EP3177881B1 - Container, generator device, and method for transporting goods - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container according to claim 1 and a method for transporting goods according to claim 10.

Devices and methods of the type mentioned can be used to transport perishable goods, such as cut flowers, fruit and vegetables, meat or fish. These goods can be protected from spoilage by refrigeration during transport.

A container of the type mentioned is from the EP 2 535 296 A1 known. This well-known container has walls insulated on all sides, which delimit an interior space. The container has the external dimensions of a known ISO freight container in accordance with ISO 668. The temperature in the interior of the container can be adjusted to specified values by means of a refrigeration machine integrated in the container. The goods are cooled by circulating cold air inside the container.

This known container has the disadvantage that the heat transfer medium provided by the refrigerating machine usually only circulates on the outer surface of the goods, i.e. between the outermost cargo and the side walls. In known containers, the central area of the charge is only cooled by heat conduction. As a result, a longer period of time elapses before the target temperature for transport is reached, provided that the goods are not loaded into the container pre-cooled, as is usually the case. In particular, goods that emit thermal energy during post-ripening, such as bananas, can be damaged as a result.

The refrigerating machine of the well-known freight container is usually operated with electrical energy. This electrical energy is usually obtained from the public power grid at the storage location of a container. When transported by ship, the electrical energy can be drawn from the ship's on-board network. Generator devices are available for storing the container at remote locations or for road transport, which generate the electrical energy for the cooling device by means of a mostly spark-ignited internal combustion engine and an electric generator. The generator device can be arranged in a separate housing which can be screwed to the outside of the container.

However, the known generator devices have the disadvantage that the generator power and the mechanical drive power of the internal combustion engine required for this must be designed for the maximum electrical power requirement of the cooling devices of the container. Therefore, the internal combustion engine usually runs in an inefficient part-load operation with low efficiency. It could be shown that 30 to 50% of the CO ₂ emissions of the transport are due to the generator equipment, which is only required during a comparatively short period of time during the transport.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a container and a method for transporting goods which has a more favorable energy balance and thus lower CO ₂ emissions. Furthermore, the object of the invention consists in specifying a container and a method for transporting goods which can ensure better quality of the transported goods at the destination.

The objects of the invention are achieved according to the invention by a container with side walls, a floor, a ceiling, a front wall and a rear wall. The side walls, the floor, the ceiling, the front wall and the rear wall enclose an interior space so that the interior climate can be controlled and can differ from the climate outside the container. Furthermore, the interior is provided for receiving the goods to be transported or the load.

To increase energy efficiency, every wall, like the floor and ceiling, has an outside and an inside and an insulating layer in between. In some embodiments of the invention, the insulation layer can contain or consist of mineral wool, glass wool, rigid foam or vacuum insulation. Walls and floor can be made of metal or alloy be, for example, made of steel or an aluminum alloy.

The container also has a cooling device which is set up to provide a gaseous heat transfer medium with a definable temperature and/or humidity. In some embodiments of the invention, the cooling device can be a compression refrigerating machine. In other embodiments of the invention, other refrigerating machines known per se can be used, for example an absorption heat pump.

The heat transfer medium is gaseous. In the simplest case, the heat transfer medium can be ambient air. In some embodiments of the invention, an inert gas can be used as the heat transfer medium, for example nitrogen, carbon dioxide or argon. The heat transfer medium can be removed from the interior of the container and fed back via the cooling device. In some embodiments of the invention, the cooling device can have a mixed-air system, with which part of the removed heat transfer medium can be released into the environment and replaced with fresh air.

The heat transfer medium is brought to a predeterminable temperature in the cooling device. The temperature can be between about -40°C and about +30°C in some embodiments of the invention. In other embodiments of the invention, the temperature can be between about -6°C and about +20°C. In yet other embodiments of the invention, the temperature may be between about 0°C and about +10°C. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the temperature may be between about +5°C and about +8°C. The moisture content of the heat transfer medium can be between about 20% relative humidity and about 90% relative humidity. In some embodiments of the Invention, the humidity can be between about 30% and about 60% relative humidity. Temperature and/or humidity can be adapted to the goods to be transported, so that the goods are optimally protected during transport.

