Module and method for providing inert environment in sealable container and sealable container

Abstract

A module 102 for providing an inert environment in a sealable container 104 is described. In one embodiment, a module 102 comprises: an inlet 202 adapted to be fluidly connected to a sealable container 104 to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104; an outlet 204 adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container 104 to provide an inert gas to the sealable container 104; a pump 206 configured to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104 via the inlet 202; and an inert gas generator 208 configured to generate an inert gas using the extracted ambient air from the pump 206 and to provide the inert gas to the sealable container 104 via the outlet 204, thereby providing an inert environment in the sealable container 104. A method 300 for providing an inert environment and a sealable container are also described.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to modules and methods for providing an inert environment in a sealable container and a sealable container. Background Art

[0002] Shipping using intermodal containers or ocean containers is one of the most popular methods of transporting items around the world. This popularity is driven by the convenience that sellers and buyers of goods can load and unload these containers themselves, as well as the reduced costs and increased efficiency that grouping goods together in this way can bring to the carrier.

[0003] However, this method also has some disadvantages. First, it is usually the responsibility of the cargo owner to declare the type of cargo and the cargo loading, and therefore, the container carrier relies entirely on the cargo owner to ensure the accuracy of these details and the appropriateness of the loading. Secondly, once the container is sealed after it is loaded, the actual cargo and its condition are unknown. Therefore, if the dangerous goods are not so declared, or if they are declared but improperly loaded, there is a possibility that the cargo will self-heat. Early signs of cargo self-heating usually occur invisibly in the container, and the first external evidence of such an event is that the cargo has begun to burn. The burning of cargo usually leads to uncontrolled fires in the container, resulting in the destruction of the cargo and additional damage to the surroundings of the burning container. When it occurs at sea, such fires are particularly destructive because the relevant container may not be able to move and access to it is restricted. Fires in a single container have more than once led to the total loss of the ship carrying the cargo.

[0004] Carriers have tried various methods to control the misdeclaration of items and better enforce “best practices” for the loading of such items (including, for example, prohibiting some items from being shipped in containers) to control the risk of container fires. However, these have had limited success. It is fair to say that container fires are a common problem in the sealable container freight industry, with an estimated average of one container fire occurring every two weeks.

[0005] For a fire to occur, combustion requires fuel (in this case the cargo itself), heat, and oxygen. An oxygen content of 21% by volume in the ambient air provides enough oxygen to meet the requirements for ignition. However, at oxygen levels of 16% and below, the oxygen required for ignition is not met and ignition rarely occurs. The actual percentage of oxygen at which ignition no longer occurs is specific to each type of fuel and is referred to as the limiting oxygen concentration. As an example, the limiting oxygen concentration of paper is 14.1%. Therefore, one way to prevent container fires and control this inherent risk is to prevent the cargo from progressing from self-heating to combustion by controlling the atmosphere around the cargo to below the limiting oxygen concentration for that cargo. However, in order for such a solution to be effective, it would need to be able to be seamlessly incorporated into the existing operating framework of the intermodal container freight industry.

[0006] It would therefore be desirable to provide modules and methods for providing an inert environment in a sealable container and a sealable container that address the problems of the prior art and / or provide a useful alternative.

[0007] Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings and this background of the disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0008] Aspects of the present application relate to modules and methods for providing an inert environment in a sealable container and a sealable container.

[0009] According to a first aspect, a module for providing an inert environment in a sealable container is provided, the module comprising: an inlet adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container to extract ambient air from the sealable container; an outlet adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container to provide an inert gas to the sealable container; a pump configured to extract ambient air from the sealable container via the inlet; and an inert gas generator configured to generate an inert gas using the extracted ambient air and to provide the inert gas to the sealable container via the outlet, thereby providing an inert environment in the sealable container.

[0010] Therefore, the described embodiment provides a module for providing an inert environment in a sealable container. In particular, by having a pump configured to extract ambient air from a sealable container and an inert gas generator configured to generate an inert gas using the extracted ambient air and provide the inert gas to the sealable container, the module advantageously realizes air circulation between the module and the sealable container to provide an inert environment (e.g., a low oxygen concentration environment below the limit oxygen concentration of the cargo) in the sealable container. The inert environment is conducive to making the container gas non-flammable, thereby preventing fire in the sealable container. In addition, by including an inert gas generator configured to generate an inert gas, the module does not require an external inert gas source to provide an inert environment. This also means that, considering that if necessary, the inert gas can be provided in a continuous manner by the inert gas generator, an inert environment can be provided and maintained throughout the transportation. In addition, the module can be modified to an existing or conventional container without modifying the current container transportation practices or creating additional infrastructure. This provides ease of implementation of the module and minimizes startup costs.

[0011] The module may be integrated with the sealable container to form a part of the sealable container.

[0012] The module may occupy 5% to 15% of the total volume of the sealable container. Therefore, the module does not occupy too much cargo space in the sealable container.

[0013] The module may include a filter unit configured to filter ambient air extracted from the sealable container. The filter unit may include at least one removable particle filter. In this way, the extracted ambient air is filtered to remove any particles that may hinder the efficiency of the inert gas generator in producing the inert gas. In addition, the removable particle filter provides a mechanism for verifying the contents of the sealable container. For example, the removable particle filter of the filter unit can be removed and inspected, for example using an ion scanner or similar technology, to check for traces of explosives, narcotics or other prohibited substances. This process avoids the need for expensive and time-consuming manual searches of any suspicious containers.

[0014] The module may include an air dryer configured to dehumidify ambient air extracted from the sealable container. The air dryer helps reduce the humidity within the sealable container. Lower humidity may also help the operating efficiency of the inert gas generator.

[0015] The module may comprise a first humidity sensor at the input of the air dryer adapted to detect the humidity of the ambient air in the sealable container.

[0016] The module may include a second humidity sensor at the output of the air dryer adapted to detect the humidity of the dehumidified ambient air to monitor the operating efficiency of the air dryer.

[0017] The module may include: an exhaust port for exhausting oxygen-rich byproducts generated by the inert gas generator; and a first oxygen sensor at the exhaust port, the first oxygen sensor being adapted to detect an oxygen concentration of the exhausted oxygen-rich byproducts to monitor operating efficiency of the inert gas generator.

[0018] The module may include a pressure sensor at the output of the pump adapted to detect the output pressure of the pump to monitor the operating efficiency of the pump.

[0019] The module may include a temperature sensor located at the entrance of the module for detecting the ambient temperature in the sealable container. The temperature sensor enables monitoring of the ambient temperature in the sealable container. Any increase in ambient temperature may indicate that the cargo within the sealable container is starting to self-heat, and early intervention can be easily implemented to prevent any fire.

