Container system with a controlled environment

Abstract

A controlled environment system ( 2 ) for storing articles ( 1 ) in a controlled environment, comprising a container system ( 4 ), a humidity regulation system ( 6 ), a temperature regulation system ( 8 ) and an electronic control system ( 10 ) connected to the humidity and temperature regulation systems for control thereof, the container system comprising a controlled environment chamber in which the temperature and degree of humidity is regulated by the temperature and humidity regulation systems, the humidity regulation system comprising at least one chamber humidity sensor arranged to measure the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber, a humidity reducing system adapted to reduce the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber ( 12 ) and a humidity increasing system ( 18 ) adapted to increase the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber ( 12 ).

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A controlled environment system for storing articles in a controlled environment, comprising a container system, a humidity regulation system, a temperature regulation system and an electronic control system connected to the humidity and temperature regulation systems for control thereof, the container system comprising a controlled environment chamber in which the temperature and degree of humidity is regulated by the temperature and humidity regulation systems, the humidity regulation system comprising at least one chamber humidity sensor arranged to measure the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber, a humidity reducing system adapted to reduce the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber and a humidity increasing system adapted to increase the humidity of the gas in the controlled environment chamber, wherein the humidity increasing system comprises a water condenser and an evaporation pad, the water condenser comprising a cooling element in contact with air external to the container system and configured to collect water from the external air by cooling the cooling element below the dew point of the external air and collecting said water on the evaporation pad, the evaporation pad being mounted in the container system in gaseous communication with the controlled environment chamber, and wherein the humidity reducing system comprises a water condenser including a condenser element and a cooling element, the water condenser configured to collect water from the gaseous environment inside the controlled environment chamber by cooling of the condenser element and cooling element below the dew point of the gas inside the controlled environment chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the cooling element of the water condenser of the humidity increasing system comprises one or more peltier cells. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the evaporation pad comprises an anti-bacterial or bacteriostatic water absorbent material. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising an air transfer system comprising an airflow channel interconnecting the controlled environment chamber to the external environment of the container system. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the evaporation pad is mounted inside the airflow channel. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the humidity reducing system comprises a water outflow channel to allow said collected water to flow out of the controlled environment chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the cooling element of the humidity reducing system comprises one or more peltier cells. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the temperature regulation system comprises one or more thermal conductors including a heat conducting base positioned adjacent a wall of the controlled environment chamber, the heat conducting base being made of a material with a high thermal conductivity configured to distribute and homogenize the temperature within the controlled environment chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the thermal conductors further comprise a heat transfer bridge interconnecting a cooling element and/or a heating element of the temperature regulation system to the heat conducting base. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer bridge comprises a thermal dilatation compensation mechanism comprising a movable contact element mounted in a heat conducting block, the movable contact element elastically biased against the cooling element of the temperature regulation system. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrical heating resistor mounted against the heat transfer bridge.