Furthermore, the container has a low-pressure delivery device, which is set up to circulate the heat transfer medium at a first pressure in the interior of the container. The pressure can be between about 1 hPa and about 20 hPa in some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments of the invention, the pressure can be between about 5 hPa and about 7 hPa. In some embodiments of the invention, the low-pressure conveying device can be an axial fan or a radial fan or a roller fan or contain at least one axial fan or at least one radial fan or at least one roller fan, which conveys the heat transfer medium through a pipe system to the cooling device and from there back into the interior of the container.

In some embodiments of the invention, the cooling device and the low-pressure conveyor device can be provided with associated electrical drive means. In some embodiments of the invention, the electrical drive means can be asynchronous motors, which are supplied with electrical energy using AC voltage from a public power grid or the on-board power supply system of a ship.

The heat transfer medium can flow within the container in a manner known per se through a floor with a T-grating, which enables a flow from the floor towards the ceiling of the container. In other embodiments of the invention, other geometries of the inlet and outlet air ducts can be provided in order to circulate the heat transfer medium inside the container. The invention does not teach the use of a special flow geometry as a solution principle.

According to the invention, the container is additionally provided with a high-pressure delivery device, which is set up to circulate the heat transfer medium at a second pressure in the interior of the container, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can also be a radial or axial fan, which, however, can provide a higher delivery pressure due to a blade geometry that is different compared to the low-pressure delivery device. In other embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can have a screw compressor or a piston compressor, which compresses the heat transfer medium to a higher pressure.

The heat transfer medium circulating at higher pressure can also penetrate into the gaps between individual packages of the goods, for example fruit crates made of wood, cardboard or plastic, lattice boxes or similar gas-permeable packaging containers.

Because the heat transfer medium flows through the goods, excess heat from the goods can be released directly to the heat transfer medium, so that even centrally located goods are not only cooled by conduction, but also by convection. This allows the goods to be cooled evenly and quickly, for example to dissipate the heat introduced when the container is opened or to cool goods that have not been pre-cooled to the target temperature for transport.

After the target temperature has been reached, the high-pressure delivery device can be switched off. During transport at a constant temperature, the heat transfer medium is then circulated through the low-pressure conveyor. The low-pressure conveyor can have a lower energy consumption than the high-pressure conveying device, so that the transport can take place over a long period of time with little energy consumption for cooling.

The pressure provided by the high-pressure delivery device is between approximately 300 hPa and approximately 800 hPa. In some embodiments of the invention, the overpressure of the heat transfer medium provided by the high-pressure delivery device can be between approximately 500 hPa and approximately 700 hPa. This pressure range ensures that the heat transfer medium can penetrate the individual packages and heat is efficiently dissipated from the goods to be transported.

In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can be separable from the container. Since the high-pressure conveying device is only required at the beginning of the transport process or for a limited period of time after loading, it can be designed to be removable, so that weight can be saved over the longer transport route of the container. Furthermore, it is avoided to have a high-pressure conveying device that is not required and not in operation ready when, after it has been switched off, it is removed from the container and fastened to another container.

In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can be driven by an internal combustion engine. At the beginning of the transport process, the container is often located in remote areas where no public power grid is available for energy procurement. In these cases, the high-pressure delivery device can be operated with an associated internal combustion engine in order to be able to start cooling down the goods quickly inside the container immediately after loading.

In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can be coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by means of a transmission. Such a transmission makes it possible on the one hand to decouple the high-pressure delivery device from the internal combustion engine when it is not required. Furthermore, the high-pressure conveyor can be operated at different speeds by a switchable gear in order to adapt the operating state of the high-pressure conveyor to the required cooling load or the distribution of the goods in the container and the resulting dynamic pressure of the heat transfer medium.

In some embodiments of the invention, the container can contain at least one electrical generator, with the internal combustion engine being set up to drive the electrical generator at least temporarily. Such a generator optionally enables the operation of the low-pressure conveying device and the operation of the cooling device with electrical energy. Thus, independently of the presence of a power grid or external auxiliary energy, a heat transfer medium with a predeterminable temperature can be provided and distributed or circulated within the container by means of a selectable pressure.