[0020] According to a second aspect, there is provided a sealable container comprising any of the aforementioned modules, an inlet opening adapted to be connected to an outlet of the module, and an outlet opening adapted to be connected to an inlet of the module.

[0021] The sealable container may include: an inlet valve connected to the inlet; and an outlet valve connected to the outlet, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to control airflow from the sealable container to the module, and the outlet valve is adapted to control airflow from the module to the sealable container.

[0022] The sealable container may include a second oxygen sensor at the module inlet adapted to detect the oxygen concentration of ambient air extracted from the sealable container.

[0023] The sealable container may include a module controller adapted to control opening and closing of each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve according to the detected oxygen concentration of the second oxygen sensor, thereby achieving a predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container.

[0024] The module controller may be configured to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve if the detected oxygen concentration is higher than a predetermined oxygen concentration, and to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration.

[0025] The module controller may be adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator on and off, and if the detected oxygen concentration is above a predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller may be adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator on, and if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or below a predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller may be adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator off. This is used to save power for the module by switching off the pump and the inert gas generator after a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container.

[0026] The sealable container may include a bypass conduit adapted to isolate the inert gas generator. If the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or below a predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller may be adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve and activate the bypass conduit to isolate the inert gas generator. The bypass conduit allows isolation of the inert gas generator from the circulating gas, in particular if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or below a predetermined oxygen concentration. This enables the module to be used independently to filter and / or dehumidify the air in the sealable container even if a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container.

[0027] The sealable container may include an equalization vent adapted to equalize the pressure in the sealable container to a predetermined pressure.

[0028] The sealable container may include a power source configured to provide power to the modules. The power source may include a mobile battery or an external power supply.

[0029] The sealable container may include at least one solar cell externally attached to at least one wall of the sealable container, the at least one solar cell being electrically connected to the module to provide power to the module. If desired, the at least one solar cell provides another renewable power source to the module.

[0030] The sealable container may include a power system controller configured to determine a power demand of the module using an output of the power source, an output of the at least one solar cell, a power consumption of the module for achieving a predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container, and a detected oxygen concentration by the second oxygen sensor. The determined power demand of the module may be used to optimize the power supply to the module and may be customized based on the needs of the transport process of the sealable container.

[0031] An inlet opening may be provided at one end of the sealable container, and an outlet opening may be provided at an opposite end of the sealable container. This maximizes the distance between the inlet opening and the outlet opening in the sealable container, thereby improving air circulation within the sealable container and ensuring that the inert gas provided by the inert gas generator effectively replaces the ambient air in the sealable container.

[0032] The sealable container may include at least a third oxygen sensor disposed in the sealable container adapted to detect an oxygen concentration of ambient air within the sealable container.

[0033] The sealable container may include a portable container.

[0034] The sealable container may include a transmitter configured to transmit data from the sealable container to a network to monitor the gas conditions of the sealable container in real time. The transmitter may be configured to transmit data related to information collected from the operation of the pump and the inert gas generator of the module. This allows real-time remote monitoring of the condition of the module and the sealable container and allows intervention when necessary.

[0035] According to a third aspect, a method for providing an inert environment in a sealable container is provided, the method comprising: (i) extracting ambient air from the sealable container through an outlet opening of the sealable container; (ii) generating an inert gas using the extracted ambient air; and (iii) providing the inert gas to the sealable container through an inlet opening of the sealable container, wherein steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are performed in a continuous manner until a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container, thereby providing an inert environment in the sealable container.

[0036] The method may include compressing the extracted ambient air.

[0037] The method may include filtering the extracted ambient air.

[0038] The method may include dehumidifying the extracted ambient air.

[0039] The method may include providing the fumigant in a sealable container.

[0040] The method may include: stopping performing steps (i), (ii) and (iii) after a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container; monitoring the oxygen concentration in the sealable container; and restarting steps (i), (ii) and (iii) if the oxygen concentration in the sealable container rises above the predetermined oxygen concentration.

[0041] The method may include monitoring the ambient temperature within the sealable container.

[0042] Therefore, the embodiment provides a module and method for providing an inert environment in a sealable container, and a sealable container. In particular, by extracting ambient air from the sealable container, using the extracted ambient air to generate an inert gas and providing the inert gas back to the sealable container, air circulation between the module and the sealable container is achieved, thereby providing an inert environment (e.g., a low oxygen concentration environment below the limiting oxygen concentration of the cargo) in the sealable container. The inert environment is conducive to making the container gas non-flammable, thereby preventing fires in the sealable container. In addition, by including an inert gas generator configured to generate an inert gas, the module does not require an external inert gas source to provide an inert environment. This also means that, considering that the inert gas can be provided in a continuous manner by the inert gas generator if necessary, an inert environment can be provided and maintained throughout the transportation. Other advantages related to other features of the module, method and sealable container are discussed above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0044] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a module for providing an inert environment in a sealable container and a sealable container according to one embodiment;

[0045] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a device including components thereof according to an embodiment Figure 1 Schematic diagram of modules and sealable containers;

[0046] Figure 3 A flow chart showing the steps of a method for providing an inert environment in a sealable container according to one embodiment;

[0047] Figure 4 A method for operating according to one embodiment is shown. Figure 1 A flow chart of the steps of a method for maintaining a predetermined oxygen concentration in a sealable container;

[0048] Figure 5 According to one embodiment, a Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a sealable container having a module of the sealable container, wherein the module is integrated with the sealable container to form a part of the sealable container; and

[0049] Figure 6 According to one embodiment, Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the operation of a sealable container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] One exemplary embodiment relates to a module and method for providing an inert environment in a sealable container and a sealable container.

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic diagram 100 of a module 102 for providing an inert environment in a sealable container 104 and a sealable container 104 according to one embodiment is shown. The sealable container 104 includes any container in which the outer shell can be reasonably sealed to prevent or minimize the leakage of gas within the outer shell to the external environment. The module 102 is fluidly connected to the sealable container 104 and is configured to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104 in step 106 and provide inert gas to the sealable container 104 in step 108. This provides air circulation between the module 102 and the sealable container 104, wherein the ambient air from the sealable container 104 is processed to produce inert gas and the inert gas is circulated back to the sealable container 104. The inert environment provided in the sealable container 104 is conducive to preventing fire in the sealable container 104.

