US20230123191A1

US20230123191A1 - Storage and Transport of Hygroscopic Products

Info

Publication number: US20230123191A1
Application number: US17/503,268
Authority: US
Inventors: Jean-Jacques Grimaud; Jean Abile-Gal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-10-16
Filing date: 2021-10-16
Publication date: 2023-04-20

Abstract

The techniques described herein relate to an apparatus that includes an ISO shipping container with a steel frame and a corrugated profile, a removable reflective material covering at least 75% of at least one surface of the ISO shipping container, and adhesive to connect the reflective material to the ISO shipping container. A method for shipping hygroscopic products is also described, where the method includes loading the hygroscopic products into an ISO shipping container, sealing the ISO shipping container, covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with a reflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a roller rolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping container, adhering the reflective material to the ISO shipping container with an adhesive, transporting the ISO shipping container to a destination, removing the reflective material from the ISO shipping container, unsealing the ISO shipping container, unloading the hygroscopic products from the ISO shipping container, and providing to the recipient of the hygroscopic products with the physical and chemical time series of the measurements captured during the storage and the transport of the ISO shipping container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This patent application is a priority patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions relate generally to the field of the transportation of goods. More specifically, the present inventions discuss the storage and transportation of hygroscopic products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

There is a need in the industry to limit and avoid the deterioration in the quality of hygroscopic products during storage and transport. Such deterioration extends from a decrease in the quality of the organoleptic properties of the hygroscopic products reducing their market valuation to the partial or complete loss of value of the hygroscopic products.
Hygroscopic products are sensitive to the environment. The main types of damage occurring during the transport and/or storage of hygroscopic products are:

- Loss of quality and value of the hygroscopic products, in particular, their organoleptic properties
- Loss due to localized bacteria and fungi on a portion of the hygroscopic products
- Generalized loss of the hygroscopic products due to bacteria and fungi
- Temperature evolutions of hygroscopic products and their surrounding humid air are widely recognized as changing the quality of the hygroscopic products and controlling and influencing bacterial and fungal growth. In particular, in environments where temperatures and water activity are elevated, such growth is rapid.

The current methods to avoid loss of quality, bacterial growth and fungal growth affecting hygroscopic products address the free water resulting from condensation and the moisture contained in the air inside the container. These current methods are using:

- cardboards on the internal walls of shipping containers to absorb free water from condensation
- desiccant bags attached to the walls of the shipping container to absorb air moisture special ventilated containers.
- plastic sealed enclosures containing an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

The value of a hygroscopic product and its derivative products following industrial food processes is determined by the organoleptic qualities of the product in the final form given to the consumer.
Measurement techniques used in food science have progressed so that comprehensive quantitative determination of the key components providing the sensory impacts is starting to be available for many food products. Measurement methods vary with the volatile and non-volatile fractions of the final product, but they identify, quantify and rank the chemosensory active molecules in their sensory impact, aka its sensometabolome. The relevance of the active molecules is further confirmed using taste reconstruction and modifying or omitting some molecules to explore and understand the possible range at dose-over-threshold of tastants such as bitterness, astringent or sweetness and odors, offered to the consumer in different final products.
Active molecules of raw and processed products can be altered in quantity and nature by storage and transport due to changes of the environment during their storage or transport.
While for insurance purposes only damages are covered, the reduction or absence of changes during the storage and transport due to a better controlled environment is a key positive factor in the valuation of the products for food industrials and consumers alike.
However, current methods fail to manage the temperature within the shipping container and are limited in their management of water activity. The present description overcomes this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: an ISO shipping container with a steel frame and a corrugated profile, the ISO shipping container including twist-lock mechanisms on each of eight corners of the ISO shipping container; a reflective material covering at least 75% of at least one surface of the ISO shipping container; and adhesive to connect the reflective material to the ISO shipping container. The adhesive does not permanently affix the reflective material to the ISO shipping container
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed. In some cases, this is in order to create an omnidirectional diffusion.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus further including an insulation layer between the ISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the insulation layer is scrim. The scrim may be used to reinforce the structural backing of the omnidirectional reflective material.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the insulation layer is rock wool.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with an adhesive material.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the at least one surface of the ISO shipping container is a roof of the ISO shipping container.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape. The adhesive could be used to attach the reflective material, scrim and insulation layer to the exterior of the container.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus wherein the reflective material does not cover the twist-lock mechanisms. The international markings of the container could also be left uncovered.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of shipping hygroscopic products including: loading the hygroscopic products into an ISO shipping container; sealing the ISO shipping container; covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with a reflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a roller rolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping container; adhering the reflective material to the ISO shipping container with an adhesive; transporting the ISO shipping container to a destination; removing the reflective material from the ISO shipping container; unsealing the ISO shipping container; and unloading the hygroscopic products from the ISO shipping container.
The reflective material could also include scrim and insulation. The adhesive could include one or more segments of adhesive tape.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein a second roller embosses the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer as the reflective material is rolled out.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the reflective material includes an insulation layer between the ISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer. The reflective material could also include scrim.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the insulation layer is scrim.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the insulation layer is rock wool.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with an adhesive material. A scrim layer could be attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with an adhesive material.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape. One or more segments of the adhesive tape could ne used to attach the combination of layers to the container.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method further including covering a side of the ISO shipping container with the reflective material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container with insulation.

