Thermal barrier enclosure system

Abstract

A thermal barrier enclosure system, comprising one or more thermal barriers, providing active temperature control without an active heat pump, and enabling rapid recharge and thermal isolation of the onboard thermal storage material or payload. The thermal barrier enclosure system is used to control the temperature in a shipping container or a refrigerator. Thermal control is achieved with one or more thermal control barriers comprised of an insulation barrier, a temperature sensitive device, and a thermal conduit through which energy flows. The combination of the temperature sensitive device and thermal conduit forms a thermal regulator that varies the thermal energy flow as the regulator is operated from its open to its closed position, and vise versa. By positioning one or more thermal control barriers in a thermal enclosure, tight-tolerance temperature control can be achieved even when the external temperature may vary above or below the control volume temperature. A thermal control barrier with a reverse acting thermal regulator can also be used to cool an energy storage material and then to thermally insulate that material when the cooling source is removed. The combination of thermal control barriers provides temperature control, quick refrigerant recharge, and thermal isolation, enabling an enclosure to maintain internal temperatures for long periods of time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.