WO2012150859A1 - Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif - Google Patents

Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012150859A1
WO2012150859A1 PCT/NL2011/050309 NL2011050309W WO2012150859A1 WO 2012150859 A1 WO2012150859 A1 WO 2012150859A1 NL 2011050309 W NL2011050309 W NL 2011050309W WO 2012150859 A1 WO2012150859 A1 WO 2012150859A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heat
holding space
buffer
good
cooled
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2011/050309
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
René KERKMANS
Original Assignee
Pharma Cooling B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pharma Cooling B.V. filed Critical Pharma Cooling B.V.
Priority to PCT/NL2011/050309 priority Critical patent/WO2012150859A1/fr
Priority to US14/115,719 priority patent/US20140130526A1/en
Priority to CN201180071928.3A priority patent/CN103827606B/zh
Priority to EP11719907.5A priority patent/EP2712418B1/fr
Priority to ES11719907.5T priority patent/ES2627966T3/es
Publication of WO2012150859A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012150859A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/003—Transport containers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/14—Details; Accessories therefor
    • A61J1/16—Holders for containers
    • A61J1/165—Cooled holders, e.g. for medications, insulin, blood, plasma
    • 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
    • F25B21/04—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect reversible
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2200/00—General characteristics or adaptations
    • A61J2200/40—Heating or cooling means; Combinations thereof
    • A61J2200/42—Heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2200/00—General characteristics or adaptations
    • A61J2200/40—Heating or cooling means; Combinations thereof
    • A61J2200/44—Cooling means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J2200/00—General characteristics or adaptations
    • A61J2200/70—Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
    • A61J2200/76—Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means for fluid level
    • 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
    • F25B2321/0252—Removal of heat by liquids or two-phase fluids