FIG. 2 is a cutout view of the layers of insulation.

FIG. 3 is a view of rollers for installing the insulation.

FIG. 4 is a view of the rollers as a container is being covered.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTIONS

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present inventions and are not intended to limit the scope of the present inventions.
In the text below, the term “container” 101, unless specified otherwise, is used to describe all types of enclosures used for transport and/or storage of hygroscopic products. For example, the container 101 could be an ISO shipping container. Known as intermodal containers, the standard steel boxes used for mobile storage across land and sea are made according to strict specifications established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These shipping container design standards cover everything from size to markings to the quality of steel used for construction, as well as the allowed gross weight of the ISO container. A freight container may be intended for permanent and repeated use and may be designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of goods. It could also be fitted with devices that will make it easy to handle and transfer from one type of transportation to another. Freight containers that meet ISO specifications could be both easy to fill and empty and they could have an internal volume of at least one cubic meter. An ISO container is a type of freight container that meets the relevant ISO container standards.
The description herein discusses ways to control the fungal, bacterial growth, and organoleptic quality of the hygroscopic products by:

- preventing the start of fungal and bacterial growth in the first place,
- limiting or avoiding the changes, if any, of the organoleptic quality of the hygroscopic products,
- measuring the physical and chemical evolutions over time and location of the hygroscopic products,
- providing a detailed document with the time series of the values measured as an attestation on the minimal changes, if any, of some of the organoleptic characteristics of the hygroscopic products since their initial storage in the container,
- determining the location of the container 101 or the times of state changes due to loading and unloading of the container 101 during transport using time-stamped data in relation to the measured changes in the physical and chemical of the hygroscopic products.

This could be achieved in particular by:

- using an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material that scatters the reflective rays of the sun over a large solid angle,
- covering with such material a portion or all the exposed surface of the container 101, which lowers the thermal exchange due to solar rays with the container 101, hence avoiding large evolutions of the temperature inside the container 101,
- avoiding sudden glares for the operators and viewers of the container 101,
- monitoring and measuring physical and chemical parameters impacting organoleptic properties of the hygroscopic products inside the container 101,
- saving the time series of these measurements,
- combining them with location or time-stamped state changes of the container 101 such as loading and unloading during transport,
- sharing with the recipient and others, such as insurance companies, the time series of the measurements of the hygroscopic products and their environment contained in the container 101 as an attestation and material proof of the storage and transport conditions of the hygroscopic products,
- facilitating the resolution of litigations among participants on who are the responsible parties to a claim, and
- improving the logistics for hygroscopic products by using the more successful shipments as a guide and avoiding a repeat of the less successful ones.

