Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials within a target temperature range for an extended time. In one embodiment, the system keeps materials within a temperature range of +2 C. to +8 C. and includes an insulated container, a product box, ice packs, and organic phase-change material (PCM) packs. The ice packs are preconditioned to a very low temperature, such as 20 C. The organic PCM packs do not require preconditioning and may be kept at room temperature. In use, the frozen ice packs and the warm organic PCM packs may be loaded into the insulated container, together with a payload in the product box. Preferably, the frozen ice packs are sandwiched between a pair of organic PCM packs on each face of the product box. The masses of ice and organic PCM are selected so that, upon thermal equilibration, the ice and organic PCM are within the target temperature range.

The present invention provides a refrigeration device, wherein a chamber structure is provided with a refrigeration space, and further fitted with a return outlet flow pipe and a return inlet flow pipe. Cold from a cold source produced by a refrigeration chip passes through a temperature equalization plate or a heat conducting pipe to enter the interior of a refrigeration space. A return inlet flow pipe of the refrigeration device is inserted into a beverage and used to input the beverage to the interior of the refrigeration space for cooling thereof. The beverage is then output from the inside of the refrigeration space through the return outlet flow pipe into a cup. The refrigeration device thus achieves fast cooling of a beverage to produce a cold drink. The refrigeration device can be applied in medical treatment, beds, and clothing, as well as medical equipment to provide a cooling function.

The present invention provides a refrigeration device, wherein a chamber structure is provided with a refrigeration space, and further fitted with a return outlet flow pipe and a return inlet flow pipe. Cold from a cold source produced by a refrigeration chip passes through a temperature equalization plate or a heat conducting pipe to enter the interior of a refrigeration space. A return inlet flow pipe of the refrigeration device is inserted into a beverage and used to input the beverage to the interior of the refrigeration space for cooling thereof. The beverage is then output from the inside of the refrigeration space through the return outlet flow pipe into a cup. The refrigeration device thus achieves fast cooling of a beverage to produce a cold drink. The refrigeration device can be applied in medical treatment, beds, and clothing, as well as medical equipment to provide a cooling function.

Comfortable and flexible cooling units and methods of using cooling units for cooling humans, animals or objects, the cooling units including a first weldable textile layer having a peripheral edge, a second weldable textile layer having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge of the first layer weldable textile layer adjoined to the peripheral edge of the second weldable textile layer around a circumference of the cooling unit, and a phase change material composition contained between the first weldable textile layer and the second weldable textile layer. The phase change material composition may include a pelletized shape stable phase change material which may be suspended in a gel and may be comfortable and conformable.

Comfortable and flexible cooling units and methods of using cooling units for cooling humans, animals or objects, the cooling units including a first weldable textile layer having a peripheral edge, a second weldable textile layer having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge of the first layer weldable textile layer adjoined to the peripheral edge of the second weldable textile layer around a circumference of the cooling unit, and a phase change material composition contained between the first weldable textile layer and the second weldable textile layer. The phase change material composition may include a pelletized shape stable phase change material which may be suspended in a gel and may be comfortable and conformable.

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of chiller systems including thermoelectric modules, and corresponding control methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a compressor chiller system generally includes a refrigerant loop having a refrigerant fluid, a compressor connected in the refrigerant loop to compress the refrigerant fluid, and a condenser connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the compressed refrigerant fluid from the compressor and to condense the compressed refrigerant fluid. The system also includes a heat transfer component connected in the refrigerant loop to receive the condensed refrigerant fluid from the condenser, and a coolant loop having a coolant fluid. The heat transfer component is connected in the coolant loop to transfer heat from the coolant fluid to the condensed refrigerant fluid. The system further includes a thermoelectric module connected in the coolant loop. The thermoelectric module is adapted to transfer heat into and/or out of the coolant fluid.

A rotating heat carrier system includes a barrier having a first side portion and a second side portion. A plurality of disks is mounted to a shaft. A motor is coupled to the shaft. The motor is operable to rotate the shaft and the plurality of disks. The plurality of disks is at least partially positioned within the barrier. A first portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along a radial direction away from the first side portion of the barrier. A second portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction away from the second side portion of the barrier.

A cooling system may include a cooling pump, a cooling source, a thermal energy storage, a mixing valve, a recharge valve, a recharge pump. The mixing valve may be in fluid communication with a thermal load. A first input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage. A second input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the recharge pump. Operation of the recharge pump may cause heated cooling fluid output from the thermal load to bypass the cooling pump and flow to the second input of the mixing valve. The recharge valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage and the cooling pump. The recharge valve may regulate a recharge fluid flow comprising cooling fluid received from the thermal energy storage.

A portable thermal insulated apparatus for cooling or heating items stored therein. The thermal insulated apparatus includes a container having a lid that removably secures to an open first end thereof and a reservoir unit that removably secures to an open second end. The container includes an inner tube and an outer tube forming an insulated double-wall sealed at both ends in which the lid and reservoir unit can be connected thereto. The reservoir unit removably receives a thermal unit that provides cooling or heating to the contents of the container when affixed thereto. The thermal unit is separable from the reservoir unit, such that the thermal units are interchangeable as needed. In some embodiments, the thermal unit is directly securable to the lid and the second end of the container is permanently sealed.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of solid production that may include contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The method may include solidifying the second fluid. Some embodiments include a solid production system that may include a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The system may include one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.