US20110247356A1 - Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature - Google Patents
Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature Download PDFInfo
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- US20110247356A1 US20110247356A1 US13/125,297 US200913125297A US2011247356A1 US 20110247356 A1 US20110247356 A1 US 20110247356A1 US 200913125297 A US200913125297 A US 200913125297A US 2011247356 A1 US2011247356 A1 US 2011247356A1
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- Prior art keywords
- container
- heat
- peltier element
- support
- outside
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Classifications
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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 invention relates to a freight container, such as an airfreight container and to adjustment of temperatures inside freight containers.
- Aircraft freight containers for example, which need to have minimum weight, usually comprise a mechanical frame with supports such as a floor and corner profiles and cloth suspended from these corner profiles.
- the transport sector has a need for methods and means for the transportation of products in a 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. For airfreight containers, the low mass is particularly important.
- both variants When used in a freight container, 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 freight container, during transportation, would have to wait for longer time in the burning sun, the maximum transportation time will be drastically restricted.
- EP 645 593 discloses a refrigerator with a Peltier element in the inner space of the refrigerator and heat pipes to couple the “hot” side of the Peltier element to cooling fins outside the refrigerator. This document is not from the field of transport containers and it does not discuss how the structural container
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,019 discloses a portable food container that is cooled by a solar powered refrigeration unit, with a thermoelectric power unit and heat pipes.
- the portable food container may be used for picnics for example.
- This document is not from the field of transport containers that are used to load aircraft or other vehicles and it does not show that a structural container frame of such transport containers can be used in a heat control system.
- US 2002/0104318 discloses a miniature cooled portable container for patients that carry cooled medicines. This document is not from the field of transport containers that are used to load aircraft or other vehicles and it does not structural container frame of such transport containers can be used in a heat control system.
- a container according to claim 1 is provided.
- the inner space of the container is cooled with a Peltier element and heat generated by the Peltier element is conducted to the supporting container frame via a head spreader and heat pipes.
- the supporting frame of the container is used to get rid of heat generated by the Peltier element.
- the supporting frame may contain wall panels, made of non-supporting material such as cloth, plastics etc, and supports, such as corner profiles, tubes or ribs, supporting the wall panels, a heat pipe being coupled to one of the supports.
- the connection preferably thermally bypasses the wall panels, which means that the heat pipes are not indirectly connected to the support, by a connection to a wall panel and from there to the support.
- the container is provided with a photovoltaic layer (for example a solar cell) to provide energy for the Peltier element.
- a photovoltaic layer for example a solar cell
- the photovoltaic layer may be provided on a wall panel that is supported by the supports.
- a heat insulation may be provided between a support that is connected to a heat pipe and an adjacent wall panel that carries a photovoltaic layer.
- 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.
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a freight container
- FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a freight container
- FIG. 3 shows a detail of a freight container
- FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a freight container
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a freight container for transporting articles stored at a predetermined temperature.
- the container has heat insulated walls 9 , a Peltier element 1 , a control module 2 , a thermometer 11 , a battery 3 , a heat spreader 4 , a plurality of heat pipes 5 , an outside container frame 6 , a heat conducting foil or coating 7 , a photovoltaic layer 8 and a control/display unit 12 .
- Heat insulated walls 9 surround an inside room 10 of the container, which can be filled—via a lid (not shown) with articles to be transported.
- Control module 2 is coupled to Peltier element 1 and thermometer 11 .
- Peltier element 1 can be energized, under control of control module 2 connected to a thermometer 11 , by a battery 3 in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container, dependent on the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature.
- Peltier element 1 is connected to the plurality of heat pipes 5 via a heat spreader 4 .
- Heat pipes 5 extend through at least one of the insulating walls 9 and 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. Instead of a plurality of heat pipes one heat pipe only may be used. Heat pipes are known per se.
- a heat pipe may be implemented as a hollow pipe that encloses an inner space with a fluid.
- the heat pipe provides for efficient heat transport in which the fluid may evaporate at the hot side of the heat pipe and condense at the cold side.
- Heat spreader 4 may be realized as a heat pipe, or a combination of a plurality of heat pipes.
- a planar heat pipe may be used, with box shaped walls with a planar interior space.