[0052] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a device including components thereof according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Figure 1 104. Optional features or components of the module 102 and the sealable container 104 are shown in dashed boxes. Figure 2 The arrows in the figure indicate the direction of airflow. Thus, the skilled person will appreciate that the different components of the module 102 are fluidly connected such that the extracted air from the sealable container 104 can flow from one component of the module 102 to another, as will be described below.

[0053] In this embodiment, the module 102 includes: an inlet 202 adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container 104 to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104; an outlet 204 adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container 104 to provide an inert gas to the sealable container 104; a pump 206 configured to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104 via the inlet 202; and an inert gas generator 208 configured to generate an inert gas using the extracted ambient air from the pump 206 and to provide the inert gas to the sealable container 104 via the outlet 204, thereby providing an inert environment in the sealable container 104. Figure 2 As shown, module 102 is a separate entity that can be retrofitted onto sealable container 104. In another embodiment, for example, as described below with respect to Figure 5 and Figure 6As discussed, the module 102 is integrated with and forms a part of the sealable container 104 .

[0054] In this embodiment ( Figure 2 In addition, an inlet valve and an outlet valve are also connected to the inlet 202 and outlet 204 of the module 102, respectively. The inlet valve is adapted to control the airflow from the sealable container 104 to the module 102, while the outlet valve is adapted to control the airflow from the module 102 to the sealable container 104. These valves provide control over the air circulation between the module 102 and the sealable container 104.

[0055] The pump 206 as defined in the present disclosure is intended to include a compressor or any equivalent device capable of extracting air. In an embodiment where the pump 206 includes a compressor, in addition to extracting ambient air from the sealable container 104, the pump 206 (or compressor) is also capable of compressing the extracted ambient air into compressed air, which is then delivered to the inert gas generator 208. This is particularly useful for embodiments where the inert gas generator utilizes a pressure swing adsorption or membrane process for gas separation. In an embodiment where a pump is used to deliver the extracted ambient air to the inert gas generator 208 at ambient pressure, a temperature swing adsorption process for gas separation can be employed. In this embodiment, the pump 206 includes a compressor.

[0056] The inert gas generator 208 may include a nitrogen generator or a carbon dioxide generator for providing nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas, respectively. The nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas may then be used to provide an inert environment in the sealable container 104.

[0057] In addition to the inlet 202 , outlet 204 , pump 206 , and inert gas generator 208 , the module 102 may optionally include a filter unit 210 , an air dryer 212 , an exhaust port 214 , a power source 216 , a transmitter / receiver 218 , and a bypass conduit 220 .

[0058] The filter unit 210 is configured to filter the ambient air extracted from the sealable container 104 and may include at least one removable particulate filter. The air dryer 212 is configured to dehumidify or dry the ambient air extracted from the sealable container 104. The air dryer 212 may include a drain for draining water extracted from the ambient air. The exhaust port 214 is configured to discharge the oxygen-rich byproduct 222 generated by the inert gas generator 208 to the outside air. Figure 2As shown, the exhaust port fluid is connected to the inert gas generator 208 to discharge the oxygen-rich byproduct 222 from the inert gas generator 208. In another embodiment, the oxygen-rich byproduct 222 can be directly discharged by the inert gas generator 208 outside the module 102. The exhaust port 214 may include a check valve to prevent the discharged oxygen-rich byproduct 222 from re-entering the module 102 or the inert gas generator 108. In this embodiment, a power supply 216 is provided as part of the module 102, and the power supply is configured to provide power to the module 102. The power supply 216 may include a battery, a photovoltaic cell or a solar cell, or it may be suitable for connection to an external power source. The module 102 of this embodiment also includes a transmitter / receiver 218. The transmitter / receiver includes a transmitter and a receiver, and these can be formed as separate entities or as an integrated entity. The transmitter is configured to send data to the network to monitor the gas conditions of the sealable container 104 in real time, and / or send data related to information collected about the operation of the pump 206, the inert gas generator 208 and / or other components of the module 102 (e.g., the filter unit 210 and / or the air dryer 212) to monitor the operating efficiency of the module 102. The receiver is configured to receive data related to the operation of the module 102, such as when a predetermined oxygen concentration or a predetermined pressure is set in the sealable container 104. In addition, the module 102 in this embodiment includes a bypass conduit 220 (as shown by the dotted arrow). The bypass conduit 220 is suitable for isolating the inert gas generator 208. In particular, if the oxygen concentration in the detected extracted air is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the bypass conduit 220 can be activated to isolate the inert gas generator 208 from the circulation. This enables the module 102 to be used independently to filter and / or dehumidify the air in the sealable container 104 even if a predetermined oxygen concentration has been reached in the sealable container 104 .

[0059] like Figure 2As shown, the sealable container 104 includes an outlet opening 224, an inlet opening 226, and a balancing vent 228. The outlet opening 224 is adapted to be connected to the inlet 202 of the module 102 to draw ambient air from the sealable container 104 through the module 102, and the inlet opening 226 is adapted to be connected to the outlet 204 of the module 102 to receive an inert gas provided by the module 102. The balancing vent 228 is adapted to balance the pressure in the sealable container 104 to a predetermined pressure. To this end, the balancing vent 228 can allow air intake 230 from the outside air to balance the pressure within the sealable container 104, because the removal of the oxygen-rich byproduct 222 from the ambient air reduces the pressure within the sealable container 104. In this embodiment, the sealable container 104 also includes at least one solar cell, which is externally attached to at least one wall of the sealable container 104. The at least one solar cell is adapted to be electrically connected to the module 102, for example, to the power source 216, to provide power to the module 102.

[0060] In addition to the components of the module 102 and the sealable container 104 as described above, a system may be provided to control and monitor various parameters associated with the operation of the module 102 and the condition of the sealable container 104. For the sake of brevity and clarity, the system is not described in detail herein. Figure 2 For an embodiment in which the module 102 is integrated with the sealable container 104 , the system may be included in the module 102 and form a part of the module 102 , or it may be included in the sealable container 104 and form a part of the sealable container 104 .

[0061] In this embodiment, the system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing temperature, humidity, pressure, and oxygen concentration, and these sensors are disposed at different locations of the module 102 and / or the sealable container 104 .

[0062] For example, in this embodiment, a first humidity sensor of the module 102 may be provided at the input of the air dryer 212, adapted to detect the humidity of the ambient air in the sealable container 104, while a second humidity sensor may be provided at the output of the air dryer 212, adapted to detect the humidity of the dehumidified ambient air to monitor the operating efficiency of the air dryer 212. A third humidity sensor may also be provided within the housing of the sealable container 104 to provide additional humidity readings within the sealable container 104, and may serve as a backup sensor for the first humidity sensor.

