WO2024102719A2 - Conteneur d'expédition à commande thermique passive et procédés de conditionnement thermique en place, d'évaluation holistique d'intégrité thermique, de réparation ou de remplacement de composants défectueux et de chargement - Google Patents

Conteneur d'expédition à commande thermique passive et procédés de conditionnement thermique en place, d'évaluation holistique d'intégrité thermique, de réparation ou de remplacement de composants défectueux et de chargement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024102719A2
WO2024102719A2 PCT/US2023/078929 US2023078929W WO2024102719A2 WO 2024102719 A2 WO2024102719 A2 WO 2024102719A2 US 2023078929 W US2023078929 W US 2023078929W WO 2024102719 A2 WO2024102719 A2 WO 2024102719A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
phase change
shipping container
change material
thermal
thermally controlled
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2023/078929
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2024102719A3 (fr
Inventor
Sharp Ugwuocha
George Hays
Kai Goellner
Original Assignee
Peli Biothermal Llc
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 Peli Biothermal Llc filed Critical Peli Biothermal Llc
Publication of WO2024102719A2 publication Critical patent/WO2024102719A2/fr
Publication of WO2024102719A3 publication Critical patent/WO2024102719A3/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
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
    • F25D3/06—Movable containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3813—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
    • B65D81/3823—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
    • 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
    • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
    • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
    • F25D2303/0822—Details of the element

Definitions

  • PCM panels phase change material panels
  • Each PCM panel must be (i) constantly tracked and its thermal conditioned status monitored during thermal conditioning of the panel within a refrigeration/freezer unit, (ii) identified as a fully thermally conditioned panel and transported from the refrigeration/freezer unit to an assembly site for insertion into the container, (iii) removed from the container when thermally spent, and (iv) returned to a refrigeration/freezer unit for thermal conditioning.
  • a substantial need exists for improving and simplifying the thermal lifecycle of PCM panels so as to simplify logistics and reduce labor costs associated with the thermal lifecycle of the PCM panels.
  • A. first aspect of the invention is a passive thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container.
  • a second aspect of the invention is a chill-in-place system that includes a passive thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container in accordance with the first aspect of tire invention and a powered forced-air chilling unit.
  • A. third aspect of the invention is a method of in-place thermal conditioning of the phase change material within a passive thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.
  • a fourth aspect of the invention is a method of loading a thermally conditioned, passive thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container in accordance with tire first aspect of the invention.
  • a fifth aspect of the invention is a method of method of replacing the phase change material tanks on a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
  • a sixth aspect of the invention is a method of holistically evaluating the thermal integrity of a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention equipped with a plurality of temperature sensors.
  • a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention includes (i) a container having walls defining an enclosed chamber wherein at least one of the walls comprises an access door defining an access opening into the chamber, (ii) thermal insulation lining the chamber to define a thermally insulated chamber, (iii) at least one phase change material tank lining the thermally insulated chamber to define a thermal controlled chamber, and (iv) a swing gate across the access opening and carrying at least one phase change material tank, the swing gate pivotable at least approximately 120° about at least one vertical axis as between a loading position providing unrestricted access to the thermal controlled chamber through the accesses opening, and a thermal conditioning position wherein the swing gate extends into the thermal controlled chamber.
  • a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention includes (i) a pallet, (ii) an outer frame secured to and positioned atop the pallet, (iii) walls releasably secured to the outer frame and defining an enclosed chamber wherein at least one of the walls comprises an access door defining an access opening into the chamber, (iii) an inner frame secured to and positioned atop the pallet within the chamber, (iv) a core layer of thermal insulation releasably secured to the inner or outer frame and defining a thermally insulated chamber with an entry' opening aligned with the access opening, and (v) phase change material tanks secured to the inner frame and positioned within the thermally insulated chamber so as to define a thermal controlled chamber.
  • a third embodiment of the first aspect of the invention includes (i) a base plate having thermally conductive structural elements, (ii) a receptacle having sidewalls and a top wall, the receptacle including thermally conductive components and thermally insulating components and defining a thermally insulated chamber, the receptacle secured atop the base plate at points of attachment, and (iii) a thermal isol ating standoff positioned between the base plate and the receptacle at the points of attachment, thereby thermally isolating the thermally conductive components of the base plate from the thermally conductive components of the receptacle.
  • a fourth embodiment of the first aspect of the invention includes (i) a container having walls defining an enclosed chamber wherein at least one of the walls comprises an access door having an interior surface and defining an access opening into the chamber, (ii) thermal insulation lining the chamber to define a thermally insulated chamber, (iii) at least one phase change material tank lining the thermally insulated chamber to define a thermal controlled chamber, (iv) at least one quick detach phase change material door panel, (v) a mechanism for releasably and stably supporting the at least one quick detach phase change material door panel in athermal conditioning position inside the thermally controlled payload chamber with the access door open, and (vi) a mechanism for releasably and stably supporting the at least one quick detach phase change material door panel in athermal attenuating positioning on the interior surface of the access door.
  • a particular embodiment of the second aspect of the in vention includes (i) a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and (ii) a powered forced-air chilling unit configured and arranged to sealingly dock with the passive thermally controlled shipping container over the access opening when the access door is pivoted into the open position, wherein the chilling unit is operable for cycling air from within the thermal controlled chamber through the chilling unit to cool the air to a temperature at or below the phase change temperature of the phase change material and then back into the thermal controlled chamber.
  • a first embodiment of the third aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) docking the forced-air chilling unit to the passive thermally controlled shipping container with the access doors of the container in the open position, (ii) actuating the forced-air chilling unit to (a) cycle air from within the thermal controlled chamber of the passi ve thermally controlled shipping container through the chilling unit and back into the thermal controlled chamber, and (b) cool the air cycled through the chilling unit, and (iii) continuing actuation of the docked chi lling unit until the phase change m aterial in the phase ch ange material tanks freezes.
