Klean Kanteenâ Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated Bottle

Klement Miraj

English 21007 / Writing for Engineers

June 14, 2020

Outline of Contents

 

1. Introduction
   1. Single-use waste
   2. Statistics of single use products
   3. Reusable bottles
   4. Klean Kanteenâ
   5. Vacuum Seal
2. Technical Description
   1. Main function
   2. Principle parts and usage
      1. Figures 1-2
   3. Method of Operation
   4. Heat Transfer
      1. Conduction
      2. Convection
      3. Radiation
   5. Cross-section of vacuum flask (Figure 3)

• Conclusion
  1. Function
  2. Financial benefits
  3. Environmental benefits

1. References

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Single use products have been a huge problem for the planet for a long time. A single use product is an item that is used for a purpose once and then discarded. Depending on the material of constriction for the single use product it can take hundreds of years to degrade. Another big problem that the world needs to deal with is the massive use of plastics in single use products.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, “Each day in the US more than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away. Most end up in landfills or incinerators, and millions litter America’s streets, parks, and waterways.” [4] This staggering number only includes plastic water bottles and due to most of them ending up in landfills or incinerators, pollution raises. The first Earth Day was held in April 22, 1970 and according to Earthday.org as of 2018 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year. [2] Most of these cups cannot be reused due to the cardboard being laminated inside and out by a thin plastic lining. All this waste leads to foreseeable danger for the plants, wildlife, and the whole planet.

To make the world a more sustainable environment which includes reduction of waste some companies are producing multi use products. One of these companies involved in a sustainable solution is Klean Kanteen. They have come up with a wide range of reusable products such as food canisters, water bottles, coffee mugs to meet the need of everyone who is on the go. These multi use items are made from food grade stainless steel body, silicone, and BPA free polypropylene. [5] According to the mayo clinic BPA is a harmful industrial chemical that is used in the making of plastics and could lead to fertility problems as well as heart problems. [1] One of the key features of the water bottles that Klean Kanteen makes is that they are double wall vacuum insulated. This allows for a liquid like water to stay cool inside for about 50 hours and will allow for hot fluids to stay warm for about 20 hours. The first ever insulated bottle was created by James Dewar in 1896. He developed a technology where you can put one bottle inside another and vacuum out the air in between the two bottles. [6] By following the example of Klean Kanteen products the world will be a better place. This is a great example that shows ingenuity for the solution of a problem that also increases sustainability for the environment.

 

Technical Description

          The Klean Kanteen 20 Oz bottle is a double-wall insulated reusable bottle which is mainly used for hot and cold drinks. The purpose of this bottle is to be reused while at the same time keeping the temperature of the liquid inside constant for prolonged periods of time. This function is achieved while at the same time keeping the outside of the bottle at room temperature. The new generation bottle also includes a powder coating outside which looks great and at the same time allows for better grip and is chip resistant. The cap of the bottle is a leak proof Loop Cap which means no spillage will happen no matter how the bottle is placed. The bottle is also made from Stainless Steel and it includes an electropolish interior which is a safe and non- toxic process. [5]

Figure 1. Klean Kanteen 20 Oz complete bottle assembly [Photo by Author]

Figure 2: Multiple Components of Klean Kanteen 20 Oz insulated bottle [Photo by Author]

 

As it is noted from Figure 1 the bottle seems very simple and is made of a bottle, a cap and a gasket.  There is more to this design the meets the eye and Figure 2 shows all the components included to create the bottle. Starting from the bottle cap it is noted that the thread of the cap is the reverse of that of the bottle. Both threads are made to fit perfectly with one another just with a few turns. Looking at the cap you can also see that the base of it is as wide as the bottle neck to allow as much of a tight fit as possible. Another important part of the bottle is the gasket shown on Figure 2 that is made from food grade silicone and is placed at the top of the cap. The main purpose of the gasket is to allow the bottle to have a tight seal and at the same time not allow any spillage to happen. Another great feature of the bottle that is shown in Figure 1 is the top of the bottle cap where different fasteners could be attached to  allow for the user to use the bottle in different environment from the desk all the way to hiking.

Figure 3. Compartment and cross section of a vacuum flask [7]

Figure 3 shows the inner works of a vacuum sealed flask which is the basics of how a Klean Kanteen bottle works.  This figure above in this case demonstrates that there is two layers with a vacuum in between. There are three ways that heat is transferred from one body to the next. Those are conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction transfers heat energy by direct contact of the two materials. This phenomenon also has to do with the thermal conductivity of a material which is material dependent and indicates how well a material can conduct heat. As the bottle is vacuum insulated, there is no material between the double walls to conduct heat, so the thermal conductivity is basically zero. Heat transfer by convection occurs when there is a movement of the heat by the actual matter like when a fluid flows over a heated object and the fluid temperature goes up. For example, this occurs in a cup of coffee where the heat from the coffee is transferred to the cup via conduction, and the heat from the cup is transferred to the air around it via convection. Because the liquid cannot transfer heat to the outer wall because of the vacuum there is no heat transfer from the wall to the air surrounding it. Radiation is a transfer of heat that happens via the electromagnetic waves. [3] An example of this is how you can feel the heat of the sun even though there is a vast vacuum between the sun and us. Therefore, the vacuum bottle is a great invention that allows minimal heat to be transferred from the fluid to the outside world.

 

Conclusion

The Klean Kanteen double-wall vacuum insulated bottle is a great tool to keep long and lasting cold and hot liquids. This bottle makes storing hot coffee and cold water look so easy, with a plus added having it leak proof. This product and the company’s line of tumblers, food containers, and straws make it possible to reduce the need to depend on single use items. Plastic bottles and other plastic products have always been an issue due to its single, causing waste to this earth, also can expose toxic chemicals like BPA. In the early 2000s a person could not buy a reusable, stainless steel water bottle in the United States. Plastic was the only option. “Bottled water cost up to 10,000 times as much per gallon as tap water” [2] A reusable water bottle pays for themselves since it can be refilled over and over with no repair needed. Hopefully, with the help of companies like Klean Kanteen, more people will begin to use reusable water bottles, mugs, straws, and containers, and will reduce paper, plastic, and Styrofoam waste for years to come. Because of this international brand, it has inspired dozens of other companies to make reusable products.

References

1. Brent A. Bauer, M. D. (2019, December 18). Tips to reduce BPA exposure. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331
2. Fact Sheet: How Much Disposable Plastic We Use. (2019, December 21). Retrieved from https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-how-much-disposable-plastic-we-use/
3. Mikester, M., Mikester, M., Ajaysinh, Sam, Sam, Mohamadreza, … Taylor, B. (2018, February 10). Difference Between Conduction, Convection and Radiation (with Comparison Chart). Retrieved from https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-conduction-convection-and-radiation.html
4. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.container-recycling.org/index.php/issues/…/275-down-the-drain
5. Roger, Kate, & James. (2016, April 22). Insulated Classic 20oz. Retrieved from https://www.kleankanteen.com/collections/all/products/insulated-water-bottle-20oz
6. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020, March 23). Sir James Dewar. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Dewar
7. How do Thermos vacuum flasks work? (2016, December 21). From http://www.explainthatstuff.com/vacuumflasks.html