[0063] With regard to sensing of oxygen concentration, in the present embodiment, a first oxygen sensor is disposed at the exhaust port 214 to detect the oxygen concentration of the exhausted oxygen-rich byproduct 222, thereby monitoring the operating efficiency of the inert gas generator 208, and a second oxygen sensor is disposed at the inlet 202 of the module 102 for detecting the oxygen concentration of the ambient air drawn from the sealable container 104. A third oxygen sensor may be disposed within the housing of the sealable container 104 to detect the oxygen concentration in the ambient air within the sealable container 104. The third oxygen sensor may be disposed at an opposite end of the second oxygen sensor (e.g., near or around the inlet opening 226 of the sealable container 104). The readings from the second oxygen sensor and the third oxygen sensor may be compared to determine the average oxygen concentration of the ambient air within the housing of the sealable container 104.

[0064] In this exemplary embodiment, a first pressure sensor is also provided at the output of the pump 206 to detect the output pressure of the pump, thereby monitoring the operating efficiency of the pump 206. A second pressure sensor may also be provided at the input of the pump 206 to detect the input pressure of the pump 206. The reading of the second pressure sensor may be corroborated with the reading of the first pressure sensor to monitor the efficiency of the pump 206. A third sensor may also be provided within the shell of the sealable container 104 to monitor the pressure within the sealable container 104.

[0065] In addition, a first temperature sensor may be provided at the entrance 202 of the module 102, and a second temperature sensor may be provided within the housing of the sealable container 104 to detect the ambient temperature within the sealable container 104. These temperature sensors provide temperature readings at various locations of the module 102 and the sealable container 104, and may be verified to enable real-time monitoring of the ambient temperature within the sealable container. Any increase in ambient temperature may indicate that the cargo within the sealable container 104 is beginning to self-heat, and early intervention may be readily implemented to prevent any fire.

[0066] In addition to the multiple sensors described above, the system of this embodiment also includes a module controller for controlling air circulation in the module 102 and the sealable container 104, and a power system controller for determining the power requirements of the module 102 and optimizing the power output to the module 102.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the module controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the inlet valve and the outlet valve according to the detected oxygen concentration of the second oxygen sensor and / or the third oxygen sensor. If the detected oxygen concentration is higher than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller is configured to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve so that the module 102 and the sealable container 104 are fluidly connected, and the inert gas can be provided from the module 102 to the sealable container 104 to reduce the oxygen concentration in the sealable container 104 to the predetermined oxygen concentration. On the other hand, if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller is configured to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve so that the sealable container 104 is isolated from the module 102. In the present embodiment, the module controller is also suitable for independently turning on and off the pump 206 and / or the inert gas generator 208. For example, if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller is suitable for turning off at least the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208 so as to save power for the module 102 after the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container. In an actual system, the oxygen concentration in the sealable container 104 may increase over time due to leakage. Therefore, if the detected oxygen concentration is higher than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller is further adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and turn on the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208. The inert gas may then be provided to the sealable container 104 to reduce the oxygen concentration in the sealable container 104 to the predetermined oxygen concentration.

[0068] In addition to the above operations, if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than a predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller may be further adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and activate the bypass conduit 220 to isolate the inert gas generator 208. In this case, the bypass conduit 220 allows the inert gas generator 208 to be isolated from the circulating gas, but enables the module 102 to be independently used to filter and / or dehumidify the air in the sealable container 104, even if the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104. In this case, the module controller is adapted to independently disconnect the inert gas generator 208, while maintaining the operation of the pump 206 to continue the air circulation between the module 102 and the sealable container 104.

[0069] In this embodiment, the power system controller is configured to determine the power demand of the module 102 using: (a) the output of the power source 216, (b) the output of the at least one solar cell, (c) the power consumption of the module 102 for achieving a predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container, and (d) the oxygen concentration detected by the second oxygen sensor and / or the third oxygen sensor. The determined power demand of the module 102 can be used to optimize the power supply to the module 102. This enables the module 102 and / or the sealable container 104 to be customized to ensure that sufficient power is provided to the module 102, taking into account the power demand of the module 102 and the transportation process of the sealable container 104.

[0070] Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method 300 for providing an inert environment in a sealable container 104 according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the method 300 uses the method described above with respect to Figure 2 Described module 102. Optional steps of the method 300 are shown in dashed boxes.

[0071] In step 302 , the module 102 is configured to extract ambient air from the sealable container 104 via the outlet opening 224 of the sealable container 104 .

[0072] In step 304 , the module 102 is configured to filter the extracted ambient air from the sealable container 104 using the filter unit 210 .

[0073] In step 306, module 102 is configured to dehumidify or dry the filtered air received from filter unit 210 using air dryer 212. In another embodiment, step 304 may not be performed, and module 102 is configured to dehumidify the extracted ambient air from sealable container 104.

[0074] In step 308, the module 102 is configured to compress the dehumidified air formed by the air dryer 212. In this embodiment, the pump 206 includes a compressor that can compress the dehumidified and filtered air to form compressed air. As described above, in an embodiment using a temperature swing adsorption process, the pump can deliver the extracted ambient air to the inert gas generator 208 at ambient pressure, so step 308 may not be performed.

[0075] In step 310 , the module 102 is configured to generate an inert gas using the compressed air formed in step 308 with the inert gas generator 208 .

[0076] In step 312, the module 102 is configured to provide the inert gas formed in step 310 to the sealable container 104 via the inlet opening 226 of the sealable container 104. In the present embodiment, the aforementioned steps 302 to 312 are performed in a continuous manner until a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104, thereby providing an inert environment in the sealable container 104. The predetermined oxygen concentration may vary according to the requirements of the sealable container 104, and may be specific to the items intended to be transported using the sealable container 104. For example, the predetermined oxygen concentration may be set to a limiting oxygen concentration associated with the items to be transported by the sealable container. In one embodiment, a suitable range of the predetermined oxygen concentration is 10% to 15%.

[0077] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a method for operating according to one embodiment Figure 1 1. A flow chart of the steps of a method 400 for controlling a module 102 to maintain a predetermined oxygen concentration in a sealable container 104. This involves using a system including a module controller and at least a second oxygen sensor and / or a third oxygen sensor as described above.

[0078] In step 402, the module 102 is configured to determine whether a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104. As described above, the predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container 104 is detected or measured using a second oxygen sensor disposed at the entrance of the module 102 or a third oxygen sensor disposed within the housing of the sealable container 104. The determination step in step 402 may be performed periodically, for example, at intervals of 5 minutes, at intervals of 10 minutes, at intervals of 20 minutes, or at any time interval deemed appropriate. A suitable time interval for performing step 402 is a time interval related to the total time it will take for the sealable container 104 to reach the predetermined oxygen concentration, and may vary depending on the size of the sealable container 104, the desired predetermined oxygen concentration, and the circulation rate associated with the provision of the inert gas used to replace the ambient air in the sealable container 104.