Definitions

  • Container device for a good to be cooled, and method for operating such device
  • the present invention relates to a container device for a good to be cooled, and method for operating such device. More in particular, the invention relates to a container for shipping medicines, and cooling them during transport. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for preparing such a container for use.
  • the invention thereto proposes a container device for a good to be cooled, such as a medicine, comprising a closable holding space for the good to be cooled, a heat conductor, adjacent to the holding space, a heat buffer, thermally isolated from an environment of the container device and a heat pump, in thermal contact with the heat conductor, and the heat buffer, and configured for detracting heat from the holding space and transferring the heat to the heat buffer.
  • the holding space may be dimensioned such that it can hold an amount of medicine that is commonly sent as one batch from a producer, such as a pharmacist, to a distributer or a patient. In a practical embodiment, the space may be about 25 times 25 times 25 cm.
  • the holding space can be entered when the container device is opened for inserting a medicine.
  • the holding space is preferably sheltered airtight from the environment of the container.
  • the heat conductor may be a passive or an active heat conductor
  • the heat buffer may be an active or passive heat buffer.
  • the heat buffer is thermally isolated from the environment of the device, in order to avoid heat exchange with the environment. This way, the device according to the invention does not heat up items, or other devices in its neighbourhood.
  • Another advantage is that the avoidance of heat (and thus also air) exchange is that the risk of pollution or contamination that normally occurs with cooling systems that exchange heat with their environment, is taken away. Opening and closing of the container device may be done under specific controlled or conditioned circumstances, and after that, the device may remain closed until its content is to be used.
  • the heat conductor may be arranged adjacent to the holding space. In fact, the boundaries of the holding space may even at least partly be formed by the heat conductor. However, for hygienic reasons, a separation or shielding may be present.
  • the buffer may comprise a reservoir with a phase change material.
  • a phase change material may have a high heat capacity, and the property that it remains at a fixed temperature, until all materials phase has changed.
  • the phase change most of the time is a change from solid to fluid.
  • the heat buffer having a fixed temperature in a large range of energy absoption is also beneficial for controlling the temperature of the holding space.
  • the (power of the) heat pump is controllable, and the device comprises a controller, for controlling the amount of heat to be distracted from the holding space, en/or the temperature of the holding space.
  • the controller may be equipped with one or more sensors for monitoring the temperature of the holding space, and means for setting a required or desired temperature. These means may be accessible from outside the container device, by means of a control panel, or even remotely. En embodiment wherein the setting is to be entered upon putting the good to be cooled in place is also thinkable.
  • the heat pump comprises a Peltier element.
  • This type of heat pump has no moving parts and is therefore in general relatively robust. Its amount of heat transfer is controllable by means of electric quantities, i.e. a current or a voltage, and it does not require a high power to operate. This makes it especially suitable to be controlled precisely with an electronic controller, without the need of intermediate power switches. A low power consumption is in this case further desirable since external power may not always be available, and a dependency thereon would thus be a risky disadvantage.
  • Peltier heat pump The efficiency of a Peltier heat pump is in general largely dependent on its thermal contact with the bodies it needs to exchange heat with. In designing applications according to the state of the art, using for Peltier elements, this has caused difficulties, since an optimal thermal contact can only be made when these bodies have a surface that encounters the surface of the Peltier element entirely, while this surface has an implicit roughness.
  • both the heat conductor and the heat buffer therefore comprise a fluid, which fluids are in thermal contact with opposite sides of the Peltier element The use of these fluids ensures a (close to) full contact with the Peltier element, and thus a very efficient heat exchange.
  • This heat exchange can be further improved by providing the heat conductor and/or the heat buffer with a fluid pump, for pumping respective fluids along the surface of the Peltier element.
  • the holding device according to the invention then comprises two independent closed fluid circuits. Pumping the fluids around furthermore increases the efficiency of the heat exchange and enables the controller to respond faster to a measured difference between an actual and a desired temperature in the holding space.
  • the heat buffer Prior to use, or between uses of the device, the heat buffer may need to be cooled. This may be done by exposing the heat buffer to a low temperature, for instance by putting it (together with the rest of the device) in a refrigerator. This may however consume too much time.
  • the controller may be provided with a special - mode for controlling the heat pump to transfer heat in opposite direction, wherein heat is detracted from the heat buffer and delivered to the holding space.
  • Peltier element enables to do so just by changing a direction of electric quantities, such as a current or a voltage. This property may well be used to bring the heat buffer back in an initial condition, in a relatively short time, on electric energy.
  • a direction of electric quantities such as a current or a voltage.
  • the controller may be configured for reading a code in or on a good to be cooled, which code indicates a storage-temperature, and for setting the holding space temperature to the storage-temperature.
  • a risk of wrong settings due to human failure is taken away.
  • the controller may be configured for reading an RFID, an optical code such as a barcode, a magnetic code, or a chip, or any other means that is applied in or on the good.
  • the device may comprise an energy source such as a battery, for providing energy to a heat pump, and/or controller, and or fluid pump.
  • a battery may for instance be placed at or nearby an outer boundary of the device.
  • the heat buffer may for instance be arranged peripheral to the holding space, separated by the heat conductor and the heat pump. Given a certain volume, components with various temperatures within the container device can be separated maximally, so that undesired heat exchange between these components is minimised.
  • the device may further comprise a housing, enclosing at least the holding space and the heat buffer air tight from an environment of the device.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a container device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container device of figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view on an embodiment of the container device according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device 1 according to the present invention.
  • the container device 1 comprises a closable holding space 2 for the good to be cooled, a number of heat conductors 3, adjacent to the holding space 2 and a heat buffer 5, thermally isolated from an environment of the container device 1.
  • the device further comprises a number of heat pumps 4, in thermal contact with the heat conductors 3, and the heat buffer 5, and configured for detracting heat from the holding space 2 and transferring the heat to the heat buffer 5.
  • the heat conductors 3 comprise a fluid, that is pumped around by a fluid pump (not shown), and the heat buffer 5 comprises a phase change material, that is pumped around as well by (another) fluid pump (not shown).
  • the container device comprises a battery 7, for providing electric energy to a controller 8, which controls the heat pumps 4, to the heat pumps 4, and to the fluid pump(s).
  • the container device shown is very energy efficient. A temperature range between -25 and + 25 degrees Celcius may be set, and kept constant for 20 to 100, and in particular between 50 and 80 hours. Although 4 heat pumps are shown, an embodiment with a single heat pump can be used.
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the container device 1 from figure 1. In figures 1 and 2, like reference numbers indicate like parts.
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the container according to the invention.
  • the container device comprises a main part 9, which comprises the holding space 2, and a lid 10, that comprises a projected part 13, forming a wall of the holding space 2 when the lid and the main part 9 are assembled.
  • the main part 9 comprises multiple sealings 11, to ensure an air tight closure of the container device, in the assembled state.
  • a good placed in the holding space 2 and heat is distracted from the holding space 2 with the heat pump 4 via the heat conductor 3, in order to be delivered to the heat buffer 5.
  • the exact temperature required by the good may be read from a code from the good to be cooled which indicates a desired or prescribed storage temperature.
  • the heat pump is then controlled in such a way that the temperature of the holding space stays within a predetermined bandwidth from the storage temperature of the good.
  • heat may be distracted from the heat buffer by operating the heat pump in opposite direction.

