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

Abstract

An 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, including one or more thermal storage devices, each including a housing defining a cavity for holding a phase change material. The cavity contains a heat exchanger that may be supplied with a heat exchange fluid. The housing includes a substantially flat wall portion and a heat transfer enhanced wall portion. The apparatus includes ventilator in communication with the thermal storage device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for a refrigerated vehicle, comprising:
 one or more 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 
   a ventilator in communication with the one or more thermal storage devices.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer enhanced wall portion includes one or more fins. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes:
 a conduit for passage of a second heat transfer fluid, wherein the conduit is in communication with a wall of the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein an internal surface of the conduit includes a plurality of internal fins for exchanging heat between the second heat transfer fluid and the conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material has a solid-liquid transition temperature between about 0° C. and about −32° C. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of aluminum and the phase change material is aluminum compatible. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is configured to maintain an internal space of the refrigerated vehicle at a temperature that is below an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is configured to maintain an internal space of the refrigerated vehicle at a temperature that is above an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of an internal space of the refrigerated vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein one or more settings of the ventilator are controlled as a function of the temperature of the internal space. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger has a U-shaped tubular profile. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the U-shaped tubular profile includes a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a relief valve for releasing pressure from the cavity of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one of:
 a closable hole for filling the phase change material into the housing, and   a collector for draining the phase change material.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to circulate an airflow in an internal space of the refrigerated container, thereby transferring heat between the thermal storage device and the internal space by convection. 
     
     
         16 . 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.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal storage device according to  claim 16 , wherein the phase change material has a solid-liquid transition temperature between about 0° C. and about −32° C. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal storage device according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing is made of aluminum and the phase change material is aluminum compatible. 
     
     
         19 . 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.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the determining the temperature in the internal space of the refrigerated vehicle includes monitoring one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the 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 includes modifying a speed of the airflow.