[0079] If it is determined that the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104, then in step 404, the module 102 is configured to stop Figure 3 In the present embodiment, this means that the module 102 is configured via the module controller to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve so that the sealable container 104 is isolated from the module 102. In this way, steps 302 to 312 will not be performed. In the present embodiment, after closing the inlet valve and the outlet valve, the module controller is also adapted to disconnect at least the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208 in order to save power for the module 102, but this should be understood to be optional.

[0080] In step 406, module 102 is configured to monitor the oxygen concentration in sealable container 104. This may be accomplished using a second oxygen sensor and / or a third oxygen sensor. Similar to step 402, the oxygen concentration in sealable container 104 may be monitored at suitable intervals.

[0081] In step 408, if it is determined that the oxygen concentration in the sealable container 104 has risen above the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module 102 is configured via the module controller to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve so that the module 102 and the sealable container 104 are fluidly connected again. If the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208 are disconnected in step 404, the module 102 is configured via the module controller to turn on the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208 so that the air circulation between the module 102 and the sealable container 104 is restored, and the inert gas can be provided to the sealable container 104 until the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104.

[0082] Therefore, in step 408, the inlet valve and the outlet valve are opened, and the pump 206 and the inert gas generator 208 are in operation, so that the module 102 performs steps 302 to 312. This leads back to step 402, where the module 102 is configured to determine whether a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104, and if the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104, then continue with steps 404 to 408 as previously described.

[0083] If it is determined at step 402 that the predetermined oxygen concentration has not been reached in the sealable container 104, the module 102 is configured to continue with steps 302 to 312 at step 410. This again results in a return to step 402 until it is determined that the predetermined oxygen concentration has been reached in the sealable container 104, and then steps 404 to 408 are subsequently performed as previously described.

[0084] In addition to the operations described above, after a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104, the module controller may also be adapted to activate the bypass conduit 220 to isolate the inert gas generator 208 while keeping the inlet valve and the outlet valve open. In this case, the module 102 may be independently used to filter and / or dehumidify the air in the sealable container 104 even if a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104. In addition, the module controller may be configured to independently disconnect the inert gas generator 208 while maintaining the operation of the pump 206 so that the air circulation between the module 102 and the sealable container 104 continues. The bypass conduit 220 may be manually activated (on-site or remotely), or it may be programmed to be automatically activated using the module controller, for example, to continue filtering and / or dehumidifying the air in the sealable container 104 even if a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 104. The skilled person will appreciate that other bypass conduits that isolate the filter unit 210 and / or the air dryer 212 may also be installed so that the functions of the filter unit 210 and the air dryer 212 may be isolated and performed independently.

[0085] In one embodiment where the system does not include a second oxygen sensor and / or a third oxygen sensor, method 400 is not performed and method 300 is performed in a continuous manner to provide inert gas to sealable container 104. In another embodiment, method 300 is stopped after a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached without performing method 400.

[0086] Exemplary sealable container

[0087] Figure 5 According to one embodiment, a Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a sealable container 500 with a module 102 , wherein the module 102 is integrated with the sealable container 500 to form a part of the sealable container 500 .

[0088] In this exemplary embodiment, the sealable container 500 comprises a dry container having a conventional twenty-foot or forty-foot steel floor with enhanced door seals, no external exhaust ports, and having an airtight bulkhead 502 positioned parallel to the end wall 504. The bulkhead 502 divides the container 500 into two spaces, forming an airtight enclosure for a cargo space 506 and a machine space 508 for housing the modules 102 that is open to the outside air. In this embodiment, the machine space 508 occupies about 10% of the total container volume, but in another embodiment this may be in the range of 5% to 15% of the total container volume. In this embodiment, the airtight bulkhead 502 has three openings therethrough: an outlet opening 510 leading to the modules 102 in the machine space 508 via an input conduit, an inlet opening 512 leading from the modules 102 to the cargo space 506 via an outlet conduit, and a balancing vent 514. In this embodiment, the input duct is flush with the airtight bulkhead 502 at ground level, while the output duct extends the length of the cargo space 506 at ceiling height to maximize the distance between the outlet opening 510 and the inlet opening 512. However, it should be understood that other configurations of the outlet opening 510 and the inlet opening 512 are possible.

[0089] Figure 5 Also shown in the figure are the processing machinery of module 102. This includes a filter unit 516, an air dryer 518, a compressor 520, and a nitrogen generator 522. In the present embodiment, the filter unit 516 includes at least one removable particle filter and is configured to filter the ambient air extracted from the cargo space 506. The air dryer 518 is configured to dehumidify or dry the extracted air. The compressor 520 is configured to compress the air to provide compressed air to the nitrogen generator 522. In the present embodiment, the nitrogen generator 522 uses a membrane separation method and therefore requires the use of compressed air to produce nitrogen as an inert gas. Figure 5 Also shown is an exhaust port 524 including a check valve for exhausting the oxygen-enriched gas stream from the nitrogen generator 522 to the outside atmosphere, and a power source 526 for powering the module and / or sealable container 500. In this embodiment, the power source 526 includes a battery.

[0090] Operation of sealable containers

[0091] Figure 6 According to one embodiment, Figure 5 600 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the sealable container 500. Please note that the diagram 600 is not drawn to scale and the machine space 508 is exaggerated for clarity. Similar features of the sealable container 500 are used in conjunction with Figure 5 The same reference numerals are used.

[0092] Air is sucked into the filter unit 516 through the outlet opening 510 via an inlet valve (not shown) by the negative pressure generated at the input side of the compressor 520. The air extracted from the cargo space 506 is filtered using the filter unit 516 and output to the air dryer 518 for drying. Figure 6 As shown, the water 601 extracted from the air can be discharged, and the discharged water can be recycled by the transport carrier or used for other applications. After dehumidification, the clean, dry air from the output side of the air dryer 518 enters the compressor 520, where it is compressed and sent to the nitrogen generator 522. In this embodiment, membrane separation is used, which requires compressed air. In another embodiment using the temperature swing adsorption method, a pump that delivers the extracted ambient air to the inert gas generator 208 at ambient pressure can be used to replace the compressor 520 as described above. For the current situation, the nitrogen generator 522 works by obtaining a stream of pressurized air and separating it into a nitrogen-rich stream and an oxygen-rich stream. Here, "rich" is a relative term, which is defined as a specific gas with a larger volume percentage compared to the input stream. For example, the nitrogen-rich stream produced by the nitrogen generator 522 means that the nitrogen-rich stream has a higher volume percentage of nitrogen than the air extracted from the cargo space 506 of the sealable container 500.