  • A. second embodiment of the third aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passi ve thermally controlled shipping container chill-in-place system, comprising (A) a shipping container, including (1) walls defining an enclosed chamber wherein at least one of the walls comprises an access door defining an access opening into the chamber, (2) a layer of therm al insulation lining th e walls to form an insulated ch am ber, (3) at least one phase change material tank containing a phase change material having a freeze point temperature of T Freeze within the insulated chamber to form a passive thermal controlled ch am ber, and (4) at least one temperature sensor for sensing th e temperature of the phase change material within the at least one phase change material tank, (B) a forced-air chilling unit operable for generating a flow of chilled air at a temperature (T Condition ) below T Freeze when actuated, and (C) a control unit in communication with both the at least one temperature sensor for periodically receiving temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor indi cative of
  • a particular embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, (ii) with the phase change material tanks in the passive thermally controlled shipping container thermally conditioned, pivoting the access doors from the open position to the closed position and securing the access doors in the closed position to form a portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container, (iii) transporting the portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container to a loading site,
  • Another particular embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the first aspect of the in vention, (ii) with the at least one phase change material tank in the passive thermally controlled shipping container thermally conditioned, the at least one quick detach phase change material door panel thermally conditioned and in the thermal conditioning position within the passive thermally controlled shipping container, and the access door in the open position, repositioning the thermally conditioned at least one quick detach phase change material door panel from the thermal conditioning position inside the thermally controlled payload chamber to the secured thermal attenuating position on the interior surface of the access door, (iii) pi voting the access door from the open position to the closed position and securing the access door in the closed position to form a portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container, (iv) transporting the portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container to a loading site,
  • a first embodiment of the fifth aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, (ii) nondestructively detaching a wall and associated thermal insulation from the container from external the container to expose the phase change material tanks thereunder, (iii) nondestructively detaching at least one of the exposed phase change material tanks from external the container to create an empty space, (iv) attaching a replacement phase change material tank to the container in the empty space from external the container, and (v) reattaching the wall and associated thermal insulation to the container from external the container.
  • a second embodiment of the fifth aspect of the in vention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, (ii) nondestructively detaching a wall from the outer frame from external the container to expose the core layer of thermal insulation thereunder, (iii) nondestructively de taching the exposed core layer of thermal insul ation from the inner or outer frame from external the container to expose the phase change material tanks thereunder, (iv) nondestructively detaching at least one of the exposed phase change material tanks from the inner or outer frame from external the container to create an empty space, (v) attaching a replacement phase change material tanks to the inner frame in the empty space from external the container, (vi) reattaching the core layer of thermal insulation to the inner or outer frame from external the container, and (vii) reattaching the wall to the outer frame from external the container.
  • a particular embodiment of the sixth aspect of the invention includes the steps of (i) obtaining a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention equipped with a plurality of temperature sensors, with each temperature sensor operable, configured and arranged in association with a phase change material tank onboard the passive thermally controlled shipping container for sensing the temperature of the phase change material in the associated phase change material tank as between a temperature (T Liquid ) indicative of liquid phase change material in the associated phase change material tank and a temperature (T Solid ) indicative of frozen phase change material in the associated phase change material tank, (ii) thermally conditioning the passive thermally controlled shipping container through a thermal conditioning cycle by (A) docking a forced-air chilling unit to the passive thermally controlled shipping container with the phase change material in the onboard phase change material tanks in liquid phase at ambient temperature (e.g., between 15° and 30° C) and access doors in the open position, (B) actuating the docked forced-air chilling unit to cycle air into the thermal controlled chamber having a
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a passive thermally controlled shipping container in accordance with the invention with both halves of the vertically split access door pivoted into the open position and both halves of the vertically split swing gate pivoted into the thermal conditioning position.
  • Figure 2 is a front view of the passive thermally controlled shipping container depicted in Figure 1 , with both halves of the vertically split access door pivoted into the open position and both halves of the vertically split swing gate pivoted into the shipping position.
  • Figures 3A-D are schematic top views of a passive thermally controlled shipping container as depicted in Figure 1, depicting the various positions into which the swing gate and access door are pivoted through a trip cycle (i.e., thermal conditioning, loading, transport, unloading and return).
  • a trip cycle i.e., thermal conditioning, loading, transport, unloading and return.
  • Figure 3 A depicts the passive thermal controlled shipping container with the access doors closed and the swing gates in the shipping position. These are the positions upon transport of an empty thermally conditioned container from a thermal conditioning site to a loading site, transport of a loaded thermally conditioned container from a loading site to a payload destination, and transport of an unloaded thermally-spent container from a payload destination back to the thermal conditioning site.
  • Figure 3B depicts the returned thermally-spent shipping container with the access doors open and the swing gates still in the shipping position. An alternate fully open position of the access doors is depicted by dashed lines.
  • Figure 3C depicts the retured thermally-spent shipping container ready for thermal conditioning with the access doors fully open and the swing gates in the thermal conditioning position.
  • Figure 3D depicts the passive thermally conditioned shipping container ready for loading or unloading of a payload, with the access doors fully open and the swing gates in the loading/unloading position.
  • Figures 4A-G are construction stage sequence drawings of the passive thermally controlled shipping container depicted in Figure 1.
  • Figure 4A is a front perspective view of the platform/pallet component of the thermally controlled shipping container.
  • Figure 4B is a front perspective view of a stage one assembly, with the interior/inner frame mounted to the platform/pallet.
  • Figure 4C is a front perspective view of a stage two assembly with phase change material tanks mounted to the interior/inner frame over the wall openings.
  • Figure 4D is a front perspective view of a stage three assembly with the swing gate halves mounted to the interior/inner frame, and the exterior/outer frame mounted to the platform/pallet.
  • Figure 4E is a front perspective view of a stage four assembly with the access door halves mounted to the exterior/outer frame.
  • Figure 4F is a rear perspective view of a stage five assembly, with the interior/inner/core thermal insulation cartridges mounted to the interior/inner frame.
  • Figure 4G is a front perspective view of a stage six assembly, with the exterior/outer/shell thermal insulation cartridges and protective exoskeleton layers mounted to the exterior/outer frame, with one of the exteri or/outer/shell thermal insulation cartridges removed and two of the protective exoskeleton layers removed to facilitate viewing of the spatial relationship of the components.
  • Figure 5 A is a front view of one phase change material tank depicted in Figure
  • Figure 5B is a top view of one phase change material tank depicted in Figure
  • Figure 6 A is a perspective view of the outward facing major surface of one interior/inner/core thermal insulation cartridge depicted in Figure 4F.
  • Figure 6B is a perspective view of the inward facing major surface of the interior/inner/core thermal insulation cartridge depicted in Figure 6A.
  • Figure 7 A is a perspective view of the outward facing major surface of one exterior/outer/shell thermal insulation cartridge depicted in Figure 4G.
  • Figure 7B is a perspective view of the inward facing major surface of the exterior/outer/shell thermal insulation cartridge depicted in Figure 7A.
  • Figure 8 is a perspective view of the container depicted in Figure 1 with phase change material door panels, one shown in the thermal conditioning position and one shown in the thermal attenuating position, substituted for the swing gates.
  • Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of the access door on the container depicted in Figure 8 showing a phase change material door panel in the process of being mounted to the access door into the thermal attenuating position.
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view of Figure 9 after the phase change material door panel lias been mounted to the access door in the thermal attenuating position.