- heat spreader 4 may be structure such as a plane or a set of strips of heat conductive material, like aluminium, with a heat conductivity higher than that of the walls of the container.
- Said outside means for emitting or collecting heat may be formed by 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 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.
- a control/display unit 12 may be 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.
- An embodiment provides for a 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.
- said outside means comprise an outside container frame ( 6 ) or a part of such frame.
- Said outside means may comprise a heat conducting foil or coating ( 7 ), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls.
- the container comprises photovoltaic means ( 8 ) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.
- the container preferably has a size and strength according to ISO standards for containers for loading aircraft, ships or trucks.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a freight container in top view (not to scale), wherein the outside container frame comprises a plurality of corner supports 20 , in the form of aluminium corner profiles, and on-wall supports 20 a and wall panels 22 that are supported by structural ribs 20 .
- a heat isolating wall 24 may be provided in the freight container within the space inside wall panels 22 .
- Minimum weight wall panels 22 are preferred, especially for airfreight containers, but also for other forms of transport.
- Wall panels made of cloth, or other flexible sheet material may be used for example, that hangs from the supports 20 , 20 a . Other types of panels with a more permanent shape may be used.
- heat pipes 5 are connected between supports 20 , 20 a and heat spreader 4 .
- the photovoltaic layer (not shown) is provided on wall panels 22 .
- each support 20 , 20 a may be coupled to heat spreader 4 via one or more heat pipes 5 . But usually it will suffice to couple only part of supports 20 , 20 a to heat spreader 4 via one or more heat pipes 5 .
- An external heat spreader such as a heat pipe (not shown) may be provided on a support 20 , 20 a outside heat isolating wall 24 , to spread heat more efficiently over the support 20 , 20 a.
- heat spreader 4 may likewise extend along a plurality of faces.
- on-wall supports 20 a located midway between successive corners of the container are shown, it should be appreciated that these may be left out in smaller containers.
- a plurality of on-wall supports 20 a may be used on the same face of the container.
- horizontal supports may further be present at the top and/or bottom of the container, or in between top and bottom, connecting the ends of pairs of corner supports 20 and optionally on-wall supports 20 a .
- Corner supports 20 and optional on-wall supports 20 a may extend from the top to the bottom, preferably between such horizontal supports.
- Heat pipes 5 connected between the heat spreader 4 and the horizontal .supports may be used in the container instead of, or in addition to the heat pipes to the corner supports 20 and/or on-wall supports 20 a.
- the photovoltaic layer (not shown) may be provided on all wall panels 22 , but it may suffice to provide the photovoltaic layer only on part of the wall panels 22 .
- photovoltaic layers are provide on a plurality of wall panels 22 that face in mutually different directions, this reduces dependence on the side of the freight container that is exposed to light.
- FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the freight container in more detail.
- a heat insulating layer 30 is provided between corner support 20 and wall panel 22 .
- heat insulating layer 30 it is meant that the heat insulating layer 30 has a lower thermal conductivity than structural ribs 6 per unit area and over the same thickness.
- Heat insulating layer 30 reduces efficiency loss of photovoltaic layers 8 on wall panels 20 due to heating of photovoltaic layers 8 from structural ribs 20 .
- Heat pipe 5 connects to corner support 20 through, or around heat insulating layer 30 .
- FIG. 4 shows a lateral cross-section of an embodiment of a freight container wherein heat pipes 5 are connected between heat spreader 4 and a floor support 40 of the container.
- Floor support 40 provides a floor on which the remainder of the container rests.
- Floor support 40 may be may be made of aluminium or of another metal or heat conducting material for example.
- Floor support 40 may be provided with spacers to keep an open space between part of floor support 40 and an underlying floor for entering the fork of a fork lift truck. By using the floor support 40 of the container, it is made possible to cool a container with self-supporting wall panels 22 , without corner supports.
- corner supports 20 , on-wall supports 20 a and floor support 40 may be called support elements, the word support(s) signifying that the support(s) or support elements have a mechanically supporting function, supporting wall panels, other supports or the weight of the container for example.
- Floor support 40 may form the floor of the container itself, or an additional floor may be provided on floor support 40 .
- the container may be an airfreight container for example.
