An example modular environmental control chamber (MECC) includes an outer chamber formed by an outer chamber housing section enclosing an outer face of a section of fuselage and an inner chamber formed by an inner chamber housing section enclosing an inner face of the section of fuselage. An outer chamber airflow delivery and return system includes an outer chamber blower for directing temperature-controlled air to the outer chamber through an air inflow aperture of the outer chamber housing section and an outer chamber air return duct connected to an air outflow aperture of the outer chamber housing section. An inner chamber airflow delivery and return system includes an inner chamber blower for directing humidity-controlled air to the inner chamber through an air inflow aperture of the inner chamber housing section and an inner chamber air return duct connected to an air outflow aperture of the inner chamber housing section.

A dynamic temperature regulating device is for use in association with a temperature-controlled container. The dynamic temperature regulating device includes at least one heat source, at least one heat sink, a heat transfer medium and a control system. At least one of the heat source and the heat sink is a PCM (phase change material). The heat transfer medium is in thermal communication with and operably connected to the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink. The control system is for controlling the selective thermal communication with the at least one heat source and with the at least one heat sink to regulate the temperature of the temperature-controlled container. A detachable PCM contained volumes includes a sealed housing, a phase change material and a heat transfer medium and functions as a PCM thermal energy storage volume.

A beverage dispensing machine (e.g., coffee maker) has a cooling unit. The cooling unit includes a thermal mass. The cooling unit is operable to freeze at least a portion of the thermal mass to provide a cold storage reservoir. The cooling unit also includes a passageway within which a brewed beverage flows, the passageway being in thermal communication with the thermal mass that cools the brewed beverage as it flows within the passageway to chill the brewed beverage before it is dispensed.

A cooling system has a chiller to remove heat from a cooling liquid and a plurality of remote cooling units each comprises a heat exchanger coil, a fan blowing air through the heat exchanger coil, a drip pan receiving drip water condensing on the heat exchanger coil, a cooling conduit connected to the chiller outlet and the heat exchanger coil, a return conduit connected to the chiller inlet and the heat exchanger coil, and a suction conduit connected to receive water from a pan outlet of the drip pan. A liquid pump circulates the cooling liquid through the chiller and through each remote cooling unit, and a suction pump connected to an output end of each suction conduit draws drip water from each drip pan through each of the suction conduits and deposits the drip water into a collector.

A cooling system has a chiller to remove heat from a cooling liquid and a plurality of remote cooling units each comprises a heat exchanger coil, a fan blowing air through the heat exchanger coil, a drip pan receiving drip water condensing on the heat exchanger coil, a cooling conduit connected to the chiller outlet and the heat exchanger coil, a return conduit connected to the chiller inlet and the heat exchanger coil, and a suction conduit connected to receive water from a pan outlet of the drip pan. A liquid pump circulates the cooling liquid through the chiller and through each remote cooling unit, and a suction pump connected to an output end of each suction conduit draws drip water from each drip pan through each of the suction conduits and deposits the drip water into a collector.

An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones.

Provided is a thermoelectric cooling device comprising: a thermoelectric module; a heat sink having a body, which has on one side a contact surface coming into contact with a heating side of the thermoelectric module, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins, and emitting the heat transferred from the heating side of the thermoelectric module; a heat pipe coupled to a mounting groove which is formed on the contact surface of the heat sink, and for transferring heat by means of a working fluid stored therein; and a cooling fan for forming the airflow to the heat sink, wherein the heat pipe comprises a plurality of corner-extension heat pipes extending to a corner area of the heat sink from the central part of the heat sink on which the thermoelectric module is installed, and the shape of the mounting groove corresponds to the shape of the corner-extension heat pipes.

Provided is a thermoelectric cooling device comprising: a thermoelectric module; a heat sink having a body, which has on one side a contact surface coming into contact with a heating side of the thermoelectric module, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins, and emitting the heat transferred from the heating side of the thermoelectric module; a heat pipe coupled to a mounting groove which is formed on the contact surface of the heat sink, and for transferring heat by means of a working fluid stored therein; and a cooling fan for forming the airflow to the heat sink, wherein the heat pipe comprises a plurality of corner-extension heat pipes extending to a corner area of the heat sink from the central part of the heat sink on which the thermoelectric module is installed, and the shape of the mounting groove corresponds to the shape of the corner-extension heat pipes.

An automated warehouse system and method are provided for controlling the internal microclimate of receptacles within a warehouse or order fulfilment facility. The system provides independent environmental condition monitoring and regulation for each tote. The system enables individual totes to be maintained at adequate or substantially ideal conditions, independent of its position within a storage system or the environmental conditions of adjacent totes in the storage system. The totes may include self-contained environmental control systems and/or the storage system may include environmental control inputs to adjust or maintain the environmental conditions within a particular tote. The system is operable to monitor and control the microclimate of a tote while it is stored at a storage location within the storage system or in a buffer, and may be operable to monitor and/or control the microclimates of the totes while they travel throughout the system.

An automated warehouse system and method are provided for controlling the internal microclimate of receptacles within a warehouse or order fulfilment facility. The system provides independent environmental condition monitoring and regulation for each tote. The system enables individual totes to be maintained at adequate or substantially ideal conditions, independent of its position within a storage system or the environmental conditions of adjacent totes in the storage system. The totes may include self-contained environmental control systems and/or the storage system may include environmental control inputs to adjust or maintain the environmental conditions within a particular tote. The system is operable to monitor and control the microclimate of a tote while it is stored at a storage location within the storage system or in a buffer, and may be operable to monitor and/or control the microclimates of the totes while they travel throughout the system.