Containment system for transporting and storing temperature-sensitive materials
AssigneeVacupanel, Inc.
InventorsByron Keith Meyer, Chris E. Meyer, Nicholas Wynne, Robert E. Bailey, Ival O. Salyer
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Abstract
A portable, self-sustaining refrigeration system for storing and transporting temperature sensitive materials comprising an insulated housing constructed of double wall plastic panels having an R value per inch of at least 20, and a thermal storage phase change material in the form of a reversible gel for operation at about 0.degree. to 10.degree. C. wherein the reversible gel is enclosed in a sealed liquid-impervious enclosure, is disclosed.
Claims31
A portable, self-sustaining refrigeration system for storing and transporting temperature-sensitive materials, said system comprising:
- an insulated refrigeration housing constructed of double wall plastic panels having an R value per inch of at least 20;
- and
- a thermal storage phase change material for operation at about 0.degree. to 10.degree. .C and having a thermal storage capacity of at least 20 calories/gram wherein said phase change material is a C.sub.13 -C.sub.16 linear crystalline alkyl hydrocarbon.
A portable, self-sustaining refrigeration system for storing and transporting temperature-sensitive materials, said system comprising:
- a solar photovoltaic source for generating electrical energy;
- a 12-volt, lead-acid battery for storing said electrical energy;
- a low-power vapor compressor refrigeration unit which employs a vapor compressible component;
- an insulated refrigeration housing having double wall plastic vacuum panels containing an open cell foam or honeycomb structure to support atmospheric pressure on the panels to a pressure of about 1-3 torr or less, said panels having an R value per inch of at least 20;
- a C.sub.13 -C.sub.16 linear crystalline alkyl hydrocarbon phase change material in the form of a reversible gel having a phase change temperature of about 5.degree. C. and a thermal energy storage capacity of about at least 35 calories/gram, said reversible gel comprising about 70 to 90% by weight of said phase change material and about 10 to 30% by weight of silica wherein said reversible gel is enclosed in a sealed liquid impervious polymeric or metal foil enclosure to form a gel pack;
- an insulated portable container for holding said temperature sensitive materials and said reversible gel;
- and
- A molecular sieve having an average pore size of about 4 .ANG..
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.