Most common fungi and bacteria do not start to grow on hygroscopic products at a local water activity range below 0.91, and most molds cease to grow at a water activity below 0.70. Decreased water activity in combination with other physical or chemical variables, such as pH, temperature, or modified atmosphere packaging, may limit microbial growth even at water activities higher than 0.91.
The descriptions herein lower the temperature and the water activity well below 0.91, prevents the start of the bacterial growth, and maintains afterward, in most cases, a water activity well typically below 0.70.
Looking to FIG. 1 , a container 101, such as an ISO shipping container, is shown. The container 101 is covered by a diffuse reflective covering 102. In some embodiments, the top is the only surface covered. In another embodiment, the sides and the top are covered. In still a third embodiment, the top, three sides, and the door 104 are covered by the diffuse reflective covering 102. When covering the container 101, the eight corners 103 a-g may be left uncovered. In addition, the ISO standards require certain marking 105 a-c on each side and the top of the container. In some embodiments, these markings 105 a-c are left uncovered. In other embodiments, the markings 105 a-c are covered by a transparent covering rather than the reflective covering 102. In still other embodiments, the reflective covering 102 is marked with the ISO Markings 105 a-c. In this embodiment, at least of 75% of at least one surface (wall, roof, door) of the container is covered.
The exterior of the container 101 is covered with reflective material 102 (possibly including a secured omnidirectional diffuse reflective layer 201) attached to it which reflects and scatters the reflected sun rays from the parallel sun rays received.
If it were a mirror, the reflected parallel rays of the sun on a planar face of the container 101 would not be dispersed and would create a sudden glare for some of the observers receiving them according to the changes in their relative position with respect to the position of the sun and the position of the container 101.
In order to avoid such sudden glares, the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material foil 201 may be created or further processed by creating little impressions on the material foil through embossing or by other means. This greatly enlarges the solid angle through which the sun rays are reflected avoiding an on-off sudden experience of the glares and a decrease in their perceived intensity by the observers.
In FIG. 2 , a cut-away section of the reflective material 102 installed on the ISO shipping container 101 is shown. The reflective material 102 comprises an outer layer of an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer such as aluminum foil. In some embodiments, this foil 201 is embossed to diffuse the reflections. The embossing of the foil could be done on premise or prefabricated. In some embodiments, a layer of insulation 203 is attached to the foil 201 with a first adhesive layer 202. The role of the insulation 203 is to further slow down the residual amount of energy exchanged through the steel of the container 101 and the variations due to the environment and the diurnal cycles. The insulation layer 203 could be of a material such as scrim, rock wool material, slag wool material, cellulose insulation, natural fiber (cotton, wool, hemp, straw) insulation, Polystyrene, Polyisocyanurate, Polyurethane, or similar materials. In some embodiments, multiple layers of insulation 203 could be used with the same or different materials.
While the scrim may have some insulative qualities, one role of the scrim is to reinforce the thin layer of reflective product 201 so it does not be broken easily through manipulations. One of the scrim surfaces is coated with an adhesive and this surface is placed under the reflective material and is attached to its non-exposed surface. Examples may include 3M Scrim reinforced adhesive on one side for permanent bond, pallet tape Scrim, one side tacky, one side non tacky, or Fiberglass scrim with adhesive coating.
The diffuse reflective material 102 may be connected to the container 101 with a second adhesive layer 204. On embodiment uses adhesive tape 204. The role of the adhesive tapes 204 is to ensure that the different pieces of the cover or the single piece of the cover are properly attaching the cover to the container 101 leaving free the corners 103 a-h of the containers 101 and the markings 105 a-c of the container. These adhesive tapes 204 are strong but can be removed. In other embodiments, adhesive tape is applied to the edges of the diffuse reflective material 102 to adhere the diffuse reflective material 102 to the container 101 or to other sections of the diffuse reflective material 102. The second adhesive layer 204 or the tape may have adhesive properties that are strong enough to hold the diffuse reflective material 102 to the container during severe ocean storms but weak enough to allow the diffuse reflective material 102 to be easily removed. The adhesive material could be a directional adhesive such as Gecko Tape, 3M Command Adhesives, industrial flooring marking tapes, or water resistive adhesives.
Since the walls and roof of an ISO container 101 are corrugated, there may be air gaps 205 a-d that provide additional insulation properties.
The material foil 201 may be strengthened by scrim or other reinforcing material 203. One or several additional layers providing insulation 203 can also be added to the foil 201.
By using reflective material 102, the amount of energy received by the container 101 of hygroscopic products during the solar exposition is decreased, temperature variations such as the diurnal cycles are smaller. As a consequence, the hysteresis cycles observed on most hygroscopic products which generally show a lag during water reabsorption of free water are scaled-down. For certain hygroscopic products, chemical desiccants in enclosed bags may be used as long they are not in contact with the hygroscopic products and do not emit gases or compounds which interact chemically with the hygroscopic products.
There are many materials 201, which are available in foils or sheets, where the exposed surface, once processed, provides an omnidirectional diffuse reflection, such as processed aluminum and PTFE in solid form or coated on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, when the material 201 applied is from a roll of foil, the reflection can be further diffused by attaching to the roller 301,302,303 unfolding the foil 201, a second set of rollers through which the foil will be drawn, having one cylindric roller with a hard material covered with very small bumps, and the other covered with a softer material which will allow the embossing of the foil before it is cut to the desired length. Embossing has been used in graphic arts and the hard material roller may on a portion of its surface emboss alphanumeric characters and/or logos of a company.
As an example, most of the energy received by an ISO shipping container 101 of 20 feet in length with metal sides originates from solar radiation through the roof and exposed sides of the container. Direct vertical sun radiation at sea level on the roof of such container 101 is approximately 1000 W/m2 for the whole range from UV of 300 nm to IR of 2500 nm. Additional diffuse solar radiation is typically well below 100 W/m2.
The material 201 described above reflects most of the solar radiation and emits thermal radiation. This method limits the amount of heat conducted through the metal structure of the container 101 and the volume enclosure of the container 101 to a low percentage of the original solar energy received.
The ISO normalization for shipping containers 101 defines several types of containers, all of which have a steel frame structure of specific dimensions to which the enclosure containing the cargo is attached. In addition, the steel structure has specific dimensions and twist-lock mechanisms located at each of the 8 corners 103 a-g of the container. In some embodiments, the twist-lock mechanisms are automatic, and in others the mechanism is manual, requiring a person to set and unset each twist-lock wile stacking.
The nature of the enclosure can vary, for example:

