Apparatus for the storage, transport and distribution of refrigerated or frozen goods, in particular for thermally insulated containers of refrigerated vehicles, cold rooms and the like

A thermal storage device for use in a refrigerated vehicle, comprising:

• a housing that includes a heat transfer enhanced wall portion and a substantially flat wall portion;
• a cavity defined by an interior of the housing;
• a phase change material contained within the cavity;
• and
• a heat exchanger configured to receive a heat transfer fluid.

A method of controlling refrigeration in a refrigerated vehicle, comprising:

• determining a temperature in an internal space of the refrigerated vehicle;
• facilitating heat exchange within the internal space with one or more thermal storage devices and a ventilator in communication with the one or more thermal storage devices, the thermal storage devices including a housing, including a substantially flat wall portion and a heat transfer enhanced wall portion, a cavity defined by an interior of the housing, a phase change material contained within the cavity, and a heat exchanger configured to receive a heat transfer fluid;
• and
• controlling the ventilator to provide an airflow configured to convectively transfer heat from the one or more thermal storage devices and to provide the airflow to the internal space of the refrigerated vehicle.