Temperature-controlled container systems for use within a refrigeration device

A temperature-controlled container for use within a refrigeration device, comprising:

• one or more sections of insulation material substantially defining one or more walls of a temperature-controlled container, the temperature-controlled container including an internal region;
• a thermally-insulated partition dividing the internal region to form a storage region and a phase change material region internal to the container, the thermally-insulated partition including a conduit between the storage region and the phase change material region;
• a thermal control device within the conduit;
• an aperture within a section of the insulation material substantially defining the container, the aperture between the phase change material region internal to the container and an external surface of the container;
• a unidirectional thermal conductor positioned within the aperture, the unidirectional thermal conductor configured to transmit heat in a direction from the phase change material region to the external surface of the container;
• and
• a thermal dissipator unit adjacent to the external surface of the container, the thermal dissipator unit including a radiative component configured to be positioned within the refrigeration device, and a thermal transfer component, the thermal transfer component in thermal contact with the unidirectional thermal conductor.

A temperature-controlled container for use within a refrigeration device, comprising:

• one or more sections of insulation material substantially defining one or more walls of a temperature-controlled container, the temperature-controlled container including an internal region;
• a thermally-insulated partition dividing the internal region to form a storage region and a phase change material region internal to the container, the thermally-insulated partition including a conduit between the storage region and the phase change material region;
• a thermal diode unit within the storage region, the thermal diode unit including a thermal transfer component positioned within the conduit;
• an aperture within a section of the insulation material substantially defining the container, the aperture between the phase change material region internal to the container and an external surface of the container;
• a unidirectional thermal conductor positioned within the aperture, the unidirectional thermal conductor configured to transmit heat in a direction from the phase change material region to the external surface of the container;
• and
• a thermal dissipator unit adjacent to the external surface of the container, the thermal dissipator unit including a radiative component configured to be positioned within the refrigeration device, and a thermal transfer component, the thermal transfer component in thermal contact with the unidirectional thermal conductor.

A thermal diode unit configured for use within a temperature-controlled container, comprising:

• at least one inner wall configured to be substantially vertical during use of the thermal diode unit;
• at least one outer wall of a size and shape to align with the at least one inner wall, with a gap formed between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall;
• a mesh structure affixed to a surface of the at least one inner wall adjacent to the gap;
• a liquid within the gap;
• one or more seals between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall, forming a gas-impermeable interior region of the thermal diode unit surrounding the gap;
• and
• a gas pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the gas-impermeable interior region.

A temperature-controlled container for use within a refrigeration device, comprising:

• one or more sections of insulation material substantially defining one or more walls of a temperature-controlled container, the temperature-controlled container including an internal region;
• a thermally-insulated partition dividing the internal region to form a storage region and a phase change material region internal to the container, the thermally-insulated partition including a conduit between the storage region and the phase change material region;
• a thermal control device within the conduit;
• a first aperture within a section of the insulation material substantially defining the container, the aperture between the phase change material region internal to the container and an external surface of the container;
• a first unidirectional thermal conductor positioned within the first aperture, the unidirectional thermal conductor configured to transmit heat in a direction from the phase change material region to the external surface of the container;
• a second aperture within a section of the insulation material substantially defining the container, the aperture between the storage region internal to the container and an external surface of the container;
• and
• a second unidirectional thermal conductor positioned within the second aperture, the unidirectional thermal conductor configured to transmit heat in a direction from the storage region to the external surface of the container.

A temperature-control addition to a refrigeration device, comprising:

• a thermal storage unit including a container of a size and shape to fit within a freezer section of a refrigeration device, the container including an aperture with an edge dimension larger than a cross-section of a refrigeration coil of the refrigeration device;
• a thermal diode unit of a size and shape to fit within a refrigeration section of the refrigeration device, the thermal diode unit including a top edge configured to be positioned adjacent to a vent aperture of the refrigeration device;
• and
• a control unit including a temperature sensor, a controller responsive to the temperature sensor, and a fan responsive to the controller.

A temperature-control addition to a refrigeration device, comprising:

• a temperature-controlled container including one or more sections of insulation material substantially defining one or more walls of the temperature-controlled container, a thermally-insulated partition dividing the internal region into at least a first storage region and a second storage region, a first conduit attached to the first storage region, a second conduit attached to a second storage region, the first conduit and the second conduit both of a size and shape to be positioned within a ventilation conduit of a refrigeration device;
• a first thermal diode unit of a size and shape to fit within the first storage region of the temperature-controlled container, the first thermal diode unit including a thermal transfer component in thermal contact with a top edge of the first thermal diode unit, the thermal transfer component configured to be positioned within the first conduit of the temperature-controlled container;
• a second thermal diode unit of a size and shape to fit within the second storage region of the temperature-controlled container, the second thermal diode unit including a thermal transfer component in thermal contact with a top edge of the second thermal diode unit, the thermal transfer component configured to be positioned within the second conduit of the temperature-controlled container;
• a first control unit including a temperature sensor, a controller responsive to the temperature sensor, and a fan responsive to the controller attached to the first storage region of the temperature-controlled container;
• and
• a second control unit including a temperature sensor, a controller responsive to the temperature sensor, and a fan responsive to the controller attached to the second storage region of the temperature-controlled container.

A method of forming a temperature-control addition to a refrigeration device comprising:

• obtaining measurements of interior surfaces of a refrigeration device;
• forming a temperature-controlled container from one or more walls formed from insulative material, the temperature-controlled container including an exterior surface configured to reversibly mate with the interior surfaces of the refrigeration device and a thermally-sealed internal region;
• affixing at least one thermally-insulated partition within the thermally-sealed internal region to form at least one storage region and at least one phase change material region;
• positioning at least one unidirectional thermal conductor through the one or more walls so that heat is conducted from the thermally-sealed internal region to the interior surfaces of the refrigeration device when the temperature-controlled container is positioned within the refrigeration device;
• and
• sealing phase change material within the phase change material region.