[0093] The oxygen-enriched stream is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the exhaust port 524, and the nitrogen-enriched stream is returned to the cargo space 506 through the inlet opening 512 via the outlet valve and the output conduit. In this embodiment, the volume of the oxygen-enriched stream discharged to the atmosphere by the system is replaced via the balance vent 514 at the airtight bulkhead 502. The balance vent 514 can also be set on other sides of the cargo space 506, as long as the balance vent 514 can be fluidly connected to the cargo space 506 (for example, at the side wall of the sealable container 500). The balance vent 514 includes a pressure-vacuum (PV) valve that responds to the pressure drop caused by the discharge of oxygen-enriched air by allowing a similar volume of ambient air to enter, so that the pressure in the cargo space 506 is maintained. The balance vent 514 can be controlled and adjusted by the module controller to maintain the pressure in the sealable container 500 at a predetermined pressure (for example, atmospheric pressure or lower).

[0094] Through operation of the module 102, the oxygen concentration of the air within the cargo space 506 decreases, and this decrease will continue as the air continues to circulate through the module 102. After the oxygen concentration within the cargo space 506 reaches the predetermined oxygen concentration, a maintenance phase as described with respect to the method 400 may be performed to maintain the predetermined oxygen concentration within the sealable container 500.

[0095] sensor

[0096] In addition to the described operation of the sealable container 500, a system may be provided to control and monitor various parameters related to the operation of the modules 102 and the condition of the cargo space 506 of the sealable container 500. The system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing temperature, humidity, pressure, and oxygen concentration, and these sensors are disposed at various locations in the sealable container 500. The system of this embodiment also includes a module controller for controlling the air circulation in the sealable container 500, and a power system controller for determining the power requirements of the process machinery and optimizing the power output of the process machinery to the sealable container 500.

[0097] In order to control and monitor the oxygen concentration within the cargo space 506, an oxygen sensor 602 is provided at the outlet opening 510 or the inlet of the filter unit 516 to detect the oxygen concentration of the ambient air extracted from the cargo space 506. The module controller in this embodiment is adapted to receive two inputs: a first input related to the desired oxygen concentration as determined by an operator or user of the sealable container 500, and a second input related to the actual or real-time oxygen concentration as detected by the oxygen sensor 602. As discussed above with respect to methods 300 and 400, after the module 102 or a sealable container integrated with the module 102 is activated, the module controller is configured to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve and turn on the processing machinery of the module 102. As described with respect to method 300, the various components of the module are operated to provide an inert gas (in this case, nitrogen) to the cargo space 506 of the sealable container 500. The processing machinery continues to be operated until the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen sensor 602 is equal to the value of the first input provided by the operator. This is similar to as described at step 402 of method 400, where the module controller is configured to determine whether a predetermined oxygen concentration (i.e., the first input in this case) has been reached in the sealable container 500. At this point, in this embodiment, the module controller is configured to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and shut down the process machinery, causing steps 302 to 312 to cease. The module controller continues to monitor the output of the oxygen sensor 602, and in the event that the oxygen concentration rises above a predetermined level, the module controller is configured to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and restart the process machinery to perform method 300 until the oxygen concentration within the cargo space 506 drops to the predetermined oxygen concentration again. This feedback loop of maintaining the desired oxygen concentration continues until the operator shuts down the module controller.

[0098] If deemed necessary, additional oxygen sensors may be deployed throughout the cargo space 506. In this embodiment, a second oxygen sensor 604 is provided at the exhaust port 524 to detect the oxygen concentration of the exhausted oxygen-rich byproduct to monitor the operating efficiency of the nitrogen generator 522. In addition, one or more oxygen sensors may be provided within the cargo space 506 to detect the oxygen concentration of the ambient air within the sealable container 500. For example, a third oxygen sensor 606 may be provided at or around the inlet opening 512 to monitor the overall efficiency of the processing machinery.

[0099] The aforementioned oxygen sensors and other sensors are listed in Table 1 below, which may be deployed within the sealable container 500 and / or the processing machinery to monitor the condition of the sealable container 500 and the operating efficiency of the processing machinery. Sensor Type Location Function humidity Air dryer input Cargo Space Gas Monitoring humidity Air dryer output Air Dryer Efficiency Monitoring pressure Compressor input Compressor efficiency monitoring pressure Compressor output Compressor efficiency monitoring oxygen Oxygen-enriched flow exhaust duct Nitrogen Generator Efficiency Monitoring oxygen Entrance opening Overall processing machinery efficiency oxygen Exit opening Monitoring oxygen concentration in cargo spaces temperature Exit opening Monitor ambient temperature temperature In cargo space Monitor ambient temperature Table 1: Examples of sensors that can be used to monitor module operation and sealable container condition

[0100] In this embodiment, a first humidity sensor 608 adapted to detect the humidity of the ambient air in the sealable container 500 may be provided at the input of the air dryer 518, while a second humidity sensor 610 adapted to detect the humidity of the dehumidified ambient air to monitor the operating efficiency of the air dryer 518 may be provided at the output of the air dryer 518. One or more other humidity sensors may also be provided within the cargo space 506 to provide additional humidity readings within the cargo space 506.

[0101] With respect to pressure sensing, a first pressure sensor 612 is provided at the output of the compressor 520 to detect the output pressure of the compressor 520, thereby monitoring the operating efficiency of the compressor 520. A second pressure sensor 614 may also be provided at the input of the compressor 520 to detect the input pressure of the compressor 520. The reading of the second pressure sensor 614 may be corroborated with the reading of the first pressure sensor 612 to monitor the efficiency of the compressor 520. A third pressure sensor may also be provided within the cargo space 506 to monitor the pressure within the sealable container 500. The ambient pressure within the cargo space may be controlled by using a PV valve at a balancing vent 514 located at the airtight bulkhead 502. In this embodiment, the system is not capable of generating a pressure above the ambient atmospheric pressure. Nevertheless, it may maintain the pressure in the cargo space 506 at or below ambient pressure. In combination with a properly designed door seal, a cargo space pressure below ambient pressure may be used to improve the airtight integrity of the cargo space 506.