In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure delivery device can be provided with electrical drive means, for example an electric motor. In this case, electrical energy from the generator can also be supplied to the high-pressure delivery device. Furthermore, the high-pressure delivery device can be switched on and off in a simple manner in order to adapt the delivery quantity and/or the pressure to the requirements.

In some embodiments of the invention, the container also contains at least one battery which can be charged with the electric generator and which is set up to supply the cooling device and/or the high-pressure delivery device and/or the low-pressure delivery device with electrical energy. It has been found that the internal combustion engine has a particularly high degree of efficiency at full load, ie the fuel consumption is comparatively low in comparison to the output power. If, however, the cooling device and/or the conveyor devices do not have to be operated at full power, the power of the internal combustion engine must be reduced in order to adapt the electrical power output by the generator to the energy consumption of the electrical device in the container. Although this reduces the absolute fuel consumption, since the efficiency of the internal combustion engine decreases, the relative fuel consumption increases. According to the invention, it is now proposed to always operate the internal combustion engine at full power and to supply excess mechanical power to the generator and to temporarily store it as electrical energy in a battery. Once the battery is fully charged, the engine can be turned off, with the electrical equipment of the container being powered by the battery. Shortly before the battery reaches its end-of-discharge voltage, the internal combustion engine is restarted in order to supply the container facilities with electricity and to recharge the battery. Such a hybrid power supply ensures that the internal combustion engine always works in the optimum efficiency range, regardless of the electrical power required at the time. The efficiency of the overall system made up of internal combustion engine, generator and battery is therefore higher than the efficiency of a known combination of internal combustion engine and generator without a battery. This means that fuel can be saved when the container's refrigeration equipment is in operation.

In some embodiments of the invention, the container contains a generator device containing the internal combustion engine and the electric generator, the generator device also containing a high-pressure delivery device which is designed to circulate the heat transfer medium in the interior of the container.

Such a generator device can be attached to the container after the loading process and during road transport of the container in order to supply the cooling device with electrical energy and to provide a high-pressure conveying device for rapidly cooling the goods. As soon as the container is loaded onto a ship, the on-board electrical system is available there in order to supply the refrigeration system and the low-pressure conveyor system of the container with electrical energy. The generator device can then be removed in order to use it on another container.

In some embodiments of the invention, the generator device contains at least one battery which can be charged with the electric generator and which is set up to supply the high-pressure delivery device and/or at least one additional electrical device of the container with electrical energy. In this way, the efficiency of the generator device can be increased by the internal combustion engine of the generator device always running at optimum efficiency and when the electrical energy requirement is low, the electrical devices are supplied with battery power so that the internal combustion engine can be switched off at these times.

In some embodiments of the invention, this is at least one battery can be charged with the electric generator and set up to supply at least one electric energy consumer of the container with electric energy. If the container is only loaded with pre-cooled goods, the refrigeration equipment of the container only has to compensate for the heat input through the walls of the container, but does not have to dissipate any heat introduced by the goods. In this case, a high-pressure delivery device can be dispensed with in some embodiments of the invention. However, in the case of road transport or storage away from the public power grid, the cooling device and the low-pressure conveying device must be supplied with electrical energy. According to the invention, this can be done by a hybrid power supply using a generator and a battery, so that the efficiency increases compared to pure generator operation and the fuel consumption decreases. In some embodiments of the invention, the container has at least one drainage hole at its bottom through which condensate can drain. At least during the operating time of the high-pressure delivery device, the flow resistance through these drainage holes can be increased in order to reduce losses of the heat transfer medium. In some embodiments, the flow resistance can be increased by means of a perforated plate or a net or a metal mesh, which at least partially obstructs the cross section of the drainage bore. In some embodiments of the invention, alternatively or additionally, a fleece made of metal, an alloy or a plastic can be introduced into the drainage bore. In some embodiments of the invention, the fleece can contain steel wool, in particular made of stainless steel. In some embodiments of the invention, a valve can be provided as an alternative or in addition, in order to at least temporarily close the drainage bore. The valve can be provided with compressed air or an electromagnetic actuator, so that the drainage hole can be closed when the high-pressure conveyor starts up by controlling the container's cooling device and can be opened again when the high-pressure conveyor is switched off.