- Standard dimensions have been defined for such containers, aircraft being provided with loading bays of corresponding dimensions size into which containers of the standardized dimensions.
- One standard of airfreight dimensions is the LD3 standard, for example.
- the cross section of FIG. 4 shows an obliquely cut-off corner of one type of standard airfreight container, adapted to the shape of aircraft loading bays.
- Peltier element 1 may also be used for heating.
- Peltier element 1 may be used for cooling, and when the outside temperature of the container is low, Peltier element 1 may be used for heating.
- temperature regulation to a predetermined temperature inside the container is used.
- temperature regulation to a predetermined temperature inside the container is used.
- adjustment of the temperature by the action of Peltier element to within a predetermined temperature range may be used.
- the amount of required cooling and/or heating may be reduced.
- Peltier element 1 Although an embodiment with a single Peltier element 1 has been shown, it should be appreciated that a plurality of such elements may be used, located at mutually different positions in the container, each coupled to the outside of the container, such as to structural ribs 6 via heat spreader 4 and heat pipes 5 .
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Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a freight container, such as an airfreight container and to adjustment of temperatures inside freight containers.
- As is well known, commercial transport conventionally uses freight containers of standardized dimensions for the transport of freight. Aircraft freight containers for example, which need to have minimum weight, usually comprise a mechanical frame with supports such as a floor and corner profiles and cloth suspended from these corner profiles.
- The transport sector has a need for methods and means for the transportation of products in a 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. For airfreight containers, the low mass is particularly important.
- 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≈0.0042 W/mK). Alternative cool boxes, e.g. in use in the aviation, may use dry ice.
- When used in a freight container, 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 freight 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 transport sector for a solution which comprises active cooling, which is self-supporting, reliable, self-regulating, light en small. It is an aim to provide this need.
- EP 645 593 discloses a refrigerator with a Peltier element in the inner space of the refrigerator and heat pipes to couple the “hot” side of the Peltier element to cooling fins outside the refrigerator. This document is not from the field of transport containers and it does not discuss how the structural container
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,019 discloses a portable food container that is cooled by a solar powered refrigeration unit, with a thermoelectric power unit and heat pipes. The portable food container may be used for picnics for example. This document is not from the field of transport containers that are used to load aircraft or other vehicles and it does not show that a structural container frame of such transport containers can be used in a heat control system.
- US 2002/0104318 discloses a miniature cooled portable container for patients that carry cooled medicines. This document is not from the field of transport containers that are used to load aircraft or other vehicles and it does not structural container frame of such transport containers can be used in a heat control system.
- Among others, it is an object to provide for a freight container with active cooling, with a cooling arrangement that is self-supporting, reliable, self-regulating, light en small.
- A container according to
claim 1 is provided. Herein the inner space of the container is cooled with a Peltier element and heat generated by the Peltier element is conducted to the supporting container frame via a head spreader and heat pipes. Thus, the supporting frame of the container is used to get rid of heat generated by the Peltier element. In an embodiment, the supporting frame may contain wall panels, made of non-supporting material such as cloth, plastics etc, and supports, such as corner profiles, tubes or ribs, supporting the wall panels, a heat pipe being coupled to one of the supports. The connection preferably thermally bypasses the wall panels, which means that the heat pipes are not indirectly connected to the support, by a connection to a wall panel and from there to the support. - In an embodiment, the container is provided with a photovoltaic layer (for example a solar cell) to provide energy for the Peltier element. In a further embodiment the photovoltaic layer may be provided on a wall panel that is supported by the supports. In a further embodiment a heat insulation may be provided between a support that is connected to a heat pipe and an adjacent wall panel that carries a photovoltaic layer. Thus loss of efficiency of the photovoltaic layer can be reduced.
- In an embodiment a container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature is provided, 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.
- These and other objects and advantageous aspects will become apparent from a description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the following figures.
