Hot and cold shelf assembly with replaceable heating elements

Abstract

A thermal management unit includes a panel and a cooling element. The panel is manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material. The cooling element is configured to perform a cooling operation. The cooling element is positioned to selectively cool the panel.

1 . A thermal management unit comprising:
 a panel manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material; and   a cooling element configured to perform a cooling operation, wherein the cooling element is positioned to selectively cool the panel.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal management unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate disposed between the cooling element and the panel. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal management unit of  claim 2 , wherein the plate is manufactured from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal management unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a heating element configured to perform a heating operation, wherein the heating element is positioned to selectively heat the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal management unit of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling element is positioned beneath a bottom surface of the plate and the heating element is positioned above a top surface of the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal management unit of  claim 4 , wherein the plate is a first plate, further comprising a second plate positioned between the heating element and the first plate. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal management unit of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is configured to interface with a slab such that the thermal management unit thermally regulates a temperature of the slab, and wherein the slab is manufactured from a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal management unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure including a base and a sidewall that extends around the base, wherein the base and the sidewall cooperatively define a cavity that receives the cooling element. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal management unit of  claim 8 , further comprising a thermal break positioned between the sidewall of the enclosure and the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal management unit of  claim 9 , further comprising a bracket extending around the sidewall of the enclosure and the panel. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal management unit of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal break is a first thermal break, further comprising a second thermal break positioned between the bracket and at least one of the enclosure and the panel. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal management unit of  claim 8 , further comprising insulation disposed within the cavity between the base and the cooling element. 
     
     
         13 . A thermal management unit comprising:
 a panel manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material;   a plate positioned beneath the panel and manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material;   a heating element positioned between the panel and the plate; and   a cooling element positioned beneath the plate.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal management unit of  claim 13 , wherein the plate is a first plate, further comprising a second plate positioned between the heating element and the first plate. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal management unit of  claim 14 , wherein the panel, the second plate, and the first plate are arranged in a stacked configuration, and wherein the cooling element is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the first plate, the first plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the second plate, and the second plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the panel during a cooling operation. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal management unit of  claim 14 , wherein the second plate defines a channel that receives at least a portion of the heating element. 
     
     
         17 . A thermal management unit comprising:
 a panel manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material;   a heating assembly configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation, the heating assembly comprising:
 a first plate; and 
 a heating element coupled to the first plate; and 
   a cooling assembly configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation, the cooling assembly comprising:
 a second plate in contact with the first plate; and 
 a cooling element coupled to the second plate. 
   
     
     
         18 . The thermal management unit of  claim 17 , wherein the first plate defines a channel that receives at least a portion of the heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal management unit of  claim 17 , wherein the panel, the heating assembly, and the cooling assembly are arranged in a stacked configuration with the heating assembly positioned between the panel and the cooling assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal management unit of  claim 17 , wherein the cooling element is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the second plate, the second plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the first plate, and the first plate is positioned to remove thermal energy directly from the panel during the cooling operation.