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 and flapper valves 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, the container comprising an enclosure including insulated walls, wherein the interior storage space is within the enclosure, wherein the container includes a warm phase change plate and a cold phase change plate, and wherein each of the warm phase change plate and cold phase change plate is disposed within the enclosure and is arranged for selective heat exchange with the interior storage space, and wherein at least one flapper valve is arranged to selectively permit and obstruct airflow about at least one of said warm phase change plate and said cold phase change plate; and   controlling a temperature of the product by at least one of
 raising a temperature of the interior storage space by recirculating across the warm phase change plate without substantial air flow across the cold phase change plate, and 
 lowering the temperature of the interior storage space by recirculating air across the cold phase change plate without substantial air flow across the warm phase change plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the temperature of the interior storage space includes sensing a temperature associated with the product;
 wherein lowering the temperature of the interior storage space comprises, 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 to draw air from the interior storage space through a separator wall at least partially interposing the interior storage space and the cold phase change plate, opening one of said at least one flapper valve and flowing the air past the cold phase change plate, and discharging the air into the interior storage space; and   wherein raising the temperature of the interior storage space comprises, 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 to draw air from the interior storage space through a separator wall at least partially interposing the interior storage space and the warm phase change plate, opening one of said at least one flapper valve and flowing the air past the warm phase change plate, and discharging the air into the interior storage space.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior controlling the temperature of the product, conditioning at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein conditioning the cold phase change plate includes operating a refrigeration unit comprising at least one evaporator coil extending through an interior of the cold phase change plate to cause freezing of a cold phase change solution within the cold phase change plate; and
 wherein conditioning the warm phase change plate includes operating a heater in thermal contact with the warm phase change plate to melt a warm phase change solution within the warm phase change plate.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the temperature of the product includes directing the air flow along a first side of at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate in a first direction and directing the air flow 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.   
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein reducing natural circulation flow across at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate includes at least one of providing an air trap associated with at least one of the warm phase change plate and the cold phase change plate and closing said at least one flapper valve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , 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.   
     
     
         9 . 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. 
     
     
         10 . A method of storing a product in a container, the method comprising:
 operating a refrigeration system comprising at least one evaporator coil extending through an interior of a cold phase change plate associated with an interior storage space of a container to cool the cold phase change plate, wherein the container comprises an enclosure constructed of insulated walls, wherein the interior storage space is within the enclosure, wherein the cold phase change plate is disposed within the enclosure and is arranged for selective thermal communication with the interior storage space, and wherein the refrigeration system is powered from a first external source of electrical power;   operating a heater in thermal contact with a warm phase change plate associated with the interior storage space to heat the warm phase change plate, wherein the warm phase change plate is disposed within the enclosure and is arranged for selective thermal communication with the interior storage space, wherein the heater is powered from the first external source of electrical power;   placing a product in the interior storage space;   disconnecting the refrigeration system and the heater from the first external source of electrical power; and   controlling a temperature associated with the interior storage space by
 measuring the temperature associated with the interior storage space; and 
 selectively operating at least one of a cooling fan arranged to cause airflow across the cold phase change plate and a warming fan arranged to cause airflow across the warm phase change plate if the temperature associated with the interior storage space departs from a predetermined temperature range, wherein the at least one cooling fan and the at least one warming fan are powered from a rechargeable battery associated with the container, and wherein at least one flapper valve is arranged to selectively permit and obstruct airflow about at least one of said warm phase change plate and said cold phase change plate where said at least one flapper valve is propelled to an open position when said at least one cooling fan or said at least one warming fan is operating; 
   wherein the refrigeration unit and the heater are not operable while disconnected from the first external source of electrical power.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, prior to operating the refrigeration system and operating the heater, connecting the refrigeration system and the heater to the first external source of electrical power. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, after disconnecting the refrigeration system and the heater from the first external source of electrical power, loading the container into a vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , 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.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the container further comprises an equipment section substantially adjacent to the enclosure; and
 wherein at least a portion of the refrigeration system is disposed in the equipment section.   
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a temperature-controlled cargo container, the method comprising:
 conditioning a cold phase change plate disposed within an insulated enclosure using a refrigeration system comprising at least one evaporator coil extending through an interior of the cold phase change plate, wherein the enclosure is a component of a temperature-controlled cargo container, and wherein the cold phase change plate comprises a cold phase change solution having a cold phase change solution melting point;   conditioning a warm phase change plate disposed within the insulated enclosure using a heater in thermal contact with the warm phase change plate, wherein an insulated divider wall interposes cold phase change plate and the warm phase change plate, and wherein the warm phase change plate comprises a warm phase change solution having a warm phase change solution melting point, and wherein the warm phase change solution melting point is higher than the cold phase change solution melting point;   receiving a product in an interior storage space of the temperature-controlled cargo container, wherein the interior storage space is disposed within the enclosure, and wherein the interior storage space is arranged for selective heat exchange with the cold phase change plate and the warm phase change plate; and   controlling a temperature associated with the product while the refrigeration system and the heater are not operated, including   monitoring the temperature associated with the product;
 if the temperature associated with the product rises above a target temperature range, operating a cooling fan arranged to cause air flow across the cold phase change plate by 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; and 
 if the temperature associated with the product falls below the target temperature range, operating a warming fan associated with causing air flow across the warm phase change plate by 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, and wherein at least one flapper valve is arranged to selectively permit and obstruct airflow about at least one of said warm phase change plate and said cold phase change plate where said at least one flapper valve is propelled to an open position when said at least one cooling fan or said at least one warming fan is operating. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the cold phase change solution and the warm phase change solution comprises a eutectic material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the temperature associated with the product includes directing the air flow along a first side of the warm phase change plate in a first direction and directing the air flow along a second side of the warm phase change plate in a second direction; and
 wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the temperature associated with the product includes directing the air flow along a first side of the cold phase change plate in a first direction and directing the air flow along a second side of the cold phase change plate in a second direction; and
 wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)