Container with temperature regulation

Abstract

There is disclosed a container (200) for storage and / or transport. The container comprises a container body defining a first space (211) and a second space (213). The first space is adapted to contain a heat transfer material. The second space is adapted for holding goods. The first and second spaces are configured to enable heat transfer between the first and second spaces. The container further comprises a heat source (223) for transferring heat to the heat transfer material, or a heat sink (223) for extracting heat from the heat transfer material. The first space may partially or completely surround the second space. The heat transfer material may comprise a heat transfer fluid (e.g. a liquid and / or a gas), and the container may further comprise a fluid circulation unit (211) for circulating heat transfer fluid within the first space. The heat transfer fluid may comprise air, the fluid circulation unit may comprise a fan, and the heat source / sink may comprise a phase-change material (PCM).

Description

[0001] Container with Temperature Regulation

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Field

[0004] Certain examples of the present disclosure provide a container with temperature regulation, for example a container for storing and / or transporting goods requiring temperature regulation. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Goods are typically stored and / or transported in containiners. Many goods are temperature sensitive and so should be stored and / or transported within a certain temperature range. For example, fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables should be stored and / or transported within a temperature range of around 0-5 °C in order to slow degradation of the produce. Similarly, frozen goods should be stored and / or transported at a temperature below 0 °C to prevent defrosting. In other examples, it may be desirable or required to store and / or transport certain goods at a relatively high temperature. Therefore, what is desired is technology for maintaining or regulating the internal temperature of a storage and / or transport container within a desired range.

[0006] Some technologies for regulating the internal temperature of a container require a power source. For example, power may be required for operating a refrigeration unit for cooling or a heater unit for warming. When storing goods at a fixed location, a power source may be readily available. On the other hand, when transporting goods, for example by train or lorry, a portable power supply may be required. However, a portable power supply may be bulky resulting in less space for goods, and / or heavy resulting in increased transport costs due to the extra weight. Furthermore, the transportation of goods may take a relatively long time, for example several days in the case of international transportation. In this case a portable power supply may not be able to provide sufficient power for a sufficient duration. Therefore, what is desired is technology that does not require a portable power supply, or that only requires a relatively small amount of power to operate, at least during transportation. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] It is an aim of certain examples of the present disclosure to address, solve, mitigate or obviate, at least partly, at least one of the problems and / or disadvantages associated with the related art, for example at least one of the problems and / or disadvantages mentioned herein. Certain examples of the present disclosure aim to provide at least one advantage over the related art, for example at least one of the advantages mentioned herein.

[0009] The present invention is defined in the independent claims. Advantageous features are defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] Embodiments, aspects or examples disclosed in the description and / or figures falling outside the scope of the claims are to be understood as examples useful for understanding the present invention.

[0011] Certain examples of the present disclosure provide a container for storage and / or transport, the container comprising: a container body defining a first space and a second space, wherein the first space is adapted to contain a heat transfer material, wherein the second space is adapted for holding goods, and wherein the first and second spaces are configured to enable heat transfer between the first and second spaces; and a heat source for transferring heat to the heat transfer material, or a heat sink for extracting heat from the heat transfer material.

[0012] In certain examples, the heat transfer material maycomprise a heat transfer fluid (e.g. a liquid and / or a gas), and the container may further comprise a fluid circulation unit for circulating the heat transfer fluid within the first space.

[0013] In certain examples, the heat transfer fluid comprises air.

[0014] In certain examples, the fluid circulation unit comprises a fan.

[0015] In certain examples, the heat source or heat sink comprises a phase-change material (PCM).

[0016] In certain examples, the PCM is detachably mounted to the container.

[0017] In certain examples, the first space partially or completely surrounds the second space.

[0018] In certain examples, the first and second spaces are isolated in an air tight manner.

[0019] In certain examples, the container is adapted to be transportable by a train, lorry and / or ship, and / or adapted to be storable in a storage facility.

[0020] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, disclose examples of the present disclosure.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates an first exemplary container for storing and / or transporting goods with temperature regulation; and

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates a second exemplary container for storing and / or transporting goods with temperature regulation.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following description of examples of the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings, is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the present invention, as defined by the claims. The description includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the examples described herein can be made.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates an first exemplary container 100 for storing and / or transporting goods with temperature regulation.