• Fig. 1 den Querschnitt durch einen Container gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine axonometrische Darstellung des Containers mit Generatoreinheit.
• Fig. 3 zeigt ein Blockschaltbild eines erfindungsgemäßen Containers mit Generatoreinheit gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt ein Blockschaltbild eines erfindungsgemäßen Containers mit Generatoreinheit gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine Generatoreinheit gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Generatoreinheit gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 7 zeigt ein Blockschaltbild eines Containers mit einer Generatoreinheit gemäß einer fünften Ausführungsform, die kein Teil der Erfindung ist.
• Fig. 8 zeigt ein Flussdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Warentransport.

The invention is to be explained in more detail below with reference to figures without restricting the general inventive idea. while showing

• 1 the cross section through a container according to the present invention.
• 2 shows an axonometric representation of the container with generator unit.
• 3 shows a block diagram of a container according to the invention with a generator unit according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• 4 shows a block diagram of a container according to the invention with a generator unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• figure 5 12 shows a generator unit according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• 6 12 shows a generator unit according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 7 Figure 12 shows a block diagram of a container with a generator unit according to a fifth embodiment which is not part of the invention.
• 8 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention for transporting goods.

1 shows a cross section through a container 1. The container 1 comprises a first side wall 110 and a second side wall 120. In addition, the container has a floor 130 and a ceiling 140. The front wall and the rear wall are in cross section according to FIG 1 not visible. Each wall includes an inner side 112, 122, 132 and 142. The inner sides of the walls delimit an interior space 101 of the container 1.

Furthermore, each wall comprises an outside 111, 121, 131 and 141. Between the inside 112, 122, 132 and 142 and the outside 111, 121, 131 and 141 at least one insulation layer 170 is arranged. The insulation layer can be selected from mineral wool and/or rigid foam and/or vacuum insulation. The container can have a width, a length and a height of a standard ISO freight container.

Feet 102 can be arranged on the floor 130 so that the container can be easily lifted and transported by a forklift.

The container 1 contains supply air ducts or exhaust air ducts 103, via which a heat transfer medium can be supplied or discharged. The location of the supply and exhaust air ducts in the corners between the side walls and the floor or ceiling is in 1 shown only schematically. In other embodiments of the invention, the number of inlet and outlet air ducts can be larger or smaller. A different geometry or position of the inlet and outlet air ducts can also be selected in different embodiments of the invention. The invention does not teach the use of the geometry shown as a solution principle.

In some embodiments of the invention, channels 105 can be present in the floor and/or on the ceiling, which are cooled by a heat transfer medium. This allows the ceiling and/or the bottom of the container absorb radiant heat emanating from the cargo. A similar system can also be provided for the side walls in some embodiments of the invention.

2 shows again the outside view of a container 1. In 2 the second side wall 120, the top 140 and the front wall 150 can be seen. The rear wall 160 is hidden from the front wall 150. The rear wall can be opened completely or partially in order to bring cargo or goods to be transported into the interior 101 or to remove them from there.

Furthermore, it can be seen how a generator device 200 can be attached to the front wall 150 . The generator device 200 can provide electrical energy for supplying the cooling device of the container 1 by means of an internal combustion engine and a generator. In addition, generator device 200 can contain a battery for intermediate storage of electrical energy and/or a high-pressure delivery device for the heat transfer medium, as is explained below using block diagrams of different embodiments of generator device 200 .

The generator device 200 is located in its own housing, so that it can be removed when the generator device 200 is not required, for example when power is supplied from an on-board network of a vehicle or a ship.

3 shows a block diagram of a container 1 with an interior 101. The interior 101 is to be cooled to a predetermined temperature. For this purpose, the air or protective gas present in the interior 101 is removed via a pipeline 330 by means of a low-pressure delivery device 310 .

