Liquefied air refrigeration system for storage container

Abstract

A liquid refrigeration system for a thermally-insulated storage container includes a tank configured to store liquid air therein, a conduit system having a first end portion coupled to the tank and a second end portion configured to be positioned within an interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, a spray head coupled to the second end portion of the conduit system, a control system electrically coupled to the tank and the spray head to control the flow of liquid air from the tank to the spray head.

1 . A liquid air refrigeration system for a thermally-insulated storage container comprising:
 a tank configured to store liquid air therein;   a conduit system having a first end portion coupled to the tank and a second end portion configured to be positioned within an interior of the thermally-insulated storage container;   a spray head coupled to the second end of the conduit system; and   a control system electrically coupled to the tank and the spray head to control the flow of liquid air from the tank to the spray head.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising another spray head coupled to the second end portion of the conduit system. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator coupled to the tank and the conduit system and provided to convert the liquid air to a gaseous state. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to be positioned within the interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, the temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature within the interior of the thermally-insulated storage container. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the rate of flow of the liquid air from the liquid air tank based upon the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 5 , wherein the tank includes an inlet port, and inlet valve within the inlet port, an outlet port, and an outlet valve within the outlet port, and further wherein the inlet valve and outlet valve are each electrically coupled to the control system such that the control system is configured to open and close the outlet valve to adjust the rate of flow of the liquid air from the liquid air tank. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tank configured to store liquid air therein, the second tank being coupled to the conduit system. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow rate sensor configured to sense the flow rate of the liquid air within the conduit system. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid refrigeration system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow rate sensor is electrically coupled to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the rate of flow of the liquid air from the liquid air tank based upon the flow rate sensed by the flow rate sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerated storage trailer for transporting refrigerated cargo comprising:
 a thermally-insulated storage container; and   a liquid air refrigeration system coupled to the thermally-insulated storage container to supply liquid air to an interior of the thermally-insulated container.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid air refrigeration system includes a tank configured to store liquid air therein, and a conduit system having a first end portion coupled to the tank and a second end portion positioned within the interior of the thermally-insulated compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid air refrigeration system further include a plurality of spray heads coupled to the second end portion of the conduit system. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 11 , wherein the conduit system includes a plurality of valves configured to control the flow of the liquid air from the tank to the thermally-insulated compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of flow rate sensors configured to measure the rate of flow of the liquid air through the conduit system 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 10 , further comprising a control system electrically coupled to liquid air refrigeration system to control the flow rate of liquid air into the interior of the thermally-insulated container. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerated storage trailer of  claim 15 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned within the interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, the temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature within the interior of the thermally-insulated storage container, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the rate of flow of the liquid air from the liquid air tank based upon the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method of refrigerating a storage container comprising:
 providing a source of pressurized liquid air;   injecting the liquid air from the source through a spray head into the storage container; and   controlling the flow rate of the liquid air from the source.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the flow rate includes monitoring a temperature of an interior of the storage container and adjusting the flow rate of the liquid air from the source based on the monitored temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the flow rate includes monitoring the flow rate of liquid air from the source and adjusting the flow rate of the liquid air from the source based on the monitored flow rate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining if the temperature within the storage container is within a predetermined temperature range and generating a flow rate control signal in response thereto. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising changing the flow rate of the liquid air from the source in response to the flow rate control signal. 
     
     
         22 . A liquid air refrigeration system for a thermally-insulated storage container comprising:
 a liquid air refrigeration system; and   a liquid air control system electrically coupled to the liquid air refrigeration system, the control system comprising (i) a processing unit, and (ii) a memory unit electrically coupled to the processing unit, the memory unit having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to:   (a) operate the liquid air refrigeration system so as to advance liquid air from a liquid air storage tank to a thermally-insulated interior of a trailer,   (b) determine if the temperature within the thermally-insulated interior of the trailer is within a predetermined temperature range and generating a flow rate signal in response thereto, and   (c) change the flow rate of the liquid air from the liquid air storage tank to the thermally-insulated interior of the trailer in response to the flow rate signal.