[0102] As listed in Table 1, temperature sensors may also be provided at the exit opening 510 and within the cargo space 506 to detect the ambient temperature in the sealable container 500. These temperature sensors provide temperature readings at different locations of the sealable container 500 and may be verified to enable real-time monitoring of the ambient temperature in the sealable container 500. Any increase in ambient temperature may indicate that the cargo within the sealable container 500 is beginning to self-heat, and early intervention may be easily implemented to prevent any fire. In one embodiment, the module controller may be configured to trigger an alarm when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature value to provide an early warning of a potential fire in the sealable container 500. The alarm may include the identity and / or location of the sealable container 500 so that it may be easily and quickly located.

[0103] In this embodiment, all sensor data generated by the aforementioned sensors are recorded and electronically stored in the module controller. The data can be accessed by physically connecting to the module controller with a suitable device (e.g., a USB drive) or by a wireless network (e.g., WIFI or a satellite network). In one embodiment where the module controller is connected to a wireless network, the sealable container 500 includes a transmitter and / or a receiver to send data and / or receive data from the wireless network. The network can be a local network, such as a network on a ship, or a more extensive satellite-based network. This will allow real-time monitoring of the operation of the processing machinery of the sealable container 500 and the conditions in the cargo space 506, such as to ensure that the oxygen concentration in the sealable container 500 is equal to or lower than a predetermined oxygen concentration and / or detect an early warning of potential cargo self-heating in the cargo space 506.

[0104] The predetermined or desired oxygen concentration in the cargo space 506 of the sealable container 500 and / or the activation of the process machinery can be done remotely or on-site at the sealable container 500. Data received through the module controller, such as the oxygen set level (i.e., the predetermined oxygen concentration), the actual oxygen concentration (i.e., the oxygen concentration detected in the cargo space 506), and the cargo space ambient temperature, can be displayed on the control panel of the module controller using an LCD. If the module controller is connected to a wireless network, these parameters or data of the sensors can also be accessed and displayed remotely.

[0105] electricity

[0106] The power requirements of the sealable container 500 are relatively low, especially after the oxygen concentration in the cargo space 506 has reached a predetermined level, and only a maintenance cycle as described in the method 400 is required. If the cargo space 506 has a high degree of hermetic integrity, there will be little or no drift in the oxygen concentration in the cargo space 506, and thus after the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached, little or no power will be required to maintain the predetermined oxygen concentration in the cargo space. Here, oxygen concentration drift is defined as the rate at which the oxygen concentration rises after the predetermined oxygen concentration has been reached in the cargo space 506 and the sealable container 500 has been sealed. This rate will depend on the hermetic integrity of the cargo space and the nature of the cargo, packaging type, etc., and can be determined / estimated for an individual sealable container.

[0107] In this embodiment, in addition to the power source 526, the sealable container 500 can also be connected to an external power source and / or photovoltaic cells located on the outer wall (e.g., the outer top and / or side wall) of the sealable container 500. The external power source, the photovoltaic cells, and the power source 526 (e.g., a battery) of the module work together to provide power to the sealable container 500. For example, the external power source can be used to charge the battery so that the battery can provide sufficient power when there is no external power available. Photovoltaic cells provide renewable energy and can be used to supplement the power provided by the external power source and / or the battery. This hybrid mode gives flexibility in how the sealable container 500 can be handled through the transport chain according to the individual characteristics / requirements of each voyage. For example, some voyages may require that the sealable container 500 be transported as a standard refrigerated container with almost continuous access to an external power source, while other voyages may require that the sealable container 500 be a standard dry container without an external power source.

[0108] In this embodiment, the power system controller monitors the external power input and the photovoltaic cell power input, the power consumption of the processing machinery, and the battery charge percentage. Using these parameters and the required oxygen concentration and estimated oxygen concentration drift of the cargo space 506, the power system controller is configured to calculate the power demand of the sealable container 500 and optimize its supply. This enables the sealable container 500 to be customized to ensure that sufficient power is provided to the modules, taking into account the power requirements of the modules and the transportation process of the sealable container 500.

[0109] Similar to the above sensor data, data related to power management can also be stored in the power system controller and provided on-site or wirelessly as needed. The power management data can also be displayed on the sealable container 500 via the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel of the power system controller.

[0110] Additional Features

[0111] In addition to the functions described above, the additional benefit of the circulation and filtration of ambient air within the sealable container 500 is that the circulation and filtration of the gas around the cargo provides a mechanism for verifying the cargo contents in the sealable container 500. One or more filters in the filter unit of the module can be replaceable (e.g., with the option of using a new filter at each transport), and the machine space 508 is an enclosed area that can be safely sealed in the loading position. At any time during the transportation of the sealable container 500, customs officials will be able to access the filters and use ion scanners or similar technologies to check for trace explosives, narcotics or other prohibited substances in the cargo. This process will avoid the need for expensive and time-consuming manual searches of any suspicious containers.

[0112] If the detected oxygen concentration in the cargo space 506 is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller of the sealable container 500 in this embodiment can also be adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve and activate the bypass conduit (not shown) to isolate the nitrogen generator 522. In this case, the bypass conduit allows the nitrogen generator 522 to be isolated from the circulating gas, but even if the predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container 500, it also enables the air in the sealable container 500 to be independently filtered and dehumidified. As previously described, the degree of moisture reduction can be controlled using a humidity sensor connected to the module controller. In one embodiment, with the nitrogen generator 522 bypassed, the continuous circulation of air in the sealable container 500 also allows the fumigant to circulate throughout the volume of the sealable container 500 when needed. In some cases, the use of an inert gas can eliminate the need to use a fumigant, or reduce the amount of fumigant required when it can be safely used in conjunction with the nitrogen generator 522.

[0113] Other alternative embodiments include: (1) an inert gas generator comprising a nitrogen generator or a carbon dioxide generator; (2) an inlet valve and / or an outlet valve comprising a solenoid valve; (3) an inert gas generator using a temperature swing adsorption method or a pressure swing adsorption method; (4) using a pump, or a compressor, or both, to deliver extracted ambient air to the inert gas generator 208 at ambient pressure to extract ambient air from the surrounding space or cargo space of the sealable container; (5) the cargo space of the sealable container is not completely sealed, and the method 300 is used in a continuous manner to provide inert gas to the cargo space and maintain the oxygen concentration in the cargo space at a predetermined oxygen concentration / level; (6) a predetermined oxygen concentration having a range or region with a lower end point and an upper end point, such as an oxygen concentration of 10% to 15%; (7) a sealable container having a balance vent facing the outside of the sealable container; (8) such as Figure 5 or Figure 6 The filter unit and air dryer are shown in different orders so that the extracted air from the cargo space is dehumidified by passing through the air dryer before being filtered by the filter unit; (9) the module is secured to restrict access after the sealable container is sealed; (10) a module controller and / or power system controller controlled by secure physical access or a secure wireless network to avoid any misoperation of the module and / or the sealable container; (11) a filter unit including one or more of the following: a HEPA filter, a fiberglass filter, a polyester and a pleated filter; (12) an exhaust port for exhausting oxygen-rich byproducts can be part of an inert gas generator or integrated with the inert gas generator; (13) a transmitter configured to send data to a network to monitor the gas conditions of the sealable container and / or the operation of the module in real time, and / or a receiver configured to receive data related to the operation of the module; and (14) a module that does not include an inlet valve and / or an outlet valve.

