Insulating vacuum panel, use of such panel as insulating media and insulated containers employing such panel

A system for storing and transporting temperature-sensitive materials, said system comprising:

• 1) a portable, self-sustaining refrigerator system comprising:
• a first housing which includes top, bottom and side insulating vacuum panels having an R value per inch of at least 20, said panels defining the interior of said first housing, said insulating panels comprising insulating support members enclosed within a sealed, flexible, polymeric envelope, said sealed, flexible. polymeric envelope comprising:
• a heat-sealable, multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one polyvinylidene chloride layer, at least one polyvinyl alcohol layer, and an aluminum film evaporated onto at least one layer of said at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, or said heat-sealable, multiple layer laminate comprises at least one nylon layer, at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one aluminum foil layer and at least one high density polyethylene layer, said envelope further containing a getter comprising a molecular sieve having a pore diameter of about 4 to 13 .ANG. wherein said first housing is capable of holding said temperature-sensitive material at a prescribed temperature for a prolonged period of time;
• a solar powered source of electrical energy;
• one or more 12-volt, deep cycle batteries for storing said electrical energy;
• a vapor compressor refrigeration unit;
• and
• a thermal energy storage phase change material comprising a linear, crystalline, alkyl hydrocarbon having a chain length of about 12 to 18 carbon atoms, a phase change temperature between about 0.degree. C. and 30.degree. C., and having a thermal storage capacity of at least 20 calories/gram, wherein said phase change material is contained in a silica gel substrate or a silica dry powder substrate, said phase change material-containing silica gel substrate or said phase change material-containing silica dry powder substrate comprising about 70 to 90% by weight phase change material and about 10 to 30 by weight silica to form a reversible phase change material/silica gel or a phase change material/silica dry powder, wherein said reversible phase change material/silica gel or said phase change material/silica dry powder is enclosed in a heat-sealed flexible polymeric envelope, said envelope comprising a multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one polyvinylidene chloride layer, at least one polyvinyl alcohol layer, and at least one aluminum film evaporated onto at least one surface of said at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, or said multiple layer laminate comprises a heat sealable, multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one nylon layer, at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one aluminum foil layer and at least one high density polyethylene layer;
• and
• (2) At least one portables light weights insulated container comprising
• a second housing which includes top, bottom and side insulating panels having an R value per inch of at least 20, said panels defining the interior of said second housing, said insulating panels comprising insulating support members enclosed within a sealed, flexible polymeric envelope, said sealed, flexible polymeric envelope comprising a heat-sealable multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one polyvinylidene chloride layer, at least one polyvinyl alcohol layer, and an aluminum film evaporated onto at least one layer of said at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, or said multiple layer laminate comprises at least one nylon layer, at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one aluminum foil layer and at least one high density polyethylene layer, said envelope further containing a getter comprising a molecular sieve having a pore diameter of about 4 to 13 .ANG. wherein said insulated container is capable of holding said temperature-sensitive material at a prescribed temperature for a prolonged period of time;
• and
• a thermal energy storage phase change material comprising a linear, crystalline, alkyl hydrocarbon having a chain length of about 12 to 18 carbon atoms, a phase change temperature between about 0.degree. C. and 30.degree. C. and having a thermal energy storage capacity of at least 20 calories/gram. Wherein said phase change material is contained in a silica gel substrate, or a silica dry powder substrate, said phase change material-containing silica gel substrate or said phase change material-containing silica dry powder substrate comprising about 70 to 90% by weight phase change material and about 10 to 30% by weight silica gel or dry silica powder to form a reversible phase change material/silica gel or a phase change material/silica dry powder, wherein said reversible phase change material/silica gel or said phase change material/silica dry powder is enclosed in a heat-sealed flexible polymeric envelope comprising a multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one polyvinylidene chloride, at least one polyvinyl alcohol layer, and at least one aluminum film evaporated onto at least one surface of said at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, or said multiple layer laminate comprises a heat-sealable, multiple layer laminate which comprises at least one nylon layer, at least one polyethylene terephthalate layer, at least one aluminum foil layer, and at least one high density polyethylene layer wherein said portable, light weight, insulated container is useful to transport said temperature sensitive material to a location remote from said portable, self-sustaining refrigerator system.