EP2177849A1 - Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature - Google Patents

Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2177849A1
EP2177849A1 EP08167022A EP08167022A EP2177849A1 EP 2177849 A1 EP2177849 A1 EP 2177849A1 EP 08167022 A EP08167022 A EP 08167022A EP 08167022 A EP08167022 A EP 08167022A EP 2177849 A1 EP2177849 A1 EP 2177849A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
outside
heat
peltier element
frame
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08167022A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Luciënne Jozefina Wilhelmina Maria Krosse
Arnold Felix Linnewiel
Hendrik Pieter Oversloot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Coltratech BV
TNO Institute of Industrial Technology
Original Assignee
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Coltratech BV
TNO Institute of Industrial Technology
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO, Coltratech BV, TNO Institute of Industrial Technology filed Critical Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Priority to EP08167022A priority Critical patent/EP2177849A1/en
Priority to EP09741039A priority patent/EP2350543B1/en
Priority to US13/125,297 priority patent/US20110247356A1/en
Priority to CN2009801468340A priority patent/CN102216706A/en
Priority to PCT/NL2009/050635 priority patent/WO2010047590A1/en
Publication of EP2177849A1 publication Critical patent/EP2177849A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
    • F25B27/002—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy using solar energy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D15/00—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies
    • F28D15/02—Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2321/00—Details of machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B2321/02—Details of machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effects; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effects
    • F25B2321/025—Removal of heat
    • F25B2321/0251—Removal of heat by a gas

Definitions

  • the transportation sector has a great need for methods and means for the transportation of products in an guaranteed and stable temperature environment. Important conditions for such products are: no increase of mass or volume, self-supporting (i.e. no mains needed), reliable, self regulating and without combustible, toxic or ecotoxic media.
  • a container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature comprising heat insulated walls
  • the container comprising a Peltier element which, under control of a control module, can be energized by a battery in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container; the Peltier element being connected, via a heat spreader, to one or more heat pipes extending through at least one of said insulating walls which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container.
  • the outside means may comprise an outside container frame or a part of such frame and/or a heat conducting foil or coating, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
  • the container may comprise photovoltaic means outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.
  • the container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature shown in figure 1 comprises heat insulated walls 9, surrounding the container's inside room 10, which can be filled -via a lid (not shown) with articles to be transported.
  • the container comprises a Peltier element 1 which, under control of a control module 2, connected to a thermometer 11, can be energized by a battery 3 in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature.
  • the Peltier element is connected, via a heat spreader 4, to one or more heat pipes 5 which extend through at least one of the insulating walls 9 and which are connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from (again, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature) the outside environment of the container.
  • said outside means for emitting or collecting heat may be formed by an outside container frame 6 or a part of such frame.
  • those outside means may comprise a heat conducting foil or coating 7, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
  • the electric power supply of the (self-supporting) container may be supplemented by the electrical output of a photovoltaic layer 8 which is provided outside the container, and which is arranged for converting incident light into electric energy which can be fed, under control of control module 2 to the Peltier element.
  • control/display unit 12 is provided outside the container, which is arranged to switch ON/OFF the circuitry and to set/adjust the container's inside temperature; moreover, unit 12 can display the actual inside temperature, the remaining battery charge, etc.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls (9), as well as a Peltier element (1) which, under control of a control module (2), can he energized by a battery (3) in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container. The Peltier element is connected, via a heat spreader (4), to one or more heat pipes (5) extending through at least one of said insulating walls (9) which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container, as an outside container frame (6) or a part of such frame and/or a heat conducting foil or coating (7), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls (9). The container, moreover, may comprise photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.

