish is negligible.
Further, Table 2 provides percentage water loss of the perishable items.
From the data provided in Table 2, it is very clear that the percent water loss as a result of chilling or freezing of Lettuce, cabbage, tomato and radish in cold storage is negligible. Thus the cold storage system of the present invention can keep moisture & humidity of the perishable goods intact for longer period of time. It could keep the perishables fresh for longer period of time; means it could stop aging of the perishables and deliver a longer life.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3256/DEL/2015 | Oct 2015 | IN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2016/000281 | 3/14/2016 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/060760 | 4/13/2017 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040020236 | Vince, II | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2108773 | Nov 1992 | CA |
| 1-174874 | Jul 1989 | JP |
| 11-132623 | May 1999 | JP |
| 11132623 | May 1999 | JP |
| 2014-206289 | Oct 2014 | JP |
| WO 2010091181 | Aug 2010 | WO |
| WO 2013187997 | Dec 2013 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| English Translation of JP-11132623-A (Year: 2019). |
| International Search Report for PCT/IB2016/000281 dated Jun. 21, 2016. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180283763 A1 | Oct 2018 | US |
