Apparatus for cryogenic storage and transport of cargo

Abstract

A device for storing and transporting goods, in particular fresh or frozen products, particularly for standard freight containers. The device comprises a capsule made of insulating material shaped according to the internal dimensions of the freight container and a module containing a refrigerant, which is a monolithic parallelepiped whose dimensions correspond to the lateral surface of the capsule, is connected to the lateral surface of the capsule and has inside a tubular heat exchanger containing a refrigerant and a heat storage liquid. In an embodiment, the device adopts a modular structure comprising a top cap module (3.1) containing a refrigerant and two lateral modules (3.2) containing a refrigerant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a device for the low-temperature storage and transportation of goods, particularly suitable for fresh or frozen products, and specifically for standard land, air and sea containers.

[0002] When transporting perishable products (especially food) within containers, the temperature must be maintained in accordance with ATP standards. Specifically, in Category A, for products labeled "fresh," the temperature must be between 0°C and +4°C or 0°C and +7°C (depending on the product type and transport / distribution method). In Category C, for products labeled "frozen," the temperature must be below -18°C. Background Technology

[0003] Most known refrigeration units employ a monolithic metal body to enhance structural strength. Typically, their outer walls are entirely made of metal, and the structure is not removable.

[0004] Prior art (RU 2662183 C2, filed June 20, 2017, published July 24, 2018) discloses an apparatus for storing and transporting fresh or frozen products, particularly relating to insulated containers and similar apparatus. The apparatus includes at least one thermal accumulator associated with a corresponding inner wall of the container, and a plurality of longitudinally extending metal thermal storage modules, each of which includes a housing that separates the module from a cavity configured to contain a thermally stored fluid, wherein a heat exchanger is disposed within the cavity and configured to supply a heat transfer fluid thereto. The apparatus is characterized in that the thermal storage modules are mechanically and thermally interconnected, and the housing has a first wall facing the inner surface of the container and having a generally flat surface, and a second wall opposite the first wall, facing the internal compartments of the container and having at least a partially ribbed surface.

[0005] The main drawbacks of this design are its complex structure, lack of disassembly, and insufficient strength. Furthermore, the cooling temperature cannot be maintained for extended periods.

[0006] Another drawback of this design is that the large number of components makes it difficult to manufacture and makes the overall solution overly complex. Yet another drawback is that its structural components must be connected to the container walls, thus altering the container's functionality; specifically, once such modifications are completed, the container can no longer be used to transport other products. Utility Model Content

[0007] This technical solution aims to eliminate the defects existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to simplify the structural design of the device.

[0009] According to this utility model, a specific technical effect is achieved by means of a device for the low-temperature storage and transportation of goods. The device includes a reinforced integral capsule made of heat-insulating material and shaped according to the internal dimensions of a standard freight container, and a top cover module containing refrigerant. The top cover module is an integral parallelepiped whose dimensions correspond to the area of ​​the lateral surface of the capsule and is connected to the lateral surface of the capsule. The top cover module is provided with a tubular heat exchanger containing refrigerant and heat storage fluid inside.

[0010] This invention also provides an alternative embodiment aimed at extending the duration of maintaining the refrigeration temperature within the capsule. In this embodiment, the device for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods employs a modular refrigeration principle, and similar to the foregoing embodiments, the device includes a reinforced integral capsule made of insulating material and shaped according to the internal dimensions of a transport container, the capsule including an evaporator containing refrigerant. In this alternative embodiment, the device for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods is characterized by a modular design of the capsule, including: a top cover module, side modules, a bottom plate module, a door module, and a rear plate module, all interconnected, wherein the refrigerant evaporator portions are disposed in the side modules and the top cover module.

[0011] Specifically, the modules containing the evaporator are interconnected via locking connectors.

[0012] In particular, the evaporator section is made in the form of longitudinal and transverse reinforcements.

[0013] Specifically, the reinforcing ribs are provided with star-shaped holes, and aluminum tubes for refrigerant to pass through are provided in the holes.