In a first position of the three-way valve 331, the heat transfer medium flows to the second three-way valve 332. From there, the heat transfer fluid enters the cooling device 300, which is set up to remove heat and/or moisture from the heat transfer medium or to add moisture. Finally, the heat transfer medium is conducted into the interior 101 via the pipeline 330 . The low-pressure conveying device 310 can, for example, be or contain an axial fan, a radial fan or a roller fan. The cooling device 300 can be a compression refrigerating machine, for example. The low-pressure conveyor device 310 is driven by electrical drive means 315, for example an asynchronous motor. In the same way, the cooling device 300 is driven by electrical energy. When the container 101 is transported on a ship or when it is stored in a depot, the container 101 can be connected to an on-board network or the public electricity network in order to supply the cooling device with electrical energy. In remote areas and/or during road transport, the generator unit 200 can be connected to the container 1, as shown in FIG 2 explained. The generator device 200 contains an internal combustion engine 210 which provides mechanical drive power on a crankshaft 212 . The crankshaft 212 drives an electric generator 230 . The generator 230 can supply the cooling device 300 and/or the low-pressure delivery device 310 with electrical energy via electrical lines 245 .

Furthermore, the generator device 200 can contain an optional battery 240 which is charged by the generator 230 via an electrical line 245 . This makes it possible to always operate the internal combustion engine 210 at optimum efficiency, regardless of the electrical power actually consumed by the container 1 . Excess energy can be temporarily stored in the battery 240 . As soon as the battery 240 reaches its end-of-charge voltage has, the internal combustion engine 210 can be switched off. The cooling device 300 and the electrical drive means 310 can then be supplied with electrical energy from the battery until it has reached its end-of-discharge voltage. Electrical energy can then in turn be generated with the internal combustion engine 210 and the generator 230 in order to operate the equipment of the container 1 and to charge the battery 240 . The internal combustion engine therefore either always runs with optimal efficiency or is switched off, so that fuel consumption is reduced.

The generator device 200 according to the first embodiment also contains a high-pressure delivery device 320. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the high-pressure delivery device 320 is driven directly by the crankshaft 212 of the internal combustion engine 210. The high-pressure delivery device can contain or consist of a radial fan, a screw compressor or a piston compressor, for example.

The high-pressure delivery device 320 is supplied with cooling medium via the three-way valve 331 from the low-pressure delivery device 310 . For this purpose, the three-way valve 331 is in a second position. After being compressed in the high-pressure delivery device 320, the heat transfer medium is fed to the cooling device 300 via the second three-way valve 332 in order to dissipate the heat generated during the compression and the heat removed from the interior 101. The heat transfer medium cooled in this way can be fed to the interior space 101 via the pipeline 330 . Because of the higher pressure, the heat transfer medium can penetrate the goods in the interior 101 more quickly and thoroughly if they are stored in conventional fruit crates or lattice boxes. This allows the heat from the load to be dissipated more quickly, allowing the load to cool quickly to your target temperature.

The low-pressure conveying device 310 in connection with the cooling device 300 is sufficient for pure temperature maintenance during transport. The high-pressure conveying device 320 can therefore be removed together with the generator device 200 before the container 1 is loaded onto a ship. For this purpose, the power lines 245 are provided with plug connectors. Likewise, the lines of the heat transfer medium between the three-way valves 331 and 331 and the high-pressure delivery device 320 can be separated via quick-release couplings.

4 shows a block diagram of a container 1 with a generator device 200 in a second embodiment. Identical components of the invention are provided with the same reference symbols, so that the following description is limited to the essential differences.

The generator device 200 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the optional battery 240 is not inserted into the generator device 200 . The generator device 200 can be built lighter as a result, so that it can be transported more easily with reduced efficiency.

Furthermore, the heat transfer medium from the interior 101 of the container 1 is fed directly to the high-pressure delivery device 320 without the heat transfer medium having been pre-compressed by the low-pressure delivery device 310 . As described above, the heat transfer medium compressed by the high-pressure delivery device 320 is returned via a second three-way valve 332 and the cooling device 300.

figure 5 shows a generator device 200 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment of the invention is located between the elevator 320 and the internal combustion engine 210 an optional transmission 220. The transmission 220 can be used to separate the high-pressure delivery device 320 from the crankshaft 212 of the internal combustion engine 210. As a result, internal combustion engine 210 can be used exclusively to drive generator 230 when high-pressure delivery device 320 is not required.