[0027] Referring to Figure 1, the container 100 comprises an outer shell-type structure forming an enclosed space in which goods 101 may be placed. For example, the container 100 illustrated in Figure 1 includes four side walls, a lower wall (or floor) and an upper wall (or ceiling) forming a generally oblong container having a generally rectangular cross-section. However, the skilled person will appreciate that a container may have any suitable construction and / or shape. For example, a container may have a circular, triangular or hexagonal cross-section. The container 100 may be constructed of any suitable material, for example metal (e.g. steel or aluminium), plastic, carbon fibre, etc. The internal space of the container 100 may be accessed through one or more closable doors, hatches, and the like 103 provided on one or more of the walls.

[0028] The container may also comprise heat insulation 105 for reducing heat transfer through the container walls (from interior to exterior, or vice versa), thereby helping to maintain a certain temperature wihin the interior of the container. The container 100 may further comprise one or more temperature regulating units 107 for regulating the interior temperature of the container 100. For example, the temperature regulating units 107 may include one or more heat sources or heating units (for releasing heat into the interior of the container 100) and / or one or more heat sinks or cooling units (for extracting heat from the interior of the container 100).

[0029] In certain examples, a heating unit may comprise an electrically powered device, for example an electric heater. In certain examples, a cooling unit may comprise an electrically and / or fuel powered device, for example a refrigeration unit.

[0030] In certain examples, a heating unit and / or a cooling unit may comprise a phase-change material (PCM). A PCM is a substance capable of releasing and / or absorbing heat to achieve a heating and / or cooling effect. Heat energy is released and / or absorbed through phase transitions (e.g. between gas, solid and / or liquid) of the PCM. After the PCM has been used by absorbing or releasing heat, resulting in a phase change, the PCM may be processed, for example by cooling or heating, to return the PCM to its original state so that the PCM may be re-used. For example, the PCM may be processed at the end of a transport route or at an intermediate stop of a transport route.

[0031] The skilled person will appreciate that types of heating / cooling units other than those described above may be used in various examples.

[0032] In certain examples, the container may also comprise one or more air circulation units, for example one or more fans, for circulating air within the interior of the container. In other examples air circulation units may be omitted and air may circulate due to natural convention currents in the interior of the container.

[0033] With the container of Figure 1 , goods placed in the interior of the container experience air currents 109 caused by circulating air within the container. However, experiments have shown that certain goods, for example apples, degrade more slowly when located within relatively still air.

[0034] Figure 2 illustrates a second exemplary container for storing and / or transporting goods with temperature regulation. The container 200 of Figure 2 differs from the container of Figure 1 in that air circulation is reduced in the space 213 in which the goods 201 are located.

[0035] Referring to Figure 2, the container 200 comprises an outer shell-type structure of a similar type to the container of Figure 1 . Like the container of Figure 1 , in certain examples the container 200 of Figure 2 may comprise heat insulation 205 to reduce or minimise heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the container, and one or more closable doors, hatches, and the like 203. Unlike the container of Figure 1 , in the container 200 of Figure 2, the interior space of the shell is divided into at least a first space 211 and a second space 213. The first space 211 and the second space 213 may be isolated from each othe in an air-tight manner. For example, the first and second spaces 211 , 213 may be separated by one or more walls, layers, membranes or the like. In certain examples, one of the first and second spaces 211 , 213 may fully or partially surround the other of the first and second spaces 211 , 213. For example, in the container of Figure 2, the interior space of the shell may be divided into an outer region 211 (e.g. comprising a region adjacent to the inner surfaces of the container walls) and an inner region 213 (comprising the interior region of the container excluding the outer region). For example, the first and second regions 211 , 213 may be formed by constructing a second smaller shell-type structure 215 (inner shell) inside the larger shell-type structure 217 of the container 200 (outer shell). In this case, in certain examples the inner shell 215 may have the same or a similar shape to the outer shell 217. The skilled person will appreciate that other configurations are possible. For example, in another configuration, a shell-type structure may be proved, and one or more pipes, tubes or the like may be constructed around the periphery / walls of the shell-type structure (inside and / or outside the shell-type structure). In this case, the interior of the shell-type structure may form one of the first or second spaces 211 , 213 (e.g. the second space 213), while the interior of the pipes, tubes or the like may form the the other of the first and second spaces 211 , 213 (e.g. the first space 211). The container 200 is configured to allow a heat transfer fluid (e.g. a liquid and / or a gas), for example air in the following examples, to circulate within one of the first and second spaces 211 , 213 (e.g. a first space 211 corresponding to the outer region described above). For example, the first region 211 may be configured to provide a continuous path for circulating air 219. In certain examples, one or more fluid (e.g. air) circulation units 221 , for example one or more fans, may be provided in the first region 211 to cause fluid circulation 219 (e.g. air circulation) within the first region 211.