- for general goods, including hygroscopic products, the steel frame structure is completed by metal sides and form the enclosure.
- for the transport of liquids, the enclosure is a tank
- for bulk transport, the enclosure has openings which can be easily activated for loading and unloading the cargo,
- for easy access on the ground, some sides of the container are curtains which can be drawn open and closed.
  In all cases, the thickness of the material 201 used with its additional layers such as scrim 203 and insulation layers could be within the dimensional tolerances provided for each ISO type of container 101.

By using an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material 201 to cover the ISO container 101 of the cargo, the reflective material 201 provides a scattered reflection instead of the specular reflection of a perfect mirror. This increases the solid angle of the reflection, avoids sudden flashes, and decreased the perceived intensity of the reflected scattered rays for the viewers of the material, including operators as the container 101 moves its position relative to the sun. In some embodiments, the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material 201 also includes a non-slip coating or properties so that workers can safely walk across the top of the container 101.
This creates only a minimal inconvenience for the operators during transshipment, warehousing, or change in the mode of transport, for example, port to maritime or maritime to port (stevedoring with gantry cranes to rail or road) or from rail to road or road to rail (using handling equipment mounted with spreaders).
This invention is very effective at limiting the transfer of solar energy to the cargo of hygroscopic products located inside the container 101.
As an illustration, the roof of an ISO shipping container 101 of 20 feet in length with all-metal sides receives ˜1000 W/m2 from vertical sun rays at sea level. A standard aluminum foil 201 placed on the roof of the ISO container 101 with its matte side exposed will reflect 961 W/m2. In addition, using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, the thermal energy emitted from the top surface of the aluminum foil 201 in contact with ambient air at 25° C. is 17 W/m2.
This means that the heat transferred through the roof of the ISO shipping container 101 to the inside of the ISO shipping container 101 is further reduced to a small fraction of the direct solar energy. (22 W/m2 out of 1000 W/m2).
The top of an ISO shipping container 101 has a corrugated profile which leaves an air gap 205 a-d between a foil 201 and the metal of the container 101 of a few centimeters limiting the conduction through about half of the roof surface. One or several additional layers of insulation 203 and strengthening can be added to the foil 201 within tolerances of a standard ISO shipping container 101. The conducted heat received by the metal of the ISO shipping container 101 is further dispersed by the mass of metal of the ISO shipping container 101 and the mass of the hygroscopic products themselves.
In some embodiments, when on the quay of the departure port, before the ISO shipping container 101 is loaded for storage or transport, the processed reflective foil or layer 201 can be secured, for example, using rolls of foil 301,302,303, which could be of standard 4 ft width, to cover the roof of the container 101 and adding adhesive tape in length and across the width of the container roof. The sides of the container may also be protected. Corner castings 103 a-g used by spreaders for loading and unloading during transport may be left uncovered so that spreaders of gantry cranes and platforms for terrestrial transport can use male twist-lock mechanisms to secure the container 101.
In other embodiments, the reflective material 102 could be applied at the point of filling of the container or at the first point of storage.
FIG. 3 shows one possible apparatus for applying the diffuse reflective material 102 to the shipping container 101. The apparatus may be built within a frame 315 of square steel truss arranged in an upright rectangle. In some embodiments, the frame 315 is attached to a loading dock with steel rollers on the dock. The container 101 is pushed or pulled through the frame 315. In another embodiment, the frame 315 is on wheels or rails, and the frame 315 moves over the container 101.
A top roller 301 is attached to the frame 315 with a top roller frame 316. The top roller frame could be as simple as a dowel through the center of the roller attached to the frame 315. In other embodiments, a spring mechanism could be used to keep the top roller 301 in contact with the top of the container 101. The top roller 301 holds the diffuse reflective material 102. In some embodiments, a second top roller is installed to emboss the diffuse reflective material 102 to diffuse the reflections. In some embodiments, a mechanism for cutting the diffuse reflective material 102 is also mounted to the frame 315.
A left roller 302 and a right roller 303, each holding the diffuse reflective material 102. In some embodiments, a second left roller and a second right roller are installed to emboss the diffuse reflective material 102 to diffuse the reflections. In some embodiments, a mechanism for cutting the diffuse reflective material 102 is also mounted to the frame 315 near the left and right rollers 302,303. The left roller 302 may be attached to the frame 315 with a left roller upper frame 313 and a left roller lower frame 314. The left roller upper frame 313 and a left roller lower frame 314 may be mounted to the frame 315 on hinges and pulled in line with the frame with springs so that when a container 101 is drawn through the frame 315, the left roller 302 is held against the container 101. Similarly, the right roller 303 may be attached to the frame 315 with a right roller upper frame 311 and a right roller lower frame 312. The right roller upper frame 311 and a right roller lower frame 312 may be mounted to the frame 315 on hinges and pulled in line with the frame with springs so that when a container 101 is drawn through the frame 315, the right roller 303 is held against the container 101.
