Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a novel eco-friendly storage and cooling system for beverages wherein the system itself can be easily assembled, disassembled and reassembled as per the requirement and is made of nature friendly material. More importantly, the present invention relates to a novel eco-friendly system for storing beverages in a controlled environment at lower temperature in remote areas.
Background
Traditionally for large scale storage of beverages, commercial refrigeration units are available for providing a controlled storage environment for beverages. Particularly, in the hospitality industry, such commercial refrigerating units, and other similar electric devices are essential to ensure availability of a wide variety of beverages for customers at all times. Yet, such traditionally known commercial refrigerators not only require substantial investment in building, operation and maintenance, but also have high emission rates. In addition to this, other steps involved in the operational logistics ranging across various verticals of sourcing, supply chain, storage, presentation and delivery to final customer in the hospitality and tourism industry further adds to the Carbon footprint. For instance, according to a report by Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan (Heller, 2017), transport from point of sale of beverages to refrigeration and actual use alone contributes to 18% of Carbon footprint in the Wine production process.
Moreover, such refrigeration units are difficult to set up and operate in remote locations, for instance rural areas, natural camp-sites with minimal operational resources such as electricity.
Some of the earlier known storage systems are described below:
Patent application FR2760334 describes an assembly module consisting of several modules which when assembled have at least one open face for keeping the bottles. Once assembled, they resemble a grid like structure for holding the bottles. The module can be assembled easily but it is merely a structure for keeping bottles.
Patent application US20080277304 discloses storing other items which require a similar temperature and environment such as cheese and other temperature sensitive food and items in wine refrigeration units, wine storage rooms and wine cellars. This invention discloses a second use to the previously known use of wine refrigeration units, wine storage rooms and wine cellars.

Patent application WO2006044240/ US20060080994 discloses walk-in refrigerator sections, reach-in freezer sections, pull out pantries and pullout refrigerated drawers and wine cooling sections that may include one or two interior temperature controlled sections for non-commercial use. This invention describes the use of a walk-in refrigerator having several sections based on the differential temperature within the refrigerator. This refrigerator however is for non-commercial use only.
Patent application CH667148 discloses a domestic food storage cabinet which has heating, cooling and humidifying equipment for selectively controlling atmosphere in different cabinets. The apparatus can be used for storing wine, cheese and vegetables. This invention has a temperature gradient and the external housing is made of insulated panels which may be re-assembled elsewhere.
Patent application CN204157999 describes a wine cabinet. The wine cabinet comprises of a box, a movable door, a storage chamber, a movable wine storage case, a magnet, a humidifying device, a refrigeration system and a control device. The wine cabinet can be used for household or hotels.
Patent application CN206079707 discloses a constant temperature and humidity wine cabinet which includes a cabinet body, internal wine frame and refrigerating plant, heat generating device, humidification device and sensors controlling heat and humidity.
The above-mentioned inventions however require high electricity consumption and are not eco-friendly. Moreover, some of the above-mentioned references are not viable for commercial use. To circumvent this problem of storage of beverages, including alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages, in remote areas with minimal resources and amenities, the present novel storage system using eco-friendly material was designed.
The present invention provides essentially all the features required for storage of beverages on a commercial scale, including controlled temperature range maintenance, temperature gradient, humidity control and additionally insures minimal emission operation. The storage system of the present invention can be assembled quickly, is well suited for semi-urban or rural areas or camp sites with limited resources. Furthermore, the storage system of the present invention can be constructed at 16% of the cost of traditional commercially known refrigeration system and has minimal operation and maintenance costs.
Summary and Objects of the Invention
The invention describes a novel eco-friendly storage and cooling system for storing beverages. The structure of the storage system of the present invention is eco-friendly and can be easily assembled, thereby leading to a reduction in the cost of construction, operation and maintenance

