Refrigerated container for super frozen temperatures
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-003/12
F17C-013/08
B60H-003/04
출원번호
US-0350630
(2009-01-08)
등록번호
US-8371140
(2013-02-12)
발명자
/ 주소
Holmes, George A.
Graham, B. Eric
출원인 / 주소
CWS Group LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
31
초록▼
A refrigerated container and method capable of maintaining super frozen temperatures of about−50 degrees C. or less, includes container walls insulated to a value of at least about r-20, a cargo compartment configured for receiving cargo, and at least one refrigerant compartment configured for recei
A refrigerated container and method capable of maintaining super frozen temperatures of about−50 degrees C. or less, includes container walls insulated to a value of at least about r-20, a cargo compartment configured for receiving cargo, and at least one refrigerant compartment configured for receiving refrigerant in the form of CO2 snow. The refrigerant compartment maintains the CO2 snow and vapor sublimating therefrom separately from the cargo compartment. The refrigerant compartment is located within the cargo compartment and configured to permit ambient atmosphere within the cargo compartment to contact at least three sides, and up to six sides, of the refrigerant compartment. The placement of the refrigerant compartment is also configured to generate a temperature gradient within the cargo compartment capable of generating convection therein, so that the super frozen temperatures are maintained within the cargo compartment without the use of external power sources.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for maintaining cargo in a refrigerated state for extended periods of time without the need for external power, the method comprising: (a) providing a refrigerated container including: container walls insulated to a value of at least about r-20:a cargo compartment configured for receivin
1. A method for maintaining cargo in a refrigerated state for extended periods of time without the need for external power, the method comprising: (a) providing a refrigerated container including: container walls insulated to a value of at least about r-20:a cargo compartment configured for receiving cargo therein;at least one refrigerant compartment configured for receiving refrigerant therein, the refrigerant compartment configured for receiving CO2 snow therein, wherein the CO2 snow and vapor sublimating therefrom is maintained separately from the cargo compartment;the refrigerant compartment disposed within the cargo compartment in spaced relation from interior surfaces of the cargo compartment to permit ambient atmosphere within the cargo compartment to contact at least three side of the refrigerant compartment; andplacement of the refrigerant compartment within the cargo compartment being configured to generate a temperature gradient within the cargo compartment capable of generating convection within the cargo compartment;(b) supplying CO2 snow to the refrigerant compartment, wherein the CO2 is maintained separately from the cargo compartment, while exterior surfaces on at least three sides of the refrigerant compartment are exposed to interior space within the cargo compartment;(c) loading cargo into the cargo compartment, wherein the cargo is cooled by exposure to the exterior surfaces of the refrigerant compartment without the cargo being exposed to the CO2; and(d) sealing the cargo compartment to permit convection to occur between the exposed surfaces of the refrigeration compartment and cargo disposed within the cargo compartment, wherein the container is configured to maintain the cargo at super frozen temperature of about−50 degrees C or less while being free from external power sources. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising shipping the container as a dry container. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said loading (c) is accomplished after said supplying (b). 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the refrigerant compartment to a CO2 supply and automatically supplying CO2 in response to measured levels of CO2 in the refrigeration compartment. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container includes a refrigerant supply conduit configured as a heat exchanger, passing through the container from an inlet to an outlet, the method further comprising coupling a refrigerant supply to the inlet and a refrigerant return to the outlet to refrigerate the container. 6. The method of claim 1, comprising supplying CO2 snow to the cargo compartment. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the refrigerant compartment being disposed and configured to permit ambient atmosphere within the cargo compartment to contact at least four sides of the refrigerant compartment. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the refrigerant compartment is disposed and configured to permit ambient atmosphere within the cargo compartment to contact six sides of the refrigerant compartment. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sides of the refrigerant compartment are substantially planar. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container being free from any active fluid flow devices. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container configured for being passively refrigerated without the use of electromechanical devices or other external energy input. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises at least one gas supply pathway extending within the cargo compartment, from an inlet port to the refrigerant compartment. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pathway is configured to selectively supply CO2 from the inlet to the refrigerant compartments, and to permit CO2 sublimating from the refrigerant compartments to be vented to the inlet. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the inlet is configured to enable capture of the CO2 sublimating from the refrigerant compartments. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pathway is configured as a heat exchanger to provide thermal transfer between the CO2 and the cargo compartment supply and venting. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein another gas supply pathway extends through the cargo compartment, from another inlet to an outlet, the other gas supply pathway being closed to the cargo compartment, so that gas supplied therethrough is physically isolated from the cargo compartment. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the other gas supply pathway is configured for being coupled to a liquid nitrogen (N2) supply and return. 18. The method of claim 12, comprising a level sensor configured to generate data corresponding to the level of CO2 within the refrigerant compartment. 19. The method of claim 18, comprising a valve communicably coupled to said inlet, and a processor communicably coupled to said valve and said level sensor, said processor configured to selectively actuate said valve in response to data captured from said level sensor. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises: the exposed surfaces of the refrigerant compartment defining a first surface area, and interior surfaces of the cargo compartment define a second surface area, the ratio of first surface area to second surface area being at least about 5 percent. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ratio of first surface area to second surface area is at least about ten percent. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the ratio of first surface area to second surface area is at least about twenty percent. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container including at least one conduit disposed to pass through the refrigerant compartment, said conduit being in fluid communication with the cargo compartment. 24. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises said refrigerant compartment being supported by the floor of the container. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said refrigerant compartment is supported on a plurality of rails disposed in spaced relation on the floor of the container, wherein the ambient atmosphere is permitted to pass between the refrigerant compartment and the floor of the container. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container being sized and shaped to ISO (International Standards Organization) standards. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the container is sized and shaped to ISO standards selected from the group consisting of ISO 20 foot, ISO 40 foot, ISO 20 foot high-cube, ISO 40 foot high-cube, and LD3. 28. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container walls being insulated to a value of at least about r-30. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing (a) further comprises the container including a vent port configured to relieve pressure within the refrigerant compartment during receipt of CO2 therein. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the container includes a conduit extending from a proximal end communicably coupled to said vent port, to a distal end disposed within the refrigerant compartment, said distal end being vertically offset from said vent port when the container is oriented for receiving CO2 snow therein. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the distal end is disposed vertically above the vent port. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the distal end is disposed within about the upper 10 percent of the height of the refrigerant compartment. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the distal end is disposed within about the upper 4 to 6 percent of the height of the refrigerant compartment. 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the conduit defines a longitudinal axis that is bent to form a bent flow path for escaping gas. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the longitudinal axis has a total bend of at least 90 degrees.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (31)
Johnson, Dale T.; Roehrich, Roland L.; Viegas, Herman H., Air conditioning and refrigeration systems utilizing a cryogen and heat pipes.
Shea Ronald D. (14010 Vantine Rd. ; SE. Tenino WA 98589) Batchelor Michael G. (4139 Boston Hrb. Rd. NE. Olympia WA 98506), Carbon dioxide refrigerating system.
Reznikov Lev (1510 Ocean Parkway ; #A17 Brooklyn NY 11230) Schulman Zachary (30 Spring Meadow Rd. Mount Kisco NY 10536), Method of and apparatus for cooling food products.
Saia ; III Louis P. (P.O. Box A ; Station 1 Houma LA 70360) Wilbrandt Cynthia (Chicago IL), Portable self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for use on airplanes, common carrier type unrefrigerated truck lines, a.
Saia ; III Louis P. (P.O. Box A ; Station 1 Houma LA 70360), Portable self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for use on common carrier type unrefrigerated truck lines and the like.
Saia ; III Louis P. (P.O. Box A ; Station 1 Houma LA 70360), Portable self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for use on common carrier type unrefrigerated truck lines and the like.
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