FIG. 4 shows a container 101 being drawn through the frame 315. The right roller 303 and the left roller 302 may open up under the force of the container 101 as it is drawn through. The top roller 301, left roller 302, and the right roller 303 may roll out the diffuse reflective material 102 as the container 101 is drawn through, covering the container 101 with the diffuse reflective material 102.
Installation costs per container 101 (materials and loaded labor) at the origin port or storage place of the hygroscopic products are reasonable.
The exposed side of the omnidirectional diffuse reflective foil 201 reflects solar rays in a scattered way and creates a minimal inconvenience for the operators during stevedoring processes.
When removed in the case of transport at the port of arrival, the reflective material 102 could be easily taken off or left on. When taken off, the container 101 may be back in its original condition. The container 101 may be now ready for unsealing and unloading at the final destination.
Removal costs at the arrival port are also low. In the case of aluminum foil 201, it may be recycled. In the US, for example, about 75% of all the aluminum produced in the U.S. is still in use today, according to the Aluminum Association. Most aluminum foil can be recycled over and over again without any loss of quality. The installation 203 and removal loaded costs are comparable to the costs of other current solutions.
Note that, when a standard container 101 has been prepared for shipment and sealed, if the arrival of the ship to the port is delayed, the container 101 is waiting on the quay. A reflective material 102 (possibly including an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer 201) could be used as a protective cover during the unplanned stay at the port of origin or transshipment and removed when loading the container 101 on board.
As an example of value, in the 2021 market, the cocoa beans cargo value of a 20 ft shipping container 101 is approximately $30,000 for a full cargo of 12,480 Kg. A loss of quality of 10% would reduce the price after settlement by $3,000. The inventions describer herein have a very positive outcome if the organoleptic quality at the origin is maintained. The costs at scale for implementing the invention correspond to a few thousandths of the value of the total cargo.
The inside of the container 101 may be physically and chemically monitored through measuring instruments placed inside, perhaps focusing characteristics impacting organoleptic properties. Measuring instruments such as thermometer, hygrometer, pH meter, manometer, speedometer, gas sensors, spectrometer provide time series of the corresponding observed variables during the storage and transport. Instruments may be selected according to the nature of the hygroscopic products inside the container 101. The instruments could provide the recipient of the hygroscopic products with the physical and chemical time series of the measurements captured during the storage and the transport of the ISO shipping container.
A locator providing the global position of the container 101 may also be included. It could be a GPS system installed with the container 101, but there may be current limitations in the sensitivity of GPS due to the metal of the container 101 and the weakness of the signals received. The locator could be mounted outside and protected by the door handlebars and connected to the instrument package inside the container 101.
Although obtaining a direct value of the location of the container 101 may be a solution, another is to have inside the container 101 one or several triaxial accelerometers which will be capturing data in a continuous fashion or at a very high sample rate. Current accelerometers with their electronics have limitations when combining the double integration of their results with dead reckoning to compute an estimate of the real-time position of the ship or terrestrial vehicle. For the purpose of determining the logistic phases of the transport, each loading and unloading may generate a burst of data with a much greater amplitude which may be easy to interpret and could be time stamped. This time-stamped data could be correlated with the planned or unplanned states, such as transshipments, of the container during the shipment.
The log of these time series of the instruments and the time-stamped state changes may be used to provide an attestation of the conditions of the stored hygroscopic products from the time of its storage in the container 101 to the time of his exit from storage in the container 101. When the hygroscopic products are transported, the instruments could provide the internal physical and chemical evolutions of the measurements within the container 101 during each of the successive states.
This valuable data could be key to regularly improve the process and keep the organoleptic qualities of the hygroscopic products as close as possible to their original values when delivered to a processing plant or to the end consumer. The time-series data could also be used to address imperfections of the logistics in the supply chain of the hygroscopic products due to planned or unplanned events, such as transshipments and demurrages, and simplify the search of the responsible party or parties when a claim happens.
