Cold energy storage

Abstract

Disclosed is a cold storage container able to keep its contents cool for long periods without using electricity by using the phenomenon of adsorption. An adsorbent material placed in a conductive material above an insulated vacuum chamber adsorbs water vapor from the melting ice surrounding or above a cold chamber where contents are kept cold. This generates continuous evaporation which cools the water and therefore the contents of the cold chamber.

1 . A cold storage box comprising:
 a container for containing contents to be kept cool;   an evaporator chamber having thermally insulated walls surrounding the container and defining a space between the container and the chamber; and   an adsorber unit located above the evaporator chamber, the adsorber unit including adsorbent material, a mesh retaining the adsorbent material while permitting the adsorbent material to be exposed to vapor from the evaporator chamber, and a thermally conductive surface on a top or surrounding sides of the desorber unit.   
     
     
         2 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the container is made of thermally conductive metal. 
     
     
         3 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the space surrounding the container holds ice. 
     
     
         4 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the space surrounding the container holds a refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  comprising a valve for evacuating air from the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the space is enclosed within insulating side walls and an insulating base. 
     
     
         7 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the chamber has a hatch on one face for removal and insertion of contents. 
     
     
         8 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the hatch is accessible through one of the side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the adsorber unit is detachable from the box for regenerating the adsorbent material within the absorber unit. 
     
     
         10 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  wherein the adsorber unit includes multiple adsorbents having different adsorbent properties. 
     
     
         11 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  further comprising a vapor-permeable membrane located between the evaporator chamber and the adsorber unit. 
     
     
         12 . The cold storage box of  claim 1  further comprising sliding sheets located between the evaporator chamber and the adsorber unit to control an amount of area of the adsorbent unit that is exposed to the vapor. 
     
     
         13 . A cold storage box comprising:
 a container for containing contents to be kept cool;   an evaporator chamber having thermally insulated walls surrounding the container and defining a space between the container and the chamber; and   an adsorber unit located above the evaporator chamber, the adsorber unit including adsorbent material and a thermally conductive surface on a top or surrounding sides of the desorber unit wherein the adsorbent material is plasma sprayed onto the conductive surface.