-
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a freight container -
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a freight container -
FIG. 3 shows a detail of a freight container -
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a freight container -
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a freight container for transporting articles stored at a predetermined temperature. The container has heat insulated walls 9, aPeltier element 1, acontrol module 2, athermometer 11, abattery 3, aheat spreader 4, a plurality ofheat pipes 5, an outside container frame 6, a heat conducting foil orcoating 7, aphotovoltaic layer 8 and a control/display unit 12. Heat insulated walls 9 surround aninside room 10 of the container, which can be filled—via a lid (not shown) with articles to be transported. -
Control module 2 is coupled toPeltier element 1 andthermometer 11.Peltier element 1 can be energized, under control ofcontrol module 2 connected to athermometer 11, by abattery 3 in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container, dependent on the actual and the desired inside temperature and the outside temperature.Peltier element 1 is connected to the plurality ofheat pipes 5 via aheat spreader 4.Heat pipes 5 extend through at least one of the insulating walls 9 and 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. Instead of a plurality of heat pipes one heat pipe only may be used. Heat pipes are known per se. As is known per se, a heat pipe may be implemented as a hollow pipe that encloses an inner space with a fluid. In operation, the heat pipe provides for efficient heat transport in which the fluid may evaporate at the hot side of the heat pipe and condense at the cold side.Heat spreader 4 may be realized as a heat pipe, or a combination of a plurality of heat pipes. A planar heat pipe may be used, with box shaped walls with a planar interior space. Alternatively,heat spreader 4 may be structure such as a plane or a set of strips of heat conductive material, like aluminium, with a heat conductivity higher than that of the walls of the container. - Said outside means for emitting or collecting heat may be formed by 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
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 ofcontrol module 2 to the Peltier element. - A control/
display unit 12 may be 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. - An embodiment provides for a 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. In a further embodiment said outside means comprise an outside container frame (6) or a part of such frame. Said outside means may comprise a heat conducting foil or coating (7), applied on the outside of at least one of said insulating walls. In an embodiment, the container comprises photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, arranged for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.
- The container preferably has a size and strength according to ISO standards for containers for loading aircraft, ships or trucks.
-
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of a freight container in top view (not to scale), wherein the outside container frame comprises a plurality of corner supports 20, in the form of aluminium corner profiles, and on-wall supports 20 a andwall panels 22 that are supported bystructural ribs 20. In addition to wall panels 22 aheat isolating wall 24 may be provided in the freight container within the space insidewall panels 22. Minimumweight wall panels 22 are preferred, especially for airfreight containers, but also for other forms of transport. Wall panels made of cloth, or other flexible sheet material may be used for example, that hangs from thesupports heat pipes 5 are connected betweensupports heat spreader 4. The photovoltaic layer (not shown) is provided onwall panels 22. By using the different constructive elements of the freight container, such assupports wall panels 22 for energy dissipation and energy generation for temperature adjustment, i.e. for different functions in temperature control, more efficient operation may be realized. - In principle, each
support heat spreader 4 via one ormore heat pipes 5. But usually it will suffice to couple only part ofsupports spreader 4 via one ormore heat pipes 5. An external heat spreader such as a heat pipe (not shown) may be provided on asupport heat isolating wall 24, to spread heat more efficiently over thesupport - When heat pipes to
supports heat spreader 4 may likewise extend along a plurality of faces. Although an embodiment with on-wall supports 20 a located midway between successive corners of the container are shown, it should be appreciated that these may be left out in smaller containers. For larger containers a plurality of on-wall supports 20 a may be used on the same face of the container. Although not visible in the cross-section in top view, it should be appreciated that horizontal supports (not shown) may further be present at the top and/or bottom of the container, or in between top and bottom, connecting the ends of pairs of corner supports 20 and optionally on-wall supports 20 a. Corner supports 20 and optional on-wall supports 20 a may extend from the top to the bottom, preferably between such horizontal supports.Heat pipes 5 connected between theheat spreader 4 and the horizontal .supports may be used in the container instead of, or in addition to the heat pipes to the corner supports 20 and/or on-wall supports 20 a. - Similarly, the photovoltaic layer (not shown) may be provided on all