Furthermore, the pressure of the heat transfer medium can be increased with a reduced flow rate by means of different gear ratios. Alternatively, the flow rate can be increased and the pressure reduced. As a result, the transmission allows the high-pressure delivery device 320 to be operated in different operating states in accordance with the requirements of the goods to be cooled or transported.

The high-pressure delivery device 320 according to FIG 5 and 6 can be used in parallel with the low-pressure conveyor, as shown in 4 explained or in series with the low-pressure conveyor, as shown in FIG 3 explained.

6 shows a fourth embodiment of the generator device 200. The fourth embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that the high-pressure delivery device 320 is driven by associated electrical drive means 325. The electrical drive means 325 are supplied with power via an electrical line 245 . The electrical energy required for this can be generated by the generator 230 via the internal combustion engine 210 . In addition, the high-pressure delivery device 320 can be powered by the optional battery 240, as described above. In this embodiment of the invention, too, the hybrid drive of the electrical consumers via a generator or a battery serves to increase the efficiency of the overall system, so that fuel consumption is reduced.

Furthermore, driving the high-pressure delivery device via electric drive means 325 has the advantage that the high-pressure delivery device can be switched on or off independently of the generator 230 . The internal combustion engine 210 can thus always be operated in the ideal load range.

7 shows a fifth embodiment of a generator device 200, which is not part of the invention. Furthermore, in 7 a container 1 with a low-pressure conveyor 310 and a cooling device 300 shown, as already based on 3 explained in more detail.

The generator device 200 according to the fifth specific embodiment has no high-pressure delivery device 320 . However, according to the fifth embodiment, the generator device 200 contains a battery 240 for the hybrid supply of the electrical consumers of the container 1 with battery power or by the generator 230. This can increase the efficiency of the generator device 200, even if a high-pressure conveyor device 320 for cooling the goods in the Interior 101 of the container 1 is not required.

8 shows a flowchart of the method proposed according to the invention for transporting goods.

In the first method step 51 the goods are placed in the interior 101 of a container 1 . The goods can contain fruit, vegetables or meat, for example. The goods do not necessarily have to be pre-cooled, so that a thermal load arises in the interior 101 as a result of the loading of the container.

In the second method step 52, by means of a generator device 200, which, in addition to an internal combustion engine and a generator, also includes a battery and a high-pressure delivery device contains, the cooling device of the container supplied with electrical energy in order to cool the heat transfer medium to a temperature that is lower than the ambient temperature. The heat transfer medium is circulated at least through the high-pressure conveying device in the container, so that the goods brought in cool down quickly to their target temperature selected for transport.

In the second method step 52, the energy required for this is provided by the generator, which is driven by the internal combustion engine. Energy that is not consumed directly by the cooling device or high-pressure delivery device is temporarily stored in the battery.

In the third method step 53, the battery has reached its end-of-charge voltage, so that it cannot store any more electrical energy. The internal combustion engine can therefore be switched off in the third method step. The cooling device and the high-pressure delivery device are supplied with electrical energy by discharging the battery.

After the end-of-discharge voltage has been reached, the second method step 52 can be carried out again by restarting the internal combustion engine. Process steps 52 and 53 can be repeated cyclically until an alternative source of electrical energy is available and/or the goods in container 1 have reached their target temperature.

In the fourth method step 54, the high-pressure delivery device can be switched off after the target temperature has been reached. The circulation of the heat transfer medium through the low-pressure conveying device, which can have a lower electrical energy consumption, is sufficient for pure temperature maintenance in the interior 101 . Therefore, in the fourth Method step 54 circulates the heat transfer medium via the low-pressure conveying device and cools it via the cooling device of the container, with the electrical energy required for this being provided by the generator of the generator device 200 .

In fifth method step 55, the battery in generator device 200 has again reached its end-of-discharge voltage, so that the internal combustion engine can be switched off. The energy supply for the low-pressure conveying device and the cooling device can now be taken over by the battery.

After the battery 240 has been discharged, the procedure 54 can be performed again by restarting the engine. The method steps 54 and 55 are carried out cyclically until the container 1 has found a connection to an external power source, for example the onboard power supply of a ship or a public power supply.