  • Figure 11 is a greatly enlarged side view of the upper portion of the access door depicted in Figure 8 with mounted phase change material door panel.
  • Figure 12 is a greatly enlarged side view of the lower end of the phase change material door panel in the thermal conditioning position inside the payload chamber depicted in Figure 8.
  • Figure 13 is a perspective view of the passive thermally controlled shipping container depicted in Figure 1 docked with a forced air chilling unit.
  • Figure 14 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the docked passive thermally controlled shipping container and forced air chilling unit of Figure 13 taken along line 14-14, with a depiction of thermal conditioning air flow through the thermally controlled chamber.
  • Figure 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a corner thermal insulation cartridge.
  • Figure 16 is a program flowchart for one embodiment of a control program for automatic cold thermal conditioning and cold thermal maintenance of the phase change material tanks in the passive thermally controlled shipping container depicted in Figure 8.
  • Figure 17 (broken into two sheets as Figs 17A and 17B due to size) is a program flowchart for one embodiment of a control program for holistic evaluation of thermal integrity of a passive thermally controlled chill-in place shipping container.
  • ground contact travel appliance means a device which con tacts a support surface and facil itates travel of an item supported by the device across the support surface.
  • Ground contact travel appliances include specifically but not exclusively, skids, wheels, casters, low friction glides and sliders, etc.
  • the term “thin ”, when used to describe a phase change material tank, means a thickness of less than 10 cm, wherein the thickness dimension is the linear dimension of a phase change material tank affixed in a passive thermally controlled shipping container which extends from the thermal controlled chamber to the exterior of the passive thermally controlled shipping container.
  • thermal insulating means a “k” value of less than 0.06 W/mK and a layer is a layer of thermal insulation when tiie layer is constructed of a material that is thermal insulating.
  • thermoally isolating standoff means a structural component configured and arranged to hold something at a distance from a surface and having a “k” value of less than 1 W/mK.
  • thermalally conductive means a “k” value of greater than 10 W/mK.
  • thermally isolating means spatially separating one thermally conductive component or surface from another thermally conductive component or surface to create a thermal break between the components and/or surfaces and thereby prevent a thermal bridge.
  • a passive thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container 10 having a payload chamber 19 1 accessible through an access door 240 and enclosed by an inner layer of phase change material tanks 110, also referenced as latent heat storage elements, and at least one layer of thermal insulation 120 and/or 220.
  • the shipping container 10 is preferably cuboidal with a cuboidal payload chamber 19 1 .
  • the payload chamber 19 1 preferably has a floor 12b sized and dimensioned to alternatively retain four 1016x1219 mm ISO pallets or five 800x1200 mm Euro pallets without reconfiguration of the shipping container 10.
  • the phase change material tanks 110 are preferably thin, elongated panels, filled with a phase change material having the desired phase change temperature, designed to extend from comer-post to corner-post of an inner frame 100 or an outer frame 200.
  • Each phase change material tank 110 has a fill port 111 and an air vent port 112 which are sealed after the panel 110 has been filled with phase change material.
  • phase change material tanks 110 are preferably vertically stacked across the sidewall openings 109s defined by the inner frame 100 and horizontally laid side-by-side across tire top opening 109t and bottom opening 109b defined by the inner frame 100.
  • Gaskets 116 can be placed between adjacent phase change material tanks 110 to prevent the phase change material tanks 110 from rubbing against one another, and to control thermal convection from the walls 12 of the shipping container 10 past the phalanx of phase change material tanks 110 and directly into the payload chamber 19 1 , creating “warm” zones within the payload chamber 19 1 .
  • phase change material tanks 110 are intended to be installed and thereafter thermally conditioned without removal from the thermally insulated chamber 19 2 (i.e., chilled-in-place). Hence, the inner layer of phase change material tanks 110 can be robustly secured to the inner frame 100.
  • phase change material tanks 110 are constructed from metal or plastic and bolted to the comer-posts of an inner frame 100 from exterior the shipping container 10 using mounting brackets 115 extending from each end of each phase change material tanks 110, thereby providing secure attachment to the inner frame 100 but still accommodating individual detachment of each phase change material tank 110 from exterior the shipping container 10 for any necessary' repair or replacement.
  • temperature sensors 600 may be configured and arranged on one or more of the phase ch ange material tanks 110 for sensing and transmitting the temperature of the phase change material in the tank 110 for use in automatically controlling thermal conditioning of the phase change material and holistically evaluating the thermal integrity' of the shipping container 10.
  • the temperature sensors 600 should be thermally insulated and shielded from any thermal influence by the thermally conditioning air emitted and circulated through the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 by the chilling unit 500 as the typically significant temperature difference between the air emitted by the chilling unit 500 (Tcondition) and the actual temperature of the phase change material (T PCM ) will result in incorrect temperature readings.
  • a temperature sensor 600 is association with a phase change material tank lining each of the top 12t, and back and side walls 12s, and most preferably all walls 12.
  • a swing gate 140 can extend across an entry' opening 108 into the payload chamber 19 1 .
  • the swing gate 140 can be a vertically split gate with each gate half 140 1 and 140 2 pivotable about respective vertical axis as disclosed below.
  • Each gate half 140 1 and 140 2 is preferably supported by one or more ground travel appliances 145, such as a caster.
  • Each swing gate half 140 1 and 140 2 should be pivotable at least approximately 120° and preferably at least approximately 180° about the vertical axis as between a loading position (depicted in Figure 3D) providing unrestricted access to the thermal controlled chamber 19 3 through the accesses opening 208 and the entry opening 108, and a thermal conditioning position (depicted in Figure 3C) wherein the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 extend into the thermal controlled chamber 19 3 .
  • the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 each carry a set of phase change tanks 110 for positioning the sets of phase change tanks 110 as between (i) a shipping position ( Figure 3 A) wherein the set of phase change tanks 110 are positioned across the accesses opening 208 so as to attenuate heat transfer through the access door 240, (ii) a thermal conditioning position ( Figure 3C) wherein the set of phase change tanks 110 are positioned within the thermal controlled chamber 19 3 for in-place thermal conditioning, and (iii) a loading/unloading position ( Figure 3D) providing unrestricted access to the thermal controlled chamber 19 3 through tire accesses opening 208.
  • pivoting of the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 as between the shipping position (Figure 3A) and the thermal conditioning position (Figure 3C) occurs about a set of narrow vertical pivot axis 142 1 p and 142 2 p.
  • the first and second narrow vertical pivot axis 142 1 p and 142 2 p are offset from the respective sidewall 12s of the shipping container 10 in order to provide an air flow gap between the phase change tanks 110 on the sidewalls 12s and the phase change tanks 110 on tire swing gate halves 140 1 an d 140 2 to facilitate th ermal condition ing heat exchange with both groups of phase change tanks 110.