Description

  • The transportation sector has a great need for methods and means for the transportation of products in an guaranteed and stable temperature environment. Important conditions for such products are: no increase of mass or volume, self-supporting (i.e. no mains needed), reliable, self regulating and without combustible, toxic or ecotoxic media.
  • In present cool box configurations no use is made of active refrigeration or heating. The performances are determined by the quality of the isolated walls (λ ≈ 0.0042W/mK). Alternative cool boxes, e.g. in use in the aviation, may use dry ice.
  • Both variants have in common that the maximum admissible transportation time is determined by the internal temperature rise in the container. Use is made of a certain buffer of dry ice and/or thermal mass. If the container, during transportation, would have to wait for longer time in the burning sun, the maximum transportation time will be drastically restricted.
  • Thus, a need exists within the transportation sector for a solution which comprises active cooling, which is self-supporting, reliable, self-regulating, light en small. It is an aim of the present invention to provide this need.
  • According to the invention it is preferred to provide a container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls, the container comprising a Peltier element which, under control of a control module, can be energized by a battery in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container; the Peltier element being connected, via a heat spreader, to one or more heat pipes extending through at least one of said insulating walls which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container.
  • The outside means may comprise an outside container frame or a part of such frame and/or a heat conducting foil or coating, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
  • Moreover, the container may comprise photovoltaic means outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.
  • The configuration according to the present will be elucidated hereinafter, referencing to figure 1.
  • The container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature shown in figure 1, comprises heat insulated walls 9, surrounding the container's inside room 10, which can be filled -via a lid (not shown) with articles to be transported. The container comprises a Peltier element 1 which, under control of a control module 2, connected to a thermometer 11, can be energized by a battery 3 in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature. The Peltier element is connected, via a heat spreader 4, to one or more heat pipes 5 which extend through at least one of the insulating walls 9 and which are connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from (again, depending of the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature) the outside environment of the container.
  • Container according to claim 1, said outside means for emitting or collecting heat may be formed by an outside container frame 6 or a part of such frame. Instead or additionally, those outside means may comprise a heat conducting foil or coating 7, applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
  • The electric power supply of the (self-supporting) container may be supplemented by the electrical output of a photovoltaic layer 8 which is provided outside the container, and which is arranged for converting incident light into electric energy which can be fed, under control of control module 2 to the Peltier element.
  • Finally, a control/display unit 12 is provided outside the container, which is arranged to switch ON/OFF the circuitry and to set/adjust the container's inside temperature; moreover, unit 12 can display the actual inside temperature, the remaining battery charge, etc.

Claims (4)

  1. Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature, comprising heat insulated walls, the container comprising a Peltier element (1) which, under control of a control module (2), can be energized by a battery (3) in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container; the Peltier element being connected, via a heat spreader (4), to one or more heat pipes (5) extending through at least one of said insulating walls which is connected to outside means for emitting or collecting heat to/from the outside environment of the container.
  2. Container according to claim 1, said outside means comprising an outside container frame (6) or a part of such frame.
  3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, said outside means comprising a heat conducting foil or coating (7), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
  4. Container according to claim 1, comprising photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.
EP08167022A 2008-10-20 2008-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature Withdrawn EP2177849A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08167022A EP2177849A1 (en) 2008-10-20 2008-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature
EP09741039A EP2350543B1 (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature
US13/125,297 US20110247356A1 (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature
CN2009801468340A CN102216706A (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature
PCT/NL2009/050635 WO2010047590A1 (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08167022A EP2177849A1 (en) 2008-10-20 2008-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2177849A1 true EP2177849A1 (en) 2010-04-21

Family

ID=40263064

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08167022A Withdrawn EP2177849A1 (en) 2008-10-20 2008-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature
EP09741039A Not-in-force EP2350543B1 (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09741039A Not-in-force EP2350543B1 (en) 2008-10-20 2009-10-20 Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20110247356A1 (en)
EP (2) EP2177849A1 (en)
CN (1) CN102216706A (en)
WO (1) WO2010047590A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102012103A (en) * 2010-10-28 2011-04-13 辽宁鑫谷节能科技有限公司 Microcrystalline ceramic electric heating energy storage composite tube
FR2975477A1 (en) * 2011-05-18 2012-11-23 Set One Energy SOLAR GLACIERE