Then, in method step 56, the generator device 200 is dismantled. This is immediately available again for carrying out the second method step 52 on another container.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. The above description is not to be considered as limiting but as illustrative. It is to be understood in the following claims that a specified feature is present in at least one embodiment of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of other features. Insofar as the claims and the above description "first" and "second" features define, this designation is used to differentiate between two similar characteristics without specifying a ranking.

Claims (15)

1. Container (1) comprising side walls (110, 120), a base (130), a cover (140), a front wall (150) and a rear wall (160), each wall having an inner face (112, 122, 132, 142) and an outer face (111, 121, 131, 141) and an insulating layer (170) lying between the inner and outer face, the container (1) further including a cooling device (300) designed to provide a gaseous heat transfer medium with a specifiable temperature and/or humidity, and

   the container including a low-pressure pump device (310) designed to circulate the gaseous heat transfer medium with a first pressure in the interior (101) of the container (1),

   the container (1) further including a high-pressure pump device (320) designed to circulate the gaseous heat transfer medium with a second pressure in the interior (101) of the container (1),

   the second pressure being greater than the first pressure, characterized in that

   the high-pressure pump device (320) is selected from a radial or axial blower having a blade geometry modified with respect to the low-pressure pump device (310) or a piston compressor or a screw compressor, and wherein the high-pressure pump device (320) is designed to provide a pressure of about 300 hPa to about 800 hPa.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-pressure pump device (320) is designed to provide a pressure of about 500 hPa to about 700 hPa.
3. Container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the low-pressure pump device (310) is designed to provide a pressure of about 1 hPa to about 20 hPa.
4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the high pressure pump device (320) can be separated from the container (1).
5. Container according to claims 1 to 4, further containing an internal combustion engine (210), wherein the high-pressure pump device (320) can be driven by the internal combustion engine (210) and/or the high-pressure pump device (320) can be coupled to a crankshaft (212) of the internal combustion engine (210) by means of a transmission (220) and/or
   the high-pressure pump device (320) can be driven by means of electric drive elements.
6. Container according to claim 5, further containing at least one electric generator (230), wherein the internal combustion engine (210) is designed to at least temporarily drive the electric generator (230).
7. Container according to claim 6, further containing at least one battery (240) which can be charged with the electric generator (230) and which is designed to supply the cooling device (300) and/or the high-pressure pump device (320) and/or the low-pressure pump device (310) with electric power.
8. Container according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the internal combustion engine (210), the electric generator (230) and the high-pressure pump device (320) are arranged in a generator device (200) which is detachably connected to the container.
9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the battery (240) is arranged in the generator device (200).
10. Method for transporting goods, in which the goods are placed in a container (1) having sidewalls (110, 120), a base (130), a cover (140), a front wall and a rear wall, each wall having an inner face (112, 122, 132, 142) and an outer face (111, 121, 131, 141) and an insulating layer (170) lying between the inner and outer face, and

    the container (1) further comprising a cooling device (300), by means of which a gaseous heat transfer medium with specifiable temperature and/or humidity is provided, which is circulated with a low-pressure pump device (310) with a first pressure in the interior (101) of the container (1) during a first time period, and the gaseous heat transfer medium being circulated with a high-pressure pump device (320) with a second pressure in the interior space (101) of the container (1) during a second time period, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure,

    characterized in that the high-pressure pump device (320) is selected from a radial or axial blower having a blade geometry modified with respect to the low-pressure pump device (310) or a piston compressor or a screw compressor, and the second pressure is selected between about 300 hPa and about 800 hPa.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the second time period follows a loading of the container (1) with goods and the first time period starts after reaching a target temperature.
12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the high-pressure pump device (320) is driven by an internal combustion engine (210) and/or in that the cooling device (300) and/or the low-pressure pump device (310) is operated with electric energy which is either taken from a battery (240) or provided by a generator (230) driven by the internal combustion engine (210).
13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the first pressure is selected between about 1 hPa and about 20 hPa.
14. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the second pressure is selected between about 500 hPa and about 700 hPa.
15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the internal combustion engine (210), the electric generator (230) and the high-pressure pump device (320) are arranged in a generator device (200), which is detachably connected to the container and the generator device (200) is removed at the end of the second time period.

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