  • pivoting of the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 as between the shipping position (Figure 3A) and the loading/unloading position (Figure 3D) occurs about first and second wide vertical pivot axis 141 1 p and 141 2 p.
  • the wide vertical pivot axis 141 3 p and 141 2 p are proximate a respective sidewall 12s of the stripping container 10 in order to provide access to the full width of the payload chamber 19 1 during loading and unloading.
  • the access door 140 can be lined with one or more quick detach phase change material door panels 150.
  • Each quick detach phase change material door panel 150 has one or more panels filled with phase change material.
  • Each quick detach phase change material door panel 150 is configured and arranged for repeated releasable secure repositioning of the panel 150 as between (i) a thermal conditioning positioning inside the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 with the access door 140 open, for thermal conditioning of the phase change material in the phase change material door panel 150 alongside the phase change material tanks 110 lining the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 with the forced air chilling unit 500, and (ii) a thermal attenuating position on the interior first major surface 151 of the access door 240 after completion of thermal conditioning and prior to loading of a payload into the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 for attenuating heat transfer into the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 through the access door 140.
  • the phase change material door panel(s) 150 is preferably restrained in a position offset from the phase change material tanks 110 lining the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 so to prevent the phase change material door panel(s) 150 from covering the tanks 110, thereby allow chilling air blown into the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 by the forced air chilling unit 500 to directly impinge upon and cool both sides of the phase change material door panel(s) 150 and the full exposed surface area of the tanks 110.
  • Mechanisms 160 and 170 are provided for (i) releasably and stably supporting tiie quick detach phase change material door panel(s) 150 in a thermal conditioning position inside the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 with the access door 140 open, and (ii) releasably and stably supporting the quick detach phase change material door panel(s) 150 in athermal attenuating position on the interior surface 241 of the access door 140, respectively.
  • Handles may be provided proximate each side of each phase change material door panel(s) 150, centered between the ends of the panel(s) 150, to facilitate handling of the panel(s) 150 as they are moved between the thermal conditioning position and the thermal attenuating position.
  • the thermal conditioning support mechanism 160 preferably supports all quick detach phase change material door panels 150 in a vertically standing orientation inside the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 to eliminate the need to rotate the panel(s) 150 about a horizontal axis when the panel(s) 150 are transitioned from the thermal conditioning position inside the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 to the thermal attenuating positioning on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240.
  • Tire thermal conditioning support mechanism 160 also preferably supports all quick detach phase change material door panels 150 with an air flow gap 169 between the panel(s) 150 and the walls 12 of the container 10 so as to allow chilling air to flow between the panel(s) 150 and the walls 12 during thermal conditioning.
  • one suitable thermal conditioning support m echani sm 160 includes a pair of vertically x aligned longitudinally z extending support channels 161 in the container 10, and (ii) a pair of footings 162 on each panel 150, with each footing 162 configured and arranged for supportive engagement within a corresponding channel 161.
  • the channels 161 and footings 162 are preferably configured and arranged for longitudinal z sl idable insertion and removal of the footings 162 into and out from the channels 161 from the access opening 208 into the container 10 when the access door 240 is open.
  • one suitable thermal attenuating support mechanism 170 includes a pair of vertically x aligned support brackets 171 on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240, and (ii) a pair of receivers 172 on each quick detach phase change material door panel 150, with each receiver 172 configured and arranged for engaging with a corresponding support bracket 171 so as to secure the panel 150 to the bracket 171 and thereby secure the panel 150 to the interior surface 241 of the access door 240.
  • the thermal attenuating support mechanism 170 preferably includes a locking mechanism 175, such as a locking hook, barrel bolt, etc. for (i) selective reception and release of a bracket 171 by a corresponding receiver 172 for mounting and dismounting of the phase change m ateri al door panel 150 in the thermal attenuating positioning on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240 when in an unlocked state, and (ii) securing the bracket 171 to the corresponding receiver 172 to stably fasten the phase change material door panel 150 in athermal attenuating positioning on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240 when in a locked state.
  • a locking mechanism 175, such as a locking hook, barrel bolt, etc. for (i) selective reception and release of a bracket 171 by a corresponding receiver 172 for mounting and dismounting of the phase change m ateri al door panel 150 in the thermal attenuating positioning on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240 when in an unlocked state, and (ii) s
  • the phase change material tanks 110 are enclosed within thermally insulating walls 12 that include a top wall 12t, a bottom wall 12b and sidewalls 12s to define an enclosed thermally insulated and thermally controlled payload chamber 19 1 .
  • Each wall 12t, 12b and 12s can comprise (i) a single wall panel or a plurality of edge-to-edge arranged wall panels, and (ii) one or more separately attachable and detachable layers.
  • the bottom wall 12b can be comprised of a platform 20 having forklift openings 28 for accommodated lifting and transport of the shipping container 10 via a pallet jack or forklift.
  • a layer of thermal insulation (not shown) is preferably provided atop the platform 20, with the thermal insulation protectively sandwiched between an inner structural layer and an outer structural layer (not shown).
  • one of the side walls 12s comprises an access door 240.
  • the access door 240 can be a vertically split door with each door half 240 1 and 240 2 pi votable about a respective vertical axis 240 1 p and 240 2 p between an open position and a closed position.
  • each door half 240 1 and 240 2 is preferably pivotable approximately 180° and most preferably approximately 270° against a corresponding sidewall wall 12s of the shipping container 10.
  • Automatic door holders 246 can be employed to hold the door halves 240 1 and 240 2 in the fully open position to prevent the door halves 240 1 and 240 2 from prematurely pivoting towards the closed position during thermal conditioning, loading and unloading of the shipping container 10.
  • Suitable door holders include the various widely available commercial grade magnetic and mechanical door holders.
  • Access door position sensors can be provided for detecting the position of the access door halves 240 1 and 240 2 as between the open position and the closed position and generating at least one audibly and/or visually perceptible signal selected from a first signal when a corresponding access door half 240 1 and 240 2 is in the open position and a second signal when the corresponding access door half 240 1 and 240 2 is in the closed position.
  • Tire first signal is preferably generated only when the corresponding access door half 240 1 and 240 2 is arrested in the fully open position by a door holder 246.
  • a preferred embodiment of the passi ve thermally controlled chill-in-place shipping container 10 has top 12t and sidewall 12s walls comprised of separately attachable and detachable inner 12i and outer 12o layers.
  • Each of the inner walls 12i may be releasably secured directly to one another to form the shipping container 10, but are preferably releasably secured to an inner frame 100.