In a further implementation, some part of the roof may be covered by material capturing the solar radiation and converting the solar radiation to electricity. This electric power could be used to power the measuring instruments and also to activate one or several fans to accelerate the time to equilibrium between hygroscopic products, air, and container 101 structure, therefore further limiting the amplitude of the local thermal and water activity variations inside the container.
The residual energy received from the solar radiation may be absorbed by the metallic structure of the container 101 and the hygroscopic products themselves, but without forced ventilation, it may take time to come to a state of endothermic equilibrium for the whole.
A photovoltaic laminate with quick-connect terminals could be placed on the outside of the container 101 on top of the aluminum foil 201 and generate enough electricity to power a small ventilator located inside the container 101 and connected to the photovoltaic laminate.
The ventilator may be active if the container 101 is exposed to solar radiation. When, for example, the container 101 is stacked among others, the container may not receive solar radiation, and the endothermic/exothermic equilibrium may be more easily reached without any further significant local thermal variation amplitude.
When the container 101 is exposed to solar radiation, the ventilator may be active and could accelerate the time to equilibrium by moving the air within the container 101 and facilitate the distribution of the residual energy received into the metallic structure of the container 101 and its hygroscopic contents. This may further decrease the chance of having a warmer spot among colder spots, or a cold one among warmer ones within the container 101.
Desiccant bags placed inside the container 101 could absorb humidity resulting from a temperature change along the sorption curve and possible water resulting from the hysteresis of the hygroscopic products through the temperature changes.
This system could also be linked to a battery in order to facilitate the use of the ventilator in all conditions.
The foregoing devices and operations, including their implementation, will be familiar to, and understood by, those having ordinary skill in the art.
The above description of the embodiments, alternative embodiments, and specific examples, are given by way of illustration and should not be viewed as limiting. Further, many changes and modifications within the scope of the present embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present inventions include such changes and modifications.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an ISO shipping container with a steel frame and a corrugated profile, the ISO shipping container comprising twist-lock mechanisms on each of eight corners of the ISO shipping container;

a reflective material covering at least 75% of at least one surface of the ISO shipping container wherein the reflective material does not cover labels on the ISO shipping container; and

a first adhesive to connect the reflective material to the ISO shipping container, where the first adhesive does not permanently affix the reflective material to the ISO shipping container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an insulation layer between the ISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layer is scrim.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layer is rock wool.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with a second adhesive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one surface of the ISO shipping container is a roof of the ISO shipping container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first adhesive is an adhesive tape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflective material does not cover the twist-lock mechanisms.

11. A method of shipping hygroscopic products comprising:

loading the hygroscopic products into an ISO shipping container;

sealing the ISO shipping container;

covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with a reflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a roller rolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping container wherein the reflective material does not cover labels on the ISO shipping container;

adhering the reflective material to the ISO shipping container with a first adhesive;

transporting the ISO shipping container to a destination;

removing the reflective material from the ISO shipping container;

unsealing the ISO shipping container; and

unloading the hygroscopic products from the ISO shipping container.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a second roller embosses the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer as the reflective material is rolled out.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the reflective material includes an insulation layer between the ISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is scrim.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is rock wool.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with a second adhesive material.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the first adhesive is an adhesive tape.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising covering a side of the ISO shipping container with the reflective material.