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8162542B2 (en) * 2008-02-25 2012-04-24 Tednologies, Inc. Environment controlled cargo container
CN102748586A (en) * 2012-07-24 2012-10-24 天津开发区合普工贸有限公司 Equipment for precisely proportionally sealing and uniformly mixing multi-path gas, and conveying multi-path gas at constant temperature and constant pressure
JP2014178106A (en) * 2013-02-18 2014-09-25 Cbc Est Co Ltd Temperature-controlled conveyance box
GB201421311D0 (en) * 2014-12-01 2015-01-14 David Raphael K Low height compartmented open side twenty-foot equivalent units container - LHCOS-TEU
AT517512B1 (en) 2015-08-04 2019-01-15 Rep Ip Ag Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive cargo
AT517516B1 (en) * 2015-08-04 2018-02-15 Rep Ip Ag Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive cargo
GB2560742B (en) * 2017-03-23 2021-06-23 Kirintec Ltd Container
JP2021522462A (en) 2018-04-19 2021-08-30 エンバー テクノロジーズ， インコーポレイテッド Portable cooler with active temperature control
CN109041552A (en) * 2018-10-12 2018-12-18 成都优博创通信技术股份有限公司 A kind of radiating subassembly and communication module
US10989466B2 (en) 2019-01-11 2021-04-27 Ember Technologies, Inc. Portable cooler with active temperature control
US11162716B2 (en) 2019-06-25 2021-11-02 Ember Technologies, Inc. Portable cooler
EP4621318A3 (en) 2019-06-25 2025-11-26 YETI Coolers, LLC Portable cooler
US11668508B2 (en) 2019-06-25 2023-06-06 Ember Technologies, Inc. Portable cooler
CA3178289A1 (en) 2020-04-03 2021-10-07 Clayton Alexander Portable cooler with active temperature control
US12018865B2 (en) * 2020-06-10 2024-06-25 Insu Health Design, Inc. Insulation and cooling system for temperature sensitive materials
US12359857B2 (en) 2020-08-14 2025-07-15 Hussmann Corporation Temperature-controlled container
AT525463A1 (en) * 2021-09-17 2023-04-15 Rep Ip Ag Transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods to be transported, comprising container walls
US12256505B2 (en) 2021-12-06 2025-03-18 James Francis Cordes, JR. Electrified container, railcar, ship, connection pad, and/or semi-trailer system

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US4981019A (en) * 1989-11-14 1991-01-01 Hicks Carole L Solar powered portable food container
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JP2000088424A (en) * 1998-09-08 2000-03-31 Msc Technos:Kk Refrigerator having electronic refrigerating device and absorption refrigerating device
US20020104318A1 (en) * 2001-02-08 2002-08-08 Ali Jaafar Miniature thermoelectric cooler
KR20040051119A (en) * 2002-12-12 2004-06-18 조민수 vacuum food reservior

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Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4981019A (en) * 1989-11-14 1991-01-01 Hicks Carole L Solar powered portable food container
EP0645593A1 (en) * 1993-09-28 1995-03-29 Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Electronic cooling type refrigerator
JP2000088424A (en) * 1998-09-08 2000-03-31 Msc Technos:Kk Refrigerator having electronic refrigerating device and absorption refrigerating device
US20020104318A1 (en) * 2001-02-08 2002-08-08 Ali Jaafar Miniature thermoelectric cooler
KR20040051119A (en) * 2002-12-12 2004-06-18 조민수 vacuum food reservior

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102012103A (en) * 2010-10-28 2011-04-13 辽宁鑫谷节能科技有限公司 Microcrystalline ceramic electric heating energy storage composite tube
FR2975477A1 (en) * 2011-05-18 2012-11-23 Set One Energy SOLAR GLACIERE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110247356A1 (en) 2011-10-13
CN102216706A (en) 2011-10-12
EP2350543B1 (en) 2012-09-05
WO2010047590A1 (en) 2010-04-29
EP2350543A1 (en) 2011-08-03

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