  • Each inner wall 12i covers a wall opening 109 defined by the inner frame 100 (e.g. , a top inner wall 12it covering a top wall opening 109t through the inner frame 100 and sidewall inner walls 12is covering sidewall openings 109s through the inner frame 100).
  • the inner frame 100 can be constructed from any material capable of providing the necessary structural integrity, with metal such as aluminum generally preferred.
  • each of the outer walls 12o may be releasably secured directly to one another to form the shipping container 10, but are preferably releasably secured to an outer frame 200.
  • Each outer wall 12o covers a wall opening 209 defined by the outer frame 200 (e.g., a top outer wall 12ot covering a top opening 209t through the outer frame 200 and sidewall outer wall 12os covering sidewall openings 209s through the outer frame 200).
  • the outer frame 200 can be constructed from any material capable of providing the necessary structural integrity, with metal such as aluminum generally preferred.
  • At least one layer of thermal insulation 120 and/or 220 define a therm ally insulated chamber 19 2 .
  • the layer of th ermal insulation 120 and/or 220 can be a component of the walls 12i and/or 12o respectively, such as a layer sandwiched between an inner structural layer and an outer structural layer (unnumbered).
  • dual separately attachable and detachable inner and outer layers of thermal insulation 120 and 220 define the thermally insulated chamber 19 2 , with an inner protective layer provided on the inner layer of thermal insulati on 120 and an outer protective layer provi ded on the outer layer of thermal insulation 220.
  • the inner and outer protective layers can be selected from any material having sufficient structural integrity including wood panels, wood composite panels, plastic panels and plastic composite panels.
  • a particularly suited lightweight yet structurally robust material is a plastic composite panel comprising a thermoplastic honeycomb core fused between pl asti c face sheets commerci ally available from a number of suppl iers including Composites GmbH & Co KG of Rottenbach, Germany under the brand MONOPAN, and Hangzhou Holycore Composite Materials Co. Ltd of Hangzhou, China under the brand HOLYPAN.
  • Vacuum insulation panels 122 and 222 are the preferred thermal insulation material due to their superior thermal resistance (i.e., low thermal k values).
  • Wall Thermal Insulation Cartridges 125 and 225 are the preferred thermal insulation material due to their superior thermal resistance (i.e., low thermal k values).
  • Vacuum insulation panels are notorious for premature loss of insulating value. The panels are prone to loss of vacuum, often as a result of a breach through the enclosing membrane caused by normal wear and tear, which results in a substantial loss in thermal resistance. Hence, vacuum insulation panels require periodic inspection and replacement of spent panels (i.e., panels no longer under sufficient vacuum).
  • the inner and outer walls 12i and 12o are each preferably formed of multiple independently removable inner and outer thermal insulation cartridges 125 and 225 respectively. These thermal insulation cartridges 125 and 225 permit quick and easy access to and replacement of spent vacuum insulation panels 122 and 222 respectively.
  • Each inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 has a layer of therm al in sulation 120, typically a plurality of edge-to-edge arranged inner vacuum insulation panels 122, surrounded by an inner peripheral frame 126.
  • Each inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 can include a structural protective layer over the interior facing major surface of the inner vacuum insulation panels 122 for providing structural rigidity to the inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 and protecting the fragile inner vacuum insulation panels 122 from damaging contact with the inner frame 100 outer frame 200 or the phase change material tanks 110 during initial assembly, detachment and reassembly.
  • Each inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 can further include a structural protective layer over the exterior facing major surface of the inner vacuum insulation panel 122 for providing further structural rigidity to the inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 and protecting the fragile inner vacuum insulation panels 122 from damaging contact with an outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 during initial assembly, detachment and reassembly of the outer thermal insulation cartridges 225, but this further structural protective layer tends to impede visual inspection and replacement of spent inner vacuum insulation panels 122 and is therefore generally disfavored.
  • each outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 has a layer of thermal insulation 220, typically a plurality' of edge-to-edge arranged vacuum insulation panels 222, surrounded by an outer peripheral frame 226.
  • Each outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 can include a structural protective layer over the exterior facing major surface of the outer vacuum insulation panels 222 for providing structural rigidity to the outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 and protecting the fragile outer vacuum insulation panels 222 from damaging contact by objects striking the exterior of the shipping container 10.
  • Each outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 can further include a structural protective layer over the interior facing major surface of the outer vacuum insulation panels 222 for providing further structural rigidity to the outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 and protecting the fragile inner vacuum insulation panels 122 from damaging contact with an inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 or the outer frame 200 during initial assembly, detachment and reassembly of the outer thermal insulation cartridges 225, but this further structural protective layer tends to impede visual inspection and replacement of spen t outer vacuum insulation panels 222 and is therefore generally disfavored.
  • the inner thermal insulation cartridges 125 are releasably secured to the inner frame 100 and the outer thermal insulation cartridges 225 are releasably secured to the outer frame 200. Once detached from the frame 100 or 200, the inner and outer vacuum insulation panels 122 and 222 respectively, can be inspected, and spent or otherwise damaged panels 122 and 222 replaced.
  • each abutment of inner thermal insulation cartridges 125 and each abutment of outer thermal insulation cartridges 225 form a seam 128 and 228, respectively.
  • These inner and outer seams 128 and 228 act as thermal bridges across their respective inner and outer thermal insulation layer 120 and 220, respectively. It is desired to offset these inner and outer seams 128 and 228 so as to force heat moving across these thermal bridges from exterior the shipping container 10 through both thermal insulation layers 120 and 220 to travel a tortuous serpentine path as opposed to a straight l inear path as would be provided by aligned inner and outer seams 128 and 228 in both the inner and outer thermal insulation layers 120 and 220.
  • an aesthetic and/or protective exoskeleton 230 may be provided over the outermost surface of each of the top wall 12t and sidewalls 12s of tire shipping container 10, including each access door half 240 1 and 240 2 , comprised of a single planar sheet of material over each wall, such as a solid sheet of thermoplastic or a plastic composite panel comprising a thermoplastic honeycomb core fused between plastic face sheets.
  • a corner thermal insulation cartridge 325 comprised of orthogonally positioned beveled edge to beveled edge or edge-to-face abutting vacuum insulation panels 322 retained within an L-shaped supporting sleeve 323, may be positioning at the comers of the walls 12 to reduce heat flow past the inner and outer thermal insulation layers 120 and/or 220 at the comers of the shipping container 10.
  • a thermally isolating standoff 400 comprised of a thermally insulating material is positioned between the platform 20 and the inner frame 100 at each point of attachment for thermally isolating the thermally conductive components of the platform from the thermally conductive components of the inner frame 100.