[0014] In particular, the modules' walls are made of composite materials.

[0015] Specifically, a heat insulation layer is provided between the walls of the modules.

[0016] Specifically, the evaporator section is attached to aluminum foil.

[0017] Specifically, the evaporator section is located in the recess of the evaporator. Attached Figure Description

[0018] - Figure 1 A first embodiment of the device is shown, wherein a door is provided on one end side of the capsule corresponding to the door of the container.

[0019] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An internal view of the capsule.

[0020] - Figure 3 and Figure 4 All of the aforementioned figures show the capsules and shipping containers.

[0021] - Figure 5 This is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a device for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods using modules made of composite materials.

[0022] - Figure 6 This is a side view of the front portion of an alternative embodiment of a device for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods using modules made of composite materials.

[0023] - Figure 7 The structure of the capsule formed by the modules is shown.

[0024] - Figure 8 This is a side view of the front part of the module, showing the position of the evaporator within the recess of the module.

[0025] - Figure 9 This is a side view of the front portion of the outer wall of the module, which is made of a composite material.

[0026] - Figure 10 The structure of the evaporator section is shown.

[0027] - Figure 11 A reinforcement for the evaporator section with star-shaped orifices is shown.

[0028] - Figure 12 This is an external view of a technical variant of the device applicable to standard shipping containers.

[0029] - Figure 13 This is an internal view of a technical variant of the device applicable to standard shipping containers. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The reference numerals used in the accompanying figures are as follows:

[0031] 1-capsule

[0032] 2—Container

[0033] 3.1—Top Cover Module

[0034] 3.2—Lateral Module

[0035] 3.3—Base Plate Module

[0036] 3.4—Gate Module

[0037] 3.5—Rear Panel Module

[0038] 4—Module outer wall

[0039] 5—Evaporator recess

[0040] 6—Insulation layer

[0041] 7—Evaporator Section

[0042] 8—Aluminum Tube

[0043] 9—Reinforcing components

[0044] 10—Star-shaped hole

[0045] 11—Aluminum Foil

[0046] The equipment used for the cryogenic storage and transport of goods is designed to be installed in standard, non-insulated transport containers.

[0047] exist Figures 2 to 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the device for cryogenic storage and transport of goods includes a reinforced integral capsule (1) made of insulating material and shaped to conform to the internal dimensions of the container (2) in which the capsule is installed, and a top cover module (3.1) containing refrigerant, the top cover module being parallelepiped in shape and having dimensions corresponding to the area of ​​the lateral (upper) surface of the capsule (1) and connected to the lateral surface of the capsule (1).

[0048] The reinforced capsule (1) is made of insulating material (e.g., PU-polyurethane, PUU, etc.) and is typically made by simultaneously casting five surfaces of a frame corresponding to the internal dimensions of a standard freight container, thereby ensuring the necessary rigidity and strength of the overall structure of the capsule (1). The capsule (1) may be parallelepiped or have a more complex shape, such as conforming to the shape of an air freight container.

[0049] A plastic hinged door is provided on the edge of the capsule (1) corresponding to the container door. The door is molded using the same technology as the other surfaces of the capsule (1) and opens when the standard container (2) is opened.

[0050] The capsule (1) is installed in the container (2) in a simple manner by mechanically sliding it in, for example, by using the capsule (1) to freely move in and out of the container. The bottom plate of the container may be covered with sliding elements, such as microspheres manufactured by 3M (Germany) or other similar materials, to provide a low coefficient of friction.

[0051] The capsule (1) is attached using fasteners, for example.

[0052] The refrigeration module is parallelepiped, and its dimensions correspond to the area of ​​the lateral (upper) surface of the capsule (1). Example dimensions are shown in Table 2. A tubular heat exchanger is provided within the module to concentrate the necessary cooling capacity in the heat storage fluid within the module. The refrigerant used is any type of Freon or carbon dioxide. Water is used as the storage fluid.

[0053] The valve compensates for the volume change of the refrigerant during the gas phase transition.