[0114] Although only certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many variations are possible according to the appended claims. For example, features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated into one or more other embodiments, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A module for providing an inert environment in a sealable container, the module comprising: an inlet adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container to extract ambient air from the sealable container; an outlet adapted to be fluidly connected to the sealable container to provide an inert gas to the sealable container; a pump configured to draw the ambient air from the sealable container via the inlet; and An inert gas generator is configured to generate the inert gas using extracted ambient air and provide the inert gas to the sealable container via the outlet, thereby providing the inert environment in the sealable container.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the module is integrated with the sealable container to form a part of the sealable container.

3. A module according to claim 2, wherein the module occupies 5% to 15% of the total volume of the sealable container.

4. A module according to any preceding claim, further comprising a filtration unit configured to filter the ambient air extracted from the sealable container.

5. Module according to claim 4, wherein the filter unit comprises at least one removable particle filter.

6. A module according to any preceding claim, further comprising an air dryer configured to dehumidify the ambient air extracted from the sealable container.

7. The module of claim 6, further comprising a first humidity sensor at the input of the air dryer adapted to detect the humidity of the ambient air in the sealable container.

8. A module according to claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising a second humidity sensor at the output of the air dryer adapted to sense the humidity of the dehumidified ambient air to monitor the operating efficiency of the air dryer.

9. A module according to any preceding claim, further comprising: an exhaust port, the exhaust port being used to discharge oxygen-rich byproducts generated by the inert gas generator; and A first oxygen sensor is provided at the exhaust port, the first oxygen sensor being adapted to detect an oxygen concentration of the exhausted oxygen-rich byproduct to monitor an operating efficiency of the inert gas generator.

10. A module according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pressure sensor at the output of the pump adapted to sense the output pressure of the pump to monitor the operating efficiency of the pump.

11. A module according to any preceding claim, further comprising a temperature sensor located at the inlet of the module for sensing the ambient temperature in the sealable container.

12. A sealable container comprising: A module according to any one of claims 1 to 11; an inlet opening adapted to be connected to the outlet of the module; and An outlet opening adapted to be connected to the inlet of the module.

13. The sealable container of claim 12, further comprising: an inlet valve connected to the inlet; and an outlet valve connected to the outlet, The inlet valve is adapted to control air flow from the sealable container to the module, and the outlet valve is adapted to control air flow from the module to the sealable container.

14. The sealable container of claim 13, further comprising a second oxygen sensor at the inlet of the module adapted to detect an oxygen concentration of the ambient air drawn from the sealable container.

15. The sealable container according to claim 14, further comprising a module controller adapted to control opening and closing of each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve according to the oxygen concentration detected by the second oxygen sensor, thereby achieving a predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container.

16. The sealable container of claim 15, wherein the module controller is configured to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve if the detected oxygen concentration is higher than the predetermined oxygen concentration, and to close the inlet valve and the outlet valve if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration.

17. A sealable container according to any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein the module controller is further adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator on and off, the module controller being adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator on if the detected oxygen concentration is higher than the predetermined oxygen concentration, and being adapted to switch the pump and the inert gas generator off if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or lower than the predetermined oxygen concentration.

18. The sealable container of claim 16, further comprising a bypass conduit adapted to isolate the inert gas generator.

19. The sealable container of claim 18, wherein if the detected oxygen concentration is equal to or below the predetermined oxygen concentration, the module controller is adapted to open the inlet valve and the outlet valve and activate the bypass conduit to isolate the inert gas generator.

20. A sealable container according to any one of claims 12 to 19, further comprising an equalising vent adapted to equalise the pressure in the sealable container to a predetermined pressure.

21. A sealable container according to any one of claims 15 to 20, further comprising a power source configured to provide power to the modules.

22. The sealable container of claim 21, further comprising at least one solar cell externally attached to at least one wall of the sealable container, the at least one solar cell electrically connected to the module to provide power to the module.

23. The sealable container of claim 22, further comprising a power system controller configured to determine power requirements of the module using: an output of the power source, an output of the at least one solar cell, power consumption of the module for achieving the predetermined oxygen concentration in the sealable container, and an oxygen concentration detected by the second oxygen sensor.

24. A sealable container according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein the inlet opening is provided at one end of the sealable container and the outlet opening is provided at an opposite end of the sealable container.

25. The sealable container according to any one of claims 12 to 24, further comprising at least one third oxygen sensor disposed in the sealable container adapted to detect an oxygen concentration of the ambient air within the sealable container.

26. A sealable container according to any one of claims 12 to 25, wherein the sealable container comprises a mobile container.

27. The sealable container according to any one of claims 12 to 26, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit data from the sealable container to a network to monitor the gas condition of the sealable container in real time.

28. The sealable container of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit data related to information collected regarding operation of the pump and the inert gas generator of the module.

29. A method for providing an inert environment in a sealable container, the method comprising: (i) extracting ambient air from the sealable container through an outlet opening of the sealable container; (ii) using extracted ambient air to generate inert gas; as well as (iii) providing said inert gas to said sealable container through an inlet opening of said sealable container, Wherein steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are performed in a continuous manner until a predetermined oxygen concentration is reached in the sealable container, thereby providing the inert environment in the sealable container.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising compressing the extracted ambient air.

31. The method of claim 29 or claim 30, further comprising filtering the extracted ambient air.

32. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 31 , further comprising dehumidifying the extracted ambient air.

33. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 32, further comprising providing a fumigant in the sealable container.

34. The method according to any one of claims 29 to 33, further comprising: After the oxygen concentration in the sealable container reaches the predetermined oxygen concentration, stopping the execution of steps (i), (ii) and (iii); monitoring oxygen concentration in the sealable container; as well as If the oxygen concentration in the sealable container rises above the predetermined oxygen concentration, steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are restarted.

35. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 33, further comprising monitoring the ambient temperature within the sealable container.

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