as well as decreased carbon emissions when compared to traditional commercial refrigeration units.
An object of the invention is to provide an eco-friendly storage and cooling system for medium to large scale of storage, such as in a hospitality and tourism industry, having all the features required for storage of beverages, including controlled temperature range and humidity.
Another object of the invention is to provide an eco-friendly storage and cooling system for medium to large scale of storage, with reduced the investment of materials, construction, operation and maintenance cost of such a system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel storage and cooling system for medium to large scale of storage with significantly reduced carbon footprint and eco-friendly material.
Another object of the invention is to provide an eco-friendly storage and cooling system for medium to large scale of storage which can be constructed in a short period of time and can be easily assembled, disassembled and re-assembled.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 shows the front view of an embodiment of the invention system. The invention is built and operated on a cement floor and has wall like structures along with a point of access and is covered by a roof [104].
Figure 2 shows the top view of the invention. The roof [104] covers the entire structure more than adequately.
Brief Description
The essential features of the invention are described herein. The invention comprises of a double layered mesh which has a space between its inner and outer layers. The space between the outer and inner mesh may be filled with charcoal and/or coal so as to create porous, breathing walls for the structure. This double layered mesh structures once assembled, can acquire a hollow 3-dimensional shape so as to form an enclosure. The enclosure is set on cement and is covered on top with a metal sheet which may be covered with thatching.
The structure is provided with a door [103] for access for adding or taking out beverages. Bottle storage racks can be placed inside the enclosure as per the user's discretion and choice. The structure is also provided with a network of conduits transmitting water to the peripheries of the walls to keep the filling wet, a self-propelled ventilating fan [105] and a light source.

The structure is assembled on a cement plinth [100], which may or may not be tiled, on which the mesh walls are erected and filled with special material described above to create porous, breathing walls [102]. The roof [104] sheet is installed along with a layer of thatching, thickness of which may be less or more depending upon the prevailing weather conditions of the surroundings. The network of conduits is installed along the peripheries of the walls which periodically transmit water to the walls, keeping the walls of the structure moist. A self-propelled ventilating fan [105] has also been provided to allow the air to be constantly replenished.
The storing and cooling system of the present invention when constructed, allows the wind to blow from outside to inside the structure through which the porous walls [102] of the enclosure. The wind when passing through the moist porous walls [102] picks up the moisture and becomes cool and humid in the process; thus lowering the temperature inside the enclosure. As a result, the storage system can achieve a temperature around 15 - 20°C lower than the temperature outside the enclosure. The warm air inside the enclosure rises and is released with the aid of the self-propelled ventilating fan [105], thus maintain the constant circulation of air in the system.
Detailed Description
The invention describes a novel eco-friendly system of storage and cooling beverages. Particularly, the invention relates to an eco-friendly storage and cooling system for medium to large scale storage of beverages with controlled temperature and humidity. The storage and cooling system of the present invention is distinct from other known commercial storage systems in being eco-friendly, having a low carbon footprint and requiring less of operation and maintenance in terms of efforts and costs. The storage and cooling system of the present invention harnesses the natural flow of wind to create a cooling effect within the enclosure of the system. The present system is made of easily available and relatively inexpensive materials which can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled easily.
The storage and cooling system comprises of a double layered mesh [101] which has a space between the inner and outer layers in the range of 6 - 15 inches. The space between the outer and inner mesh may be filled with charcoal and/or a coal so as to create porous, breathing walls [102]. This mesh once assembled, can acquire a hollow 3-dimensional shape so as to form an enclosure. This enclosure is set on a flooring of tiles on cement. The enclosure is covered on top with a roof [104], preferably of a metal sheet covered with layers of thatching, ranging approximately 5-10 inches in thickness. The roof [104] may further support a boundary of 1- 4 feet for the safety of the operations and maintenance staff.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage and cooling system further comprises of a door [103] and a walk-in access for adding or taking out beverages, a self-propelled ventilating fan [105] for circulation of air and also has a network of conduits connected with water supply and arranged along the peripheries of the walls to periodically transmit water