[0054] To prevent water hammer from occurring in the container (2) during transport, the module is equipped with internal partitions, including partitions with star-shaped holes, to generate eddies and reduce the speed of directional liquid movement.

[0055] In this embodiment, the module is positioned on the side corresponding to the top cover surface of the capsule (1). The attachment method of the top cover module (3.1) allows it to be quickly replaced with a ready-to-use module. For example, it can be attached using a conventional clamping latch or chain roller clamp. The module can be manufactured with different heat capacities to provide the necessary thermal autonomy.

[0056] Table 1 shows the overall dimensions of a standard freight container 2.

[0057]

[0058] Table 2 shows examples of variations in the overall dimensions of the refrigeration module.

[0059]

[0060] The device described in this application allows the use of any standard, non-insulated container. Because the capsules are made of a single, insulated material, this solution also provides higher technical reliability; furthermore, it shortens the sterilization time and maintenance cycle of the container, facilitating immediate deployment. Prepared capsules can be pre-made and pre-loaded before being loaded into a standard freight container. Capsules ready for use can be prepared by connecting the cold storage unit to an already assembled compressor and simultaneously replacing the cold storage unit with a pre-made one, thereby significantly reducing the time required to put the capsules into service.

[0061] exist Figures 5 to 13 In the alternative embodiment shown, the device for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods adopts the modular refrigeration principle; in this embodiment, the capsule (1) consists of seven modules: a top cover module (3.1), two side module modules (3.2), a bottom plate module (3.3), two door modules (3.4) and a rear plate module (3.5), each module is connected to each other by a locking connector and is manufactured in the form of a parallelepiped, the size of which is consistent with the size of the internal components of the corresponding side of the freight container.

[0062] like Figure 6As shown, the module (1) is formed by the outer wall (4) of the module (1). The module is parallelepiped and has an evaporator recess (5). The recess is manufactured in a structural cavity form. Meanwhile, on the outer wall of the module made of composite material, a wear-resistant layer (applied by a wear-resistant compound) and an evaporator portion (7) are mounted on an aluminum foil (11). A heat insulation layer (6) is disposed between the wear-resistant layers. The evaporator portion (7) includes an aluminum tube (8) through which refrigerant flows and is attached by longitudinal and transverse reinforcements (9) having star-shaped holes (10). The dimensions of the aluminum foil (11) together with the evaporator portion (7) mounted in the aluminum foil (11) are consistent with the dimensions of the evaporator recess (5) in which the structure is mounted.

[0063] A device for low-temperature storage and transportation of goods using the modular refrigeration principle includes a capsule (1), which includes a refrigerant-containing top cover module (3.1) installed on the inner upper wall of a transport container, two refrigerant-containing side modules (3.2) installed on the inner side walls of a freight container (2), a bottom plate module (3.3) installed on the inner lower wall of the transport container, and two door modules (3.4) installed at the front of the capsule. The capsule (1) is parallelepiped and joined together by locking connectors, thereby protecting the goods inside the capsule (1) from external mechanical damage and simplifying the capsule design of the device.

[0064] An evaporator section (7) is mounted on the surface of an aluminum foil (11) and in an evaporator recess (5). The evaporator section (7) includes an aluminum tube (8) through which refrigerant flows to generate heat exchange. Furthermore, the modular structure of the capsule (1) of this device extends the cooling time of the capsule because the modules are evenly distributed on the entire inner surface of the capsule (1).

[0065] Similarly, the outer wall of the module made of composite materials and the heat insulation layer (6) therebetween can improve the heat storage capacity of the outer wall of the module and also increase the cooling time of the capsule. The aluminum tube (8) passes through the star-shaped hole (10) formed in the reinforcing member (9) to improve the structural rigidity of the evaporator section (7) and prevent water hammer during vehicle movement due to acceleration and braking.

