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A refrigeration system module including a frame, a heating plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface, a cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface, an expansion device disposed between the heating and cooling plates

A refrigeration system module including a frame, a heating plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface, a cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface, an expansion device disposed between the heating and cooling plates and in fluid communication with the heating plate fluid outlet and the cooling plate fluid inlet, and a hermetic compressor assembly. The compressor assembly is disposed between the heating and cooling plates and has a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the heating plate inlet, and a suction inlet in fluid communication with the cooling plate fluid outlet. The heating plate, the cooling plate, the expansion device and the compressor are fixed to the frame, and the first and second heat transfer surfaces each at least partially define an exterior surface of the module.

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What is claimed is: 1. In combination: a first refrigeration system module for heating or cooling an object, said first module comprising: an enclosure having a refrigeration system disposed therein, said refrigeration system including a vapor compression circuit for circulating a refrigerant and h

What is claimed is: 1. In combination: a first refrigeration system module for heating or cooling an object, said first module comprising: an enclosure having a refrigeration system disposed therein, said refrigeration system including a vapor compression circuit for circulating a refrigerant and having a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger operably disposed therein in serial order; said first heat exchanger defining a first outward facing surface of said enclosure, said first surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said first heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said first surface and refrigerant flowing within said first heat exchanger; said second heat exchanger defining a second outward facing surface of said enclosure; said second surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said second heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said second surface and refrigerant flowing within said second heat exchanger, said first and second surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said enclosure and having substantially similar surface areas; at least one attachment feature disposed on said module wherein said at least one attachment feature is attached to the object to thereby secure the object in thermal communication with at least one of said first and second surfaces; and a second module wherein said at least one attachment features of said first and second modules are secured together and said first surface of one of said first and second modules is in thermal communication with said second surface of the other of said first and second modules. 2. In combination: a first refrigeration system module for heating or cooling an object, said first module comprising: an enclosure having a refrigeration system disposed therein, said refrigeration system including a vapor compression circuit for circulating a refrigerant and having a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger operably disposed therein in serial order; said first heat exchanger defining a first outward facing surface of said enclosure, said first surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said first heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said first surface and refrigerant flowing within said first heat exchanger; said second heat exchanger defining a second outward facing surface of said enclosure; said second surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said second heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said second surface and refrigerant flowing within said second heat exchanger, said first and second surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said enclosure and having substantially similar surface areas; at least one attachment feature disposed on said module wherein said at least one attachment feature is attached to the object to thereby secure the object in thermal communication with at least one of said first and second surfaces; and a second module wherein said at least one attachment features of said first and second modules are secured together and said attachment features comprise a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent each of said first and second surfaces of each of said first and second modules and said first surface of one of said first and second modules is in thermal communication with said second surface of the other of said first and second modules. 3. A modular refrigeration system comprising: a plurality of refrigeration system modules, each of said modules comprising: an enclosure having a refrigeration system disposed therein, said refrigeration system including a vapor compression circuit for circulating a refrigerant and having a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger operably disposed therein in serial order; said first heat exchanger defining a first outward facing surface of said enclosure, said first surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said first heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said first surface and refrigerant flowing within said first heat exchanger; said second heat exchanger defining a second outward facing surface of said enclosure; said second surface being a thermal exchange surface wherein said second heat exchanger provides thermal communication between said second surface and refrigerant flowing within said second heat exchanger, said first and second surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said enclosure; and at least one attachment feature disposed on said module wherein said at least one attachment feature is attachable to another one of said modules to thereby secure the first surface of one of said plurality of modules in thermal communication with the second surface of another one of said plurality of modules. 4. The modular refrigeration system of claim 3 wherein for each of said modules said at least one attachment feature comprises a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent each of said first and second surfaces. 5. The modular refrigeration system of claim 3 wherein for each of said modules said compressor is a hermetically sealed compressor mounted within said enclosure and said enclosure provides communication between an interior of the enclosure and the ambient environment. 