  • the thermally isolating standoff 400 can be a single integrated unit or multiple individual blocks.
  • the thermally isolating standoffs 400 can be constructed from any thermally insulating material possessing suitable structural integrity, such as natural wood, manufactured wood, wood composites, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and plastic.
  • the phase change material tanks 110 in the shipping container 10 are chilled-in-place by a forced air chilling unit 500 that docks with the open access opening 208 of the shipping container 10.
  • Tire forced air chilling unit 500 has a condenser (unnumbered) for supplying cold fluid to the interior of a heat exchanger 506.
  • a blower 505 pulls “warm” air into the unit from the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 of the container through a central ly located forw ard facing intake vent 501. The “warm” air is pulled through the heat exchanger 506 to cool the air.
  • a baffle 503 directs the cooled air to forward facing peripheral outflow vents 502 that discharge the cooled air along the inward facing surfaces of the phase change material tanks 110 on the top 12t, bottom 12b, and left and right sidewal ls 12s of the shipping container 10 towards the rear sidewall 12s of the shipping container 10, where the rear sidewall 12s redirects the air back towards the center of the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 where it is once again pulled into the forced air chilling unit 500 through the intake vent 501.
  • Suitable forced air chilling units are available from a number of sources in clud ing climatec Ltd of Watford, Engl and, United Kingdom, an d Green Cooling Ltd of Preston, England, United Kingdom.
  • the forced air chilling unit 500 should be mounted on wheels 507 to facilitate movement and docking.
  • Actuation of the forced air chilling unit 500 can be controlled by an onboard or remote control unit 700 that also communicates with sensors 600 sensing the temperature of the phase change material in a shipping con tainer 10 undergoing thermal conditioning for automatically controlling the thermal conditioning cycle.
  • the shipping container 10 may be thermally conditioned by (i) docking the forced-air chilling unit 500 to the shipping container 10 with the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 in the conditioning position and the access door hal ves 240 1 and 240 2 in the open position as depicted in Figure 3C, (ii) actuating the forced-air chilling unit 500 to (A) cycle air from within the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 of the shipping container 10 through the forced air chilling unit 500 and back into the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 , and (B) cooling the air as it cycles through the forced air chilling unit 500 to a temperature below the freeze temperature of the phase change material in the phase change material tanks 110, and (iii) continuing actuation of the docked forced air chilling unit 500 until the phase change material in the phase change material tanks 110 freezes.
  • the shipping container 10 can be equipped with a system for controlling thermal conditioning of tiie phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110.
  • the thermal conditioning system includes at least one and preferably a plurality of temperature sensors 600, and a controller 700.
  • the temperature sensor(s) 600 are placed in thermal communication with the phase change material retained within a plurality of the phase change material tanks 110, preferably scattered throughout the payload chamber 19 1 and including at least one on each of the walls 12 of the shipping con tainer 10, to periodically measure the temperature of the phase change material and transmit the measured temperature to the controller 700.
  • the controller 700 To thermally condition the phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110, the controller 700 periodically receives the transmitted measured temperature from the temperature sensor(s) throughout a thermal conditioning period, circulates chilled air throughout the payload chamber 19 1 when the measured temperature value T n of at least one or preferably a plurality of the phase change material tanks 110 is above a first threshold temperature value T Frozen , and discontinues the circulation of chilled air throughout the payload chamber 19 1 when the measured temperature value T n of each or at least most of the phase change material tanks 110 is below a first threshol d temperature value T Frozen , wherein tire first threshold temperature value T Frozen is selected so that a measured temperature value T n falling below the first threshold temperature value T Frozen is indicative of completion of phase change transition of the phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110 from a liquid to a solid.
  • the controller 700 can discontinue circulation of chilled air throughout the payl oad chamber 19 1 by shutting off the blower 505 an d/or the condenser (not numbered) of the forced air chilling unit 500.
  • the controller 700 can (i) reduce the flow of chilled air by slowing down the blower 505, and/or (ii) restrict the flow of chilled air by partially closing the intake and/or outflow vents 501 and 502, respectively, on the forced air chilling unit 500.
  • the discontinued and/or restricted flow opti ons facilitate maintenance of the phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110 in the thermally conditioned frozen state while the shipping container 10 awaits commencement of transport.
  • the shipping container 10 can further be equipped with a system for maintaining the phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110 in a thermally conditioned frozen state while awaiting commencement of transport.
  • the thermal maintenance system includes at least one and preferably a plurality of temperature sensore (not shown), and a controller (not shown).
  • the temperature sensor(s) are placed in thermal communication with the phase change material retained within a plurality of the phase change material tanks 110, preferably scattered throughout the payload chamber 19 1 and including at least one on each of the walls 12 of the shipping container 10, to periodically measure the temperature of the frozen phase change material and transmit the measured temperature to the con troller.
  • the controller periodically receives the transmitted measured temperature from the temperature sensor(s) throughout a thermal hold period, and restarts the circulation of chilled air throughout the payload chamber 19 1 when the measured temperature value T n is above a second threshold temperature value T Melt , wherein the second threshold temperature value T Melt is selected so that a measured temperature value T n falling above the second threshold temperature value T Melt is indicative of commencement of a phase change transition of the phase change material retained within the phase change material tanks 110 from a solid to a liquid.
  • the controller can restart circulation of chilled air throughout the payload chamber 19 1 by turning the forced air chilling unit 500 back on.
  • the blower 505 can be returned to full operation and/or the intake and/or outflow vents 501 and 502 can be returned to full open.
  • the container 10 may be loaded after the phase change material in the phase change material tanks 110 have been thermally conditioned by (i) pivoting the swing gate hal ves 140 1 and 140 2 from the conditioning position as depicted in Figure 3C to the shipping position as depicted in Figure 3A and securing the sw'ing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 in this shipping position, (ii) pivoting the access door halves 240 1 and 240 2 from the open position as depicted in Figure 3C to the closed position as depicted in Figure 3 A and securing the access door halves 240 1 and 240 2 in this closed position to form a portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container 10, (iii) transporting the portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container 10 to a loading site, typically a manufacturing facility where the thermally labile payload is manufactured, (iv) pivoting the access door halves 240 1 and 240 2 from the closed position as depicted in Figure 3 A to the open position
  • the con tainer 10 may be loaded, after the phase change material tanks 110 in the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 have been thermally conditioned in-place and the phase change material door panel(s) 150 has been thermally conditioned while in the thermal conditioning position within the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10, by (i) repositioning the thermally conditioned phase change material door panel(s) 150 from the thermal conditioning position inside the thermally controlled payload chamber 19 3 to the secured thermal attenuating position on the interior surface 241 of the access door 240 with the access door 240 open, (ii) pivoting the access door 240 from the open position to the closed position and securing the access door 240 in the closed position to fonn a portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container 10, (iii) transporting the portable thermally conditioned unladen shipping container 10 to a loading site, (iv) pivoting the access door 240 from the closed position to the open position at
  • a damaged or otherwise exhausted phase change material tank 110 along the top wall 12t or one of the sidewall 12s can be replaced by (i) nondestructively detaching the top wall 12t or sidewall 12s covering the phase change material tank 110 to be replaced from external the shipping container 10, to expose the phase change material tank 110 thereunder, (ii) nondestructively detaching the exposed phase change material tank 110 to be replaced from external the shipping container 10 to create an empty space, (iii) attaching a fresh phase change material tank 110 to the shipping container 10 in the empty space from external the shipping container 10, and (iv) reattaching the detached wall 12.