wall panels 22, but it may suffice to provide the photovoltaic layer only on part of thewall panels 22. Preferably, photovoltaic layers are provide on a plurality ofwall panels 22 that face in mutually different directions, this reduces dependence on the side of the freight container that is exposed to light. -
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the freight container in more detail. In this embodiment aheat insulating layer 30 is provided betweencorner support 20 andwall panel 22. Byheat insulating layer 30 it is meant that theheat insulating layer 30 has a lower thermal conductivity than structural ribs 6 per unit area and over the same thickness. Heat insulatinglayer 30 reduces efficiency loss ofphotovoltaic layers 8 onwall panels 20 due to heating ofphotovoltaic layers 8 fromstructural ribs 20.Heat pipe 5 connects to cornersupport 20 through, or around heat insulatinglayer 30. -
FIG. 4 shows a lateral cross-section of an embodiment of a freight container whereinheat pipes 5 are connected betweenheat spreader 4 and afloor support 40 of the container.Floor support 40 provides a floor on which the remainder of the container rests.Floor support 40 may be may be made of aluminium or of another metal or heat conducting material for example.Floor support 40 may be provided with spacers to keep an open space between part offloor support 40 and an underlying floor for entering the fork of a fork lift truck. By using thefloor support 40 of the container, it is made possible to cool a container with self-supportingwall panels 22, without corner supports. Instead of “supports”, corner supports 20, on-wall supports 20 a andfloor support 40 may be called support elements, the word support(s) signifying that the support(s) or support elements have a mechanically supporting function, supporting wall panels, other supports or the weight of the container for example.Floor support 40 may form the floor of the container itself, or an additional floor may be provided onfloor support 40. - The container may be an airfreight container for example. Standard dimensions have been defined for such containers, aircraft being provided with loading bays of corresponding dimensions size into which containers of the standardized dimensions. One standard of airfreight dimensions is the LD3 standard, for example. The cross section of
FIG. 4 shows an obliquely cut-off corner of one type of standard airfreight container, adapted to the shape of aircraft loading bays. - Although embodiments have been described wherein
Peltier element 1 is used for cooling the inside of the container, it should be appreciated thatalternative Peltier element 1 may also be used for heating. Thus, for example, if the outside temperature of the container is high,Peltier element 1 may be used for cooling, and when the outside temperature of the container is low,Peltier element 1 may be used for heating. - Preferably, temperature regulation to a predetermined temperature inside the container is used. However, it should be appreciated that instead adjustment of the temperature by the action of Peltier element to within a predetermined temperature range may be used. In this embodiment power needs to be supplied only when temperature inside the container threatens to move outside this temperature range. Thus, the amount of required cooling and/or heating may be reduced.
- Although an embodiment with a
single Peltier element 1 has been shown, it should be appreciated that a plurality of such elements may be used, located at mutually different positions in the container, each coupled to the outside of the container, such as to structural ribs 6 viaheat spreader 4 andheat pipes 5.
Claims (14)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP08167022A EP2177849A1 (en) | 2008-10-20 | 2008-10-20 | Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature |
EP08167022.6 | 2008-10-20 | ||
PCT/NL2009/050635 WO2010047590A1 (en) | 2008-10-20 | 2009-10-20 | Container for storing articles at a predetermined temperature |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20110247356A1 true US20110247356A1 (en) | 2011-10-13 |
Family
ID=40263064
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/125,297 Abandoned US20110247356A1 (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 (14)
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US20090212047A1 (en) * | 2008-02-25 | 2009-08-27 | Tednologies, Inc. | Environment controlled cargo container |
WO2016088009A1 (en) * | 2014-12-01 | 2016-06-09 | David Rapael | Multi-compartmental intermodal container |
US20170038116A1 (en) * | 2015-08-04 | 2017-02-09 | Rep Ip Ag | Transport Container for Transporting Temperature-Sensitive Transport Goods |
US20170056289A1 (en) * | 2014-02-18 | 2017-03-02 | Cbc Est Co., Ltd. | Temperature-Regulated Transport Box |
US10442613B2 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2019-10-15 | Kirintec Limited | Shielded airfreight container |
US10852047B2 (en) | 2018-04-19 | 2020-12-01 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
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US12018865B2 (en) * | 2021-07-13 | 2024-06-25 | Insu Health Design, Inc. | Insulation and cooling system for temperature sensitive materials |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2010047590A1 (en) | 2010-04-29 |
EP2350543A1 (en) | 2011-08-03 |
CN102216706A (en) | 2011-10-12 |
EP2177849A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
EP2350543B1 (en) | 2012-09-05 |
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