6. In combination: a first refrigeration system module, comprising: a frame; a heating plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface; a cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface; an expansion device disposed between said heating and cooling plates and in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid outlet and said cooling plate fluid inlet; and a hermetic compressor assembly comprising a housing, an electric motor and a compression mechanism, said compression mechanism being driven by said motor, said compressor assembly disposed between said heating and cooling plates and having a discharge outlet in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid inlet, and a suction inlet in fluid communication with said cooling plate fluid outlet; wherein said heating plate, said cooling plate, said expansion device and said compressor assembly are fixed to said frame, and said first and second heat transfer surfaces each at least partially define an exterior surface of said module; and a second said module connected to said first module, said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules being in conductive communication with said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules. 7. In combination: a first refrigeration system module, comprising: a frame; a heating plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface; a cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface; an expansion device disposed between said heating and cooling plates and in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid outlet and said cooling plate fluid inlet; and a hermetic compressor assembly comprising a housing, an electric motor and a compression mechanism, said compression mechanism being driven by said motor, said compressor assembly disposed between said heating and cooling plates and having a discharge outlet in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid inlet, and a suction inlet in fluid communication with said cooling plate fluid outlet; wherein said heating plate, said cooling plate, said expansion device and said compressor assembly are fixed to said frame, and said first and second heat transfer surfaces each at least partially define an exterior surface of said module; and a second said module connected to said first module, said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules being in conductive communication with said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules, wherein said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules and said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules are non-planar mating surfaces. 8. A modular refrigeration system, comprising a plurality of refrigeration system modules, each said module including: a heating plate having a fluid inlet arid a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface; a cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface, said first and second heat transfer surfaces each at least partially defining an exterior surface of said module; an expansion device disposed between said heating and cooling plates and in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid outlet and said cooling plate fluid inlet; and a compressor assembly disposed between said heating and cooling plates and having a discharge outlet in fluid communication with said heating plate fluid inlet, and a suction inlet in fluid communication with said cooling plate fluid outlet; wherein said plurality of refrigeration system modules are configured to be connected to each other in series. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first heat, transfer surfaces are configured to be in conductive communication with said second heat transfer surfaces of other said modules when said modules are connected to each other in series. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first heat transfer surfaces and said second heat transfer surfaces are non-planar surfaces wherein peaks of one surface are received in valleys of the other surface. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of refrigeration system modules are configured to be bolted together. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein each said module further includes a frame, and wherein said heating plate, said cooling plate, said expansion device and said compressor assembly are fixed to said frame. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein each said compressor assembly includes a housing, an electric motor, and a compression mechanism, said compression mechanism being driven by said motor. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein each said compressor assembly is hermetic. 15. A refrigeration system, comprising: first and second modules, each of said first and second modules having a heating plate, a cooling plate, an expansion device, and a compressor assembly; each said heating plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a first heat transfer surface; each said cooling plate having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a second heat transfer surface; each said expansion device disposed between respective said heating and cooling plates and in fluid communication with the respective heating plate fluid outlet and the respective cooling plate fluid inlet; and each said compressor assembly disposed between respective said heating and cooling plates and having a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the respective heating plate fluid inlet, and a suction inlet in fluid communication with the respective cooling plate fluid outlet; wherein said first and second heat transfer surfaces each at least partially define an exterior surface of the respective said module; and said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules being in conductive communication with said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules. 16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules and said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules are sawtoothed. 17. The combination of claim 15, wherein said first heat transfer surface of one of said first and second modules and said second heat transfer surface of the other of said first and second modules are of matching areas. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein each said module further includes a frame, and wherein the respective heating plate, the respective cooling plate, the respective expansion device and the respective compressor assembly are fixed to said frame. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein said compressor assembly includes a housing, an electric motor, and a compression mechanism, said compression mechanism being driven by said motor. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein said compressor assembly is hermetic.