  • phase change material tanks 110 on the swing gate halves 140 1 and 140 2 are fully exposed. Hence, replacing a damaged or otherwise exhausted phase change material tank 110 on one of the swing gate halves 140* and 140 2 merely requires pivoting of the swing gate half 140 1 or 140 2 into either the shipping position or the loading posi tion so that the phase change material tank 110 can be accessed from outside the shipping container 10.
  • the method can also be employed to retrofit a shipping container 10 with phase change material tanks 110 containing a phase change material having a different freeze/melt temperature by repeating the steps set forth above for all phase change material tanks 110 along all walls 12.
  • a damaged or otherwise exhausted phase change material tank 110 along the top wall 12t or one of the sidewall 12s can be replaced by (i) nondestructively detaching an outer wall 12o from the outer frame 200 from external the shipping container 10 to expose the inner wall 12i, (ii) nondestructively detaching the exposed inner wall 12i from the inner frame 100 or the outer frame 200 from external the shipping container 10 to expose the phase change material tanks 110 thereunder, (iii) nondestructively detaching the exposed phase change material tank 110 to be replaced from the inner frame 100 from external the shipping container 10 to create an empty space, (iv) attaching a replacement phase change material tank 110 to the inner frame 100 in the empty space from external the shipping container 10, (v) reattaching the inner wall 12i to the inner frame 100 or the outer frame 200 from external the shipping container 10, and (vi) reattaching the outer wall 12o to the
  • the vacuum insulation panels 122 and 222 in each of the inner thermal insulation layer 120 and outer thermal insulation layer 220, respectively, can be inspected by detaching the outer thermal insulation cartridges 225 from the outer frame 200.
  • the inner vacuum insulation panel 122 can be quickly replaced from outside the shipping container 10 by (i) detaching any outer thermal insulation cartridges 225 overlapping the inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 with the spent inner vacuum insulation panel 122, (ii) detaching the inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 with the spent inner vacuum insulation panel 122 from the inner frame 100 or the outer frame 200, (iii) replacing the detached inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 with a fresh inner thermal insulation cartridge 125, (iv) attaching the fresh inner thermal insulation cartridge 125 to the inner frame 100 or the outer frame 200, and (v) reattaching the detached outer thermal insulation cartridges 225.
  • the outer vacuum insulation panel 222 can be quickly replaced from outside the shipping container 10 by (i) detaching the outer insulation cartridge 225 with the spent outer vacuum insulation panel 222 from the outer frame 200, (ii) replacing the detached outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 with a fresh outer thermal insulation cartridge 225, and (iii) attaching the fresh outer thermal insulation cartridge 225 to the outer frame 200.
  • the holistic thermal integrity of a passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 can be performed when the shipping container 10 is equipped with a plurality of temperature sensors 600 for sensing the temperature of the phase change material T PCM in an associated phase change material tank 110 onboard the shipping container 10 as between a temperature (T Liquid ) indicative of liquid phase change material in the associated phase change material tank 110 (e.g., 2° C or slightly more above the melt point temperature of the phase change material) and a temperature (T Solid ) indicative of frozen phase change material in the associated phase change material tank 110 (e.g., between 2° and 5° C below the freeze point temperature of the phase change material or alternatively at least 20° C below the freeze point temperature of the phase change material).
  • T Liquid indicative of liquid phase change material in the associated phase change material tank 110
  • T Solid a temperature indicative of frozen phase change material in the associated phase change material tank 110 (e.g., between 2° and 5° C below the freeze point temperature of the phase change material or alternatively at least 20° C below the freeze point temperature of the phase
  • Step (1) Select a passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n .
  • Step (2) Establishing thermal conditioning and threshold parameters for thermal conditioning of the selected passive thermal ly controlled shipping container 10 of ID n including (A) examining and if necessary resetting the temperature T Solid at which the phase change material in the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n is to be recogni zed as frozen, (B) examining and if necessary resetting the temperature T Condition to which the chilling unit 500 is to chill the air to be emitted into and circulated around the thermally controlled chamber 19 3 , which temperature must be below T Solid , (C) examining and if necessary resetting the lower threshold value of change in thermal conditioning time ⁇ t Low to be used in distinguishing between a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing satisfactory holistically thermal integrity and one possessing adequate but deteriorated holistically thermal integrity, (D) examining and if necessary resetting the higher threshold value of change in thermal conditi oning time ⁇ t High to be used in di stinguishing between a controlled shipping container 10 possessing adequate but deteriorated holistic
  • Step (3) Thermally conditioning the selected passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n through a thermal conditioning cycle by (A) docking a forced- air chilling unit 500 to the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n with the phase change material in the onboard phase change material tanks 110 in a liquid phase at ambient temperature, (B) actuating the docked forced-air chilling unit 500 to cycle air into the thermal controlled chamber 19 3 of the selected passi ve thermally controll ed shipping container 10 of ID n to which the forced-air chilling unit 500 is docked at t Condition at start time (to), (C) periodically sensing the temperature of the phase change material T PCM in the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n to which the forced-air chilling unit 500 is docked and discontinuing actuation of the docked chilling unit 500 when T PCM is equal to or less than T Solid indicating fully frozen phase change material in the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n .
  • Step (4) Setting end time t End of the thermal conditioning cycle.
  • Step (6) Comparing t Condition for the current thermal conditioning cycle witht Condition for at least one previous, and preferably an average or median of three or more, thermal conditioning cycle for the same specific passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n and preferably at the same or statistically comparable temperaturet Condition to establish a ⁇ t between these two values.
  • Step (7) Comparing ⁇ t with ⁇ t Low and (i) when ⁇ t is less than ⁇ t Low designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n to be a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing satisfactory holistically thermal integrity, continuing use of the thermally control led shipping container 10 of ID n and discontinuing the evaluation, but (ii) when ⁇ t is equal to or greater than ⁇ t Low designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n to be a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing adequate but deteriorated holistically thermal integrity and subjecting the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n to a further comparison of ⁇ t with ⁇ t High .