[0036] The container 200 is configured to allow goods 201 to be placed within the other of the first and second spaces (e.g. a second space 213 corresponding to the inner region described above). Unlike the first space 211 , the second space 213 may be arranged so that air circulation within the second space 213 is minimised or kept to a relatively low level. For example, no air circulation unit 221 may be provided in the second space. The container 200 is configured so that heat may be transferred between the second space 213 and the air circulating in the first space 211 (e.g. across boundary 225). For example, heat may be transferred from the second space 213 to the air circulating in the first space 211 to cool the second space 213, or heat to be transferred from the air circulating in the first space 211 to the second space 213 to heat the second space 213. To facilitate the heat transfer, the physical boundary 215, 225 between the first 211 and second spaces 213 may be made of a material having a relatively high heat conductivity.

[0037] In turn, the air circulating within the first space 211 is thermally coupled with one or more heat sources and / or one or more heat sinks 223 provided in / on the container 200 so that heat may be transferred from the circulating air 219 to a heat sink 223, or heat may be transferred from a heat source 223 to the circulating air 219 (e.g. across boundary 227). In certain examples, to facilitate the heat transfer, the fluid circulating in the first space 211 may have a relatively high heat capacity. The heat source 223 may comprise a heater unit (e.g. an electric heater) and the heat sink 223 may comprise a cooling unit (e.g. a refrigeration unit). In certain examples, the heat source and / or the heat sink 223 may comprise a PCM. The PCM may be configured to have a certain initial temperature. As illustrated in Figure 2, the PCM may be provided at one end of the container and in thermal contact with the first space 211. However, the skilled person will appreciate that the PCM may be provided in other configurations.

[0038] When heat is transferred from the second space 213 to the circulating air 219 (through boundary 225) and then to the PCM 223 (through boundary 227), this causes the PCM 223 to heat up. Conversely, when heat is transferred from the PCM 223 to the circulating air 219 (through boundary 227) and then to the second space 213 (through boundary 225), this causes the PCM 223 to cool down. Accordingly, the PCM 223 may be processed to restore the original state of the PCM 223. For example, the PCM 223 may be processed at the end of a transport route or at an intermediate stop of a transport route. This procedure allows relatively energy intensive process to be confined to specific processing plants, avoiding the requirement of a high-capacity portable energy source.

[0039] To facilitate processing, the PCM 223 may be provided as a detachable unit. This allows the PCM 223 to be easily removed from the container 200 for processing, and then the same PCM 223 (e.g. after processing) or a different PCM 223 (e.g. pre-processed PCM) may then be attached to the container 200. The initial state (e.g. temperature) of the PCM 223 may be selected based on one or more factors, for example the desired temperature of the second region / space 213, the ambient temperature external to the container 200, one or more physical characteristics of the heat transfer fluid (e.g. heat capacity, flow rate, etc.), and the function of the PCM 223 as either a heat source or a heat sink. The state may be selected to achieve a certain rate of heat transfer to or from the second region / space 213.

[0040] The container 200 may be configured to allow one or more physical characteristics of the air (or alternative heat transfer fluid) circulating in the first space 211 to be controlled and / or modified. For example, the flow rate of the air may be increased or decreased by controlling the air circulation unit 221. For example, a higher flow rate may allow a greater rate of heat transfer, and vice versa. As another example, the temperature of the air may be increased or decreased by controlling the heat source / sink. For example, increasing the temperature differential between the second space 213 and the air 219 may allow a greater rate of heat transfer, and vice versa.

