Temperature controlled cargo containers

Abstract

Temperature controlled cargo containers may include thermal masses conditioned to temperatures above and/or below a target temperature. Example thermal masses may include plates including phase change materials, such as eutectic materials. One or more fans may be selectively operated to circulate air in the cargo container across one or more of the thermal masses to maintain the temperature within the cargo container within a prescribed temperature band. Some example temperature controlled cargo containers may include refrigeration units and/or heaters for regenerating the thermal masses when receiving power from an external power source and/or may include one or more rechargeable batteries for providing power during transport or storage independent of external power sources.

1 . A method of controlling the temperature of a product, the method comprising:
 placing a product in an interior storage space of a container, wherein the container includes a warm phase change plate and a cold phase change plate; and   changing a temperature of the interior storage space by causing airflow across at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the temperature of the interior storage space includes
 sensing a temperature associated with the product;
 if the temperature associated with the product is above a target temperature range, operating a cooling fan associated with causing air flow across the cold phase change plate; and 
 if the temperature associated with the product is below the target temperature range, operating a warming fan associated with causing air flow across the warm phase change plate. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein operating the cooling fan associated with the cold phase change plate includes drawing air from the interior storage space through a separator wall at least partially interposing the interior storage space and the cold phase change plate, flowing the air past the cold phase change plate, and discharging the air into the interior storage space. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein operating the warming fan associated with the warm phase change plate includes drawing air from the interior storage space through a separator wall at least partially interposing the interior storage space and the warm phase change plate, flowing the air past the warm phase change plate, and discharging the air into the interior storage space. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to changing a temperature of the interior storage space, conditioning at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein conditioning the cold phase change plate includes operating a refrigeration unit to cause freezing of a cold phase change solution within the cold phase change plate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein conditioning the warm phase change plate includes operating a heater to melt a warm phase change solution within the warm phase change plate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein changing a temperature of the interior storage space includes directing the airflow along a first side of the at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate in a first direction and directing the airflow along a second side of the at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate in a second direction; and
 wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing natural circulation flow across at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein reducing natural circulation flow across at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate includes providing an air trap associated with at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein providing the air trap includes providing at least one of
 a downwardly extending wall at least partially interposing the warm phase change plate and the interior storage space, and   an upwardly extending wall at least partially interposing the cold phase change plate and the interior storage space.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transporting the container from a first location to a second location while the product remains within the interior storage space. 
     
     
         13 . A method of storing a product in a container, the method comprising:
 operating a refrigeration system to cool a cold phase change plate associated with an interior storage space of a container;   operating a heater to heat a warm phase change plate associated with the interior storage space;   placing a product in the interior storage space;   measuring a temperature associated with the interior storage space; and   selectively operating at least one fan to cause airflow across at least one of the cold phase change plate and the warm phase change plate if the temperature associated with the interior storage space departs from a predetermined temperature range.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, prior to operating the refrigeration system and operating the heater, connecting the refrigeration system and the heater to a first external source of electrical power. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, after operating the refrigeration system and operating the heater, disconnecting the refrigeration system and the heater from the first external source of electrical power. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising, after disconnecting the refrigeration system and the heater from the first external source of electrical power, loading the container into a vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein loading the container into a vehicle includes loading the refrigeration system and the heater into the vehicle, the refrigeration system and the heater being mounted to the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising,
 transporting the container from a first location to a second location using the vehicle; and   at the second location, conditioning at least one of the cold phase change plate and the warm phase change plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, prior to conditioning the at least one of the cold phase change plate and the warm phase change plate at the second location, connecting at least one of the refrigeration unit and the heater to a second external source of electrical power. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, after the refrigeration unit and the heater have been disconnected from the first external source of electrical power and prior to connecting the refrigeration unit and the heater to the second external source of electrical power, operating the at least one fan using power supplied from a rechargeable battery associated with the container. 
     
     
         21 - 52 . (canceled)