onto the porous walls [102] and a source of lighting. Bottle storage racks can be placed inside the enclosure as per the user's discretion and choice.
The enclosure is assembled on cement plinth wherein, the mesh walls are erected and filled with the porous material such as charcoal. The roof [104] is installed along with layers of thatching. The thickness of the thatching layers may be altered depending upon the temperature and other prevailing weather conditions around the system. The system is further provided with a network of conduits running along the walls which periodically/ intermittently transmit water to the peripheries of the walls, keeping the walls of the enclosure moist.
The storing and cooling system of the present invention when constructed, allows the wind to blow from outside to inside the structure through the porous walls [102] of the enclosure. The wind when passing through the moist porous walls [102] picks up the moisture and becomes cool and humid in the process; thus, lowering the temperature inside the enclosure. The warm air inside the enclosure rises and is released with the aid of the self-propelled ventilating fan [105], thus maintain the constant circulation of air in the system.
The storage and cooling system of the present invention works efficiently in areas with ambient temperature ranging from 5°C to 45°C. With the circulation of the moisture laden air into the system and warm air out of the system, the storage and cooling system can achieve a temperature around 15°C - 25°C lower than the temperature outside the enclosure.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the average temperature within the enclosure is maintained between 10°C to 12°C. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature within the enclosure is monitored at regular intervals, which may be of 30 mins to 2 hours and the temperature fluctuations are controlled by increasing or reducing the period of circulation of water through the conduits for soaking the walls. Temperature within the enclosure of the present system can also be regulated by altering the thickness of the thatching on the roof [104] of the present invention. For instance, increase of one inch of thatching leads to a reduction of temperature within the enclosure by 2°C.
Since, the regulation of temperature within the enclosure of the storage and cooling system of the present invention primarily depends upon the flow of wind, variations in the direction and speed of the wind also lead to a temperature gradient within the enclosure. For instance, the areas closer to the walls facing the direction of the wind are cooler as compared to the opposite ends of the enclosure. Similarly, the temperature at the central region of the enclosure is slightly higher than the temperature near the walls. Such temperature gradient within the enclosure of the storage system further facilitates storing beverages requiring lower temperatures in separate cooler sections of the system.
The storage and cooling system of the present invention requires minimal electricity for circulating the water through the conduits and working of the light source, which may be

supplied by any portable source of power, including batteries, generators inter alia and significantly reduces the operational and maintenance cost of the present invention.
In another embodiment of the invention, the walls are painted on the inside and outside so as to maintain the temperature range of the system even during temperature variations in the environment outside the enclosure.
In a yet another embodiment of the invention, the flow of the network of pipes transmitting water to the peripheries of the walls may be adjusted depending on the humidity required and weather conditions prevailing.
In a yet another embodiment of the invention, the storage space may be further increased by assembling extended walls and roof [104] of the structure. Increasing the surface area of the porous walls [102] will lead to more cooling as well as increased storage space.
The basic crux of the invention along with some preferred embodiments have been described herein. However, other embodiments and modifications without altering the basic structure of the invention are possible. The embodiments described above are merely illustrative in nature and are not meant to restrict the invention in any way.
Thus, the storage and cooling system of the present invention meets the need of storing beverage bottles in a large setting, with controlled temperature range and humidity. The instant system is cost efficient in building, operation and maintenance and can be easily assembled using eco-friendly material in any suitable place. Such a structure can even be assembled in a semi-urban or a rural area or even at a camp site. Further, the Carbon emissions associated with the system are very low as compared to standard refrigeration systems and it is thus, eco-friendly. Because of these advantages, this invention has great potential to change the conventional cooling systems and provide cool storage spaces at a minimal cost to hospitality and tourism industry.

Claims

We claim

1.A novel storage and cooling system for beverages, which consists of an enclosed space surrounded by inner and outer walls wherein the walls are a wire mesh separated by a distance of 6 - 15 inches and filled with charcoal, an access, a roof, a ventilating fan and a network of conduits transmitting water to the peripheries of the walls; and its method of construction.
2. The storage and cooling system of Claim 1 wherein the roof of the system is provided by a metal sheet which may be equal to or bigger than the area formed by the enclosing walls and is covered by thatching.
3. The storage and cooling system of Claim 1 wherein the volume of water flowing through the network of pipes transmitting water to the peripheries of the walls may be adjusted.
4. The storage and cooling system of Claim 1 wherein the structure is assembled on a cement floor.
5. The storage and cooling system of Claim 1 wherein the walls may be painted with insulating paint on the inside and outside.
6. The storage and cooling system of Claim 1 wherein the space between the outer and inner walls is filled with a combination of charcoal and coal.