Rechargeable thermal battery systems for use in transporting or storing perishable items

A transportation vessel having walls defining a cargo storage area for receiving and maintaining items at one or more temperatures, comprising:

• (a) a storage area heat exchanger located onboard the transportation vessel in air communication with the cargo storage area of the transportation vessel;
• (b) a thermal battery system comprising a thermal battery located underneath the cargo storage area and a flooring surface serving as a floor of the cargo storage area for supporting items placed in the cargo storage area, the thermal battery comprising
• (i) a tank containing a phase change material (PCM),
• (ii) a first heat exchangers comprising a first heat exchange circuit embedded in the PCM for discharging the PCM, and
• (iii) a second heat exchanger comprising a second heat exchange circuit embedded with the first heat exchanger circuit in the PCM for charging the PCM;
• (c) a first plurality of fluid conduits located onboard the transportation vessel and defining fluid passageways interconnecting in fluid communication the cargo storage area heat exchanger and the first PCM-embedded heat exchanger;
• (d) a pump located onboard the transportation vessel and arranged in fluid communication with the first plurality of fluid conduits and configured to create a fluid flow through the first plurality of fluid conduits between the cargo storage area heat exchanger and the first PCM-embedded heat exchanger;
• (e) a pair of external ports located exterior to the cargo storage area in a said wall of the transportation vessel and configured for connecting to an external charging source for charging the PCM of the thermal battery system;
• and
• (f) a second plurality of fluid conduits located onboard the transportation vessel and defining fluid passageways interconnecting in fluid communication the external ports and the second PCM-embedded heat exchanger;
• (g) wherein the first PCM-embedded heat exchanger, pump, storage area heat exchanger, and the first plurality of fluid conduits are part of a first closed-loop circuit located onboard the transportation vessel for transferring heat between the cargo storage area and the thermal battery system;
• and
• (h) wherein the second PCM-embedded heat exchanger, external ports, and the second plurality of fluid conduits located onboard the transportation vessel are not part of the first closed-loop circuit.