Abstract

La présente invention a trait à un dispositif de récipient (1) destiné au transport d'une marchandise devant être refroidie, telle qu'un médicament, lequel dispositif de récipient comprend un espace de conservation pouvant être fermé (2) destiné à la marchandise devant être refroidie, un caloporteur (3), qui est adjacent à l'espace de conservation, un tampon de chaleur (5), qui est thermiquement isolé de l'environnement du dispositif de récipient, et une pompe à chaleur, qui est en contact thermique avec le caloporteur et le tampon de chaleur, et est configuré de manière à diminuer la chaleur de l'espace de conservation et à transférer la chaleur vers le tampon de chaleur. La présente invention a en outre trait à un procédé permettant de transporter une marchandise devant être refroidie, telle qu'un médicament, lequel procédé comprend les étapes consistant à placer une marchandise dans un espace de conservation du dispositif susmentionné, à diminuer la chaleur de l'espace de conservation avec la pompe à chaleur par l'intermédiaire du caloporteur et à fournir la chaleur détournée par la pompe à chaleur au tampon de chaleur.
PCT/NL2011/050309 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif WO2012150859A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL2011/050309 WO2012150859A1 (fr) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif
US14/115,719 US20140130526A1 (en) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Container Device for a Good to be Cooled, and Method for Operating Such Device
CN201180071928.3A CN103827606B (zh) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 用于待冷却的商品的容器装置以及用于操作这种装置的方法
EP11719907.5A EP2712418B1 (fr) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif
ES11719907.5T ES2627966T3 (es) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositivo de recipiente para enfriar productos, y método para manejar dicho dispositivo

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL2011/050309 WO2012150859A1 (fr) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012150859A1 true WO2012150859A1 (fr) 2012-11-08

Family

ID=44534569

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL2011/050309 WO2012150859A1 (fr) 2011-05-05 2011-05-05 Dispositif de récipient permettant de refroidir une marchandise et procédé permettant de faire fonctionner ledit dispositif

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20140130526A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2712418B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN103827606B (fr)
ES (1) ES2627966T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2012150859A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017039437A1 (fr) 2015-08-28 2017-03-09 Pharma Cooling B.V. Dispositif pour transport et stockage frigorifiques de marchandises et procédé de fonctionnement du dispositif

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US11340005B2 (en) 2016-07-25 2022-05-24 Cold Chain Technologies, Llc Hybrid method and system for transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials
WO2019241720A1 (fr) 2018-06-15 2019-12-19 Cold Chain Technologies, Inc. Système d'expédition permettant de stocker et/ou de transporter des matériaux sensibles à la température
WO2020150644A1 (fr) 2019-01-17 2020-07-23 Cold Chain Technologies, Llc Système d'expédition à isolation thermique pour charge utile de la taille d'un colis
CN110388777A (zh) * 2019-06-17 2019-10-29 易涛 一种便携式保温药盒

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FR2723181A1 (fr) * 1994-07-28 1996-02-02 Comat Sa Appareil portatif comportant une enceinte a temperature regulee
WO2002037195A2 (fr) * 2000-11-02 2002-05-10 Tellurex Corporation Systeme de stockage a regulation de temperature

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US4823554A (en) * 1987-04-22 1989-04-25 Leonard Trachtenberg Vehicle thermoelectric cooling and heating food and drink appliance
FR2723181A1 (fr) * 1994-07-28 1996-02-02 Comat Sa Appareil portatif comportant une enceinte a temperature regulee
WO2002037195A2 (fr) * 2000-11-02 2002-05-10 Tellurex Corporation Systeme de stockage a regulation de temperature

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017039437A1 (fr) 2015-08-28 2017-03-09 Pharma Cooling B.V. Dispositif pour transport et stockage frigorifiques de marchandises et procédé de fonctionnement du dispositif

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2627966T3 (es) 2017-08-01
EP2712418B1 (fr) 2017-03-29
EP2712418A1 (fr) 2014-04-02
CN103827606A (zh) 2014-05-28
CN103827606B (zh) 2016-05-11
US20140130526A1 (en) 2014-05-15

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