  • Step (8) After step (7), when ⁇ t is equal to or more than ⁇ t Low comparing ⁇ t with ⁇ t High and (i) when ⁇ t is less than ⁇ t High designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n to be a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing adequate but deteriorated holistically thermal integrity, continuing use of the thermally controlled shipping container 10 of ID n for the currently scheduled shipment, designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 for refurbishment upon return from the currently scheduled shipment, and discontinuing the evaluation, but (ii) when ⁇ t is equal to or greater than ⁇ t High designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 of lD n to be a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing deficient holistic thermal integrity, immediately pulling the thermally controlled shipping container 10 from any further use in shipping, designating the passive thermally controlled shipping container 10 for refurbishment, and discontinuing the evaluation.
  • steps (7) and (8) can be combined with use of a single ⁇ t Threshold value instead of both ⁇ t Low and ⁇ t High values, for designating betw een a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing satisfactory holistically thermal integrity (i.e., ⁇ t less than ⁇ t Threshold ) and a thermally controlled shipping container 10 possessing unsatisfactory holistically thermal integrity (i.e., ⁇ t equal to or greater than ⁇ t Threshold ).
  • a ⁇ t Threshold value of between about 5% and 10% detects the vast majority of shipping containers 10 having some type of thermal integrity challenge with minimal false positives.
  • ⁇ t Low and ⁇ t High When low and high threshold values are used ⁇ t Low and ⁇ t High , a value of about 5% for ⁇ t Low and 10% for ⁇ t High is generally effective. Of course, other values can be used depending upon such factors as the value of the payload, the risk of the container 10 encountering extreme environmental ambient temperatures in transit, the risk of container 10 encountering delays in transit, etc.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un conteneur d'expédition (10) à commande thermique passive, isolé thermiquement en place, et des procédés de conditionnement thermique en place du conteneur d'expédition (10) à l'aide d'une unité de refroidissement séparée (500), une évaluation holistique de l'intégrité thermique du conteneur d'expédition (10) par comparaison des temps de conditionnement thermique en place, tCondition, pour établir un Δt et comparaison du Δt à une valeur de seuil, ΔtThrshold, la réparation ou le remplacement de composants défectueux sur le conteneur d'expédition (10), et le chargement du conteneur d'expédition conditionné thermiquement (10).
PCT/US2023/078929 2022-11-07 2023-11-07 Conteneur d'expédition à commande thermique passive et procédés de conditionnement thermique en place, d'évaluation holistique d'intégrité thermique, de réparation ou de remplacement de composants défectueux et de chargement WO2024102719A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202263382564P 2022-11-07 2022-11-07
US63/382,564 2022-11-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024102719A2 true WO2024102719A2 (fr) 2024-05-16
WO2024102719A3 WO2024102719A3 (fr) 2024-06-20

Family

ID=91033432

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2023/078929 WO2024102719A2 (fr) 2022-11-07 2023-11-07 Conteneur d'expédition à commande thermique passive et procédés de conditionnement thermique en place, d'évaluation holistique d'intégrité thermique, de réparation ou de remplacement de composants défectueux et de chargement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2024102719A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN118545396A (zh) * 2024-07-30 2024-08-27 阳信县红和清真肉类有限公司 一种肉制品运输用冷藏包装箱

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10322764A1 (de) * 2003-05-19 2004-12-30 Va-Q-Tec Ag Container mit Vakuumisolation und Schmelzspeichermaterialien
ITMI20130796A1 (it) * 2013-05-15 2014-11-16 Prs Passive Refrigeration Solutions S A Apparato per la conservazione e il trasporto di prodotti freschi o surgelati, particolarmente per container termicamente isolati o simili.
CA3001052C (fr) * 2015-10-06 2020-04-28 Cold Chain Technologies, Inc. Systeme d'expedition isole thermiquement pour charge utile de taille palette, procedes de fabrication et d'utilisation associes et kit d'utilisation a cet effet
US10793338B2 (en) * 2017-03-31 2020-10-06 Fisher Clinical Services Inc. Apparatus and methods for transporting and conditioning panels containing phase change materials
US20210403224A1 (en) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-30 World Courier Management Limited Packaging system for transporting temperature-sensitive products
US20240302091A1 (en) * 2021-02-03 2024-09-12 Peli Biothermal Llc Passive thermally controlled condition-in-place shipping container

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN118545396A (zh) * 2024-07-30 2024-08-27 阳信县红和清真肉类有限公司 一种肉制品运输用冷藏包装箱

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2024102719A3 (fr) 2024-06-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US12071306B2 (en) Tote handling for chilled or frozen goods
US7913511B2 (en) Cargo container for transporting temperature sensitive items
US8162542B2 (en) Environment controlled cargo container
US10837692B2 (en) Modular cryogenic shipping system
US10661696B2 (en) Vehicle insert and method of vehicle loading and unloading
US11685588B2 (en) Tote handling for chilled or frozen goods
EP2258995B1 (fr) Réfrigérateur
JP2020502467A (ja) 発送容器
CN109850384B (zh) 一种带有实时测量监控的冷链运输装置
CN101415622A (zh) 运送冷却货物的容器
JP2015009838A (ja) 定温保持容器および定温搬送容器
US20070044502A1 (en) Thermopanel, insulated container with thermopanel, and method of using same
WO2012017910A1 (fr) Dispositif d'isolation thermique et boîte de livraison à isolation thermique
WO2024102719A2 (fr) Conteneur d'expédition à commande thermique passive et procédés de conditionnement thermique en place, d'évaluation holistique d'intégrité thermique, de réparation ou de remplacement de composants défectueux et de chargement
US9395116B1 (en) Dual temperature insulated container
MXPA02003738A (es) Cubierta para recipiente termicamente aislada.
JP3712263B2 (ja) 長期間にわたり貨物の冷凍状態を維持するための低メインテナンスシステム
WO2023242250A1 (fr) Contenant réfrigéré et procédé de transport de denrées périssables
US20240302091A1 (en) Passive thermally controlled condition-in-place shipping container
JP4297849B2 (ja) 冷凍コンテナ
US20050051232A1 (en) Temperature controlled frozen food dispenser
EP4370847A1 (fr) Nacelles de transport
US7640769B1 (en) Portable self-contained storage apparatus for biologicals
US20090241821A1 (en) Pallet storage installation for stock keeping of goods to be stored, in particular for the use in ships
JP3948876B2 (ja) 冷却貯蔵庫

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 23889587

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2