[0041] In various examples, one of the first and second spaces 211 , 213 contains a heat transfer material for transferring heat between the other of the first and second spaces 211 , 213 and the heat source / sink. In certain examples, such as those described above, the heat transfer material may coprise a heat transfer fluid, such as air or any other suitable gas or liquid. In these examples, heat may be transferred via convection and / or active circulation of the heat transfer fluid, for example by a fan and / or any other suitable fluid circulation unit. In other examples, the heat transfer material may comprise a conductive solid material. In this case, heat may be transferred via conduction through the heat transfer material. In such examples, a fluid circulation unit 221 may be omitted. In yet other examples, the heat transfer material may comprise a semi-solid material, such as a gel. The skilled person will appreciate that the heat transfer material may comprise any suitable type of material for transferring heat, via any suitable mechanism, and is not limited to the specific examples disclosed herein.

[0042] A container 100, 200 according to various examples of the present disclosure may be configured to be transportable on a train wagon, lorry or ship, for example. A container 100, 200 according to various examples may be configured to be stored at a warehouse or any other suitable storage facility.

[0043] The terms and words used in this specification are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. The same or similar components may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals, although they may be illustrated in different drawings.

[0044] Detailed descriptions of elements, features, components, structures, constructions, functions, operations, processes, characteristics, properties, integers and steps known in the art may be omitted for clarity and conciseness, and to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0045] Throughout this specification, the words “comprises”, “includes”, “contains” and “has”, and variations of these words, for example “comprise” and “comprising”, means “including but not limited to”, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other elements, features, components, structures, constructions, functions, operations, processes, characteristics, properties, integers, steps and / or groups thereof.

[0046] Throughout this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context dictates otherwise. For example, reference to “an object” includes reference to one or more of such objects.

[0047] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement errors, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic, parameter or value was intended to provide.

[0048] Throughout this specification, language in the general form of “X for Y” (where Y is some action, process, function, activity, operation or step and X is some means for carrying out that action, process, function, activity, operation or step) encompasses means X adapted, configured or arranged specifically, but not exclusively, to do Y.

[0049] Elements, features, components, structures, constructions, functions, operations, processes, characteristics, properties, integers, steps and / or groups thereof described herein in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, example or claim are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, example or claim disclosed herein unless incompatible therewith. It will be appreciated that examples of the present disclosure can be realized in the form of hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in any suitable form of volatile or non-volatile storage device or medium, for example a ROM, RAM, memory chip, integrated circuit, or an optically or magnetically readable medium (e.g. CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape).

[0050] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a computer program comprising instructions or code which, when executed, implement a method, system and / or apparatus in accordance with any aspect, claim, example and / or embodiment disclosed herein. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a machine-readable storage storing such a program.

[0051] The techniques described herein may be implemented using any suitably configured apparatus and / or system. Such an apparatus and / or system may be configured to perform a method according to any aspect, embodiment, example or claim disclosed herein. Such an apparatus may comprise one or more elements, for example one or more of receivers, transmitters, transceivers, processors, controllers, modules, units, and the like, each element configured to perform one or more corresponding processes, operations and / or method steps for implementing the techniques described herein. For example, an operation / function of X may be performed by a module configured to perform X (or an X-module). The one or more elements may be implemented in the form of hardware, software, or any combination of hardware and software.

[0052] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims1. A container for storage and / or transport, the container comprising: a container body defining a first space and a second space, wherein the first space is adapted to contain a heat transfer material, wherein the second space is adapted for holding goods, and wherein the first and second spaces are configured to enable heat transfer between the first and second spaces; and a heat source for transferring heat to the heat transfer material, or a heat sink for extracting heat from the heat transfer material.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer material comprises a heat transfer fluid (e.g. a liquid and / or a gas), and wherein the container further comprises a fluid circulation unit for circulating the heat transfer fluid within the first space.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises air.

4. A container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fluid circulation unit comprises a fan.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat source or heat sink comprises a phase-change material (PCM).

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the PCM is detachably mounted to the container.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the first space partially or completely surrounds the second space.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second spaces are isolated in an air tight manner.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, adapted to be transportable by a train, lorry and / or ship, and / or adapted to be storable in a storage facility.

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