[0066] The aforementioned technological achievements were made possible by a modular refrigeration system for the cryogenic storage and transportation of goods, comprising: two side modules, a top cover module, a bottom plate module, a door module, and a rear plate module. The surface area of ​​the evaporator portion of the side modules is the same as the surface area of ​​the internal side walls of the transport container, and the area of ​​the evaporator portion of the top cover module is the same as the area of ​​the internal upper wall of the transport container. These modules are interconnected via locking connectors, allowing for on-site assembly and disassembly without the need for tools.

[0067] The design of these modules improves the refrigeration performance of the capsule and thus extends the time required to maintain the capsule's refrigerated temperature. Furthermore, by installing evaporator portions within all evaporator recesses of the side and top cover modules, the mass distribution of the capsule is significantly improved, resulting in increased structural strength.

[0068] The evaporator section is attached to an aluminum plate on the inside to increase structural density. The outer wall of the module is made of composite material to improve heat storage capacity and extend the bladder's cooling time. An insulation layer is provided between the outer walls of the modules, which also improves heat storage capacity and affects the maintenance of the required temperature inside the bladder. The evaporator section is attached via longitudinal and transverse reinforcements with star-shaped perforations, which reduces the possibility of water hammer during acceleration or braking and simultaneously improves structural strength.

[0069] Figure 12 and Figure 13 An embodiment of this technical solution is shown for use in a standard 10-foot (3-meter) freight container.

[0070] Experiments were conducted to test the prototype and improved technology. The prototype and the device described in this application were mounted on 3-meter transport containers and loaded onto corresponding transport platforms. These transport platforms were transported along an 800-kilometer route from the Moscow region to the Krasnodar region, where the ambient temperature ranged from 26°C to 32°C. At departure, thermometers simultaneously recorded an internal temperature of 6°C. To ensure uniform temperature monitoring, thermometers were placed at the top and bottom.

[0071] The initial journey for both transport platforms lasted 6 hours. At the time of the first stop, the air temperature inside the prototype device was 8°C; in the device described in this application, the air temperature remained at 6°C. Five hours later, upon arrival at the destination, the air temperature inside the prototype device had risen to 11°C, while the air temperature inside the device described in this application was 7°C. Further testing was conducted during overnight parking, with ambient temperatures ranging from 18°C ​​to 24°C. Both devices were placed under these conditions for 8 hours.

[0072] Temperature was measured simultaneously. The temperature inside the device described in the prototype was 16°C, which does not meet the storage temperature requirements of some products; the temperature in the device of this application was 9°C. After 3 hours, the ambient temperature rose to 32°C, the temperature inside the device described in the prototype rose to 18°C, while the temperature in the device of this application was 11°C. The experiment lasted 22 hours. The heating rate of the device of this application was 30% slower than that of the device described in the prototype; in other words, the time required to maintain the required cooling temperature of the capsule was extended by 30%.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cryogenic storage and transportation of goods, characterized in that, It includes a reinforced integral capsule made of insulating material and shaped according to the internal dimensions of a standard air container, and an integral parallelepiped top cover module containing refrigerant, the size of which corresponds to the area of ​​the lateral surface of the capsule and is connected to the lateral surface of the capsule, and the interior of which is provided a tubular heat exchanger and a heat storage fluid.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule has a modular design, including a top cover module, two side modules, a bottom plate module, a door module and a rear plate module, the modules being interconnected by locking connectors for assembly and disassembly, and each module being made in the form of a parallelepiped, the dimensions of which are the same as the dimensions of the internal components of the corresponding side of the shipping container, wherein the side modules and the top cover module are provided with refrigerant-containing evaporator portions.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the capsule comprises: The outer wall, made of a composite material and shaped like a parallelepiped, is structured to be suitable for the evaporator and has a concave cavity, as well as a heat insulation layer disposed between the outer walls.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the evaporator includes an evaporator portion comprising an aluminum tube through which refrigerant flows and the aluminum tube is attached by means of longitudinal and transverse reinforcements having star-shaped holes.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the evaporator portion is attached to the aluminum foil and the dimensions of the aluminum foil and the evaporator portion mounted in the aluminum foil correspond to the dimensions of the recess for the evaporator.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the evaporator portion is located within a recess defined by the outer wall of the module.

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