Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.

A cooling system having a multitude of fluidly coupled cells for receiving a coolant is disclosed. The cooling system is characterized in that the cooling system has a flexible cover that covers the multitude of cells, an air gap between the flexible cover and the cells and an air pump for modifying the air gap.

A temperature-regulating apparatus is provided to rapidly cool a beverage to a desired temperature. In some variations, the geometry of the temperature-regulating apparatus is configured to rapidly cool a beverage incorporating one or more inner portions that contain a temperature regulating material, such as a phase change material having a high heat capacity. The geometry of the interior of the container may be configured to aid in rapid heat transfer between the beverage therein and the outer shell of the inner portion and may have a length to width aspect ratio of at least 4:1. The inner portion may be formed between the exterior wall of the container and by a single piece of formed metal that extends along the length, width and base walls to form the interior for receiving a beverage. The cavity formed between the outer shell and the exterior wall may be at least 15 mm deep.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to form a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, a first evaporator configured to cool the first storage chamber, a first fan configured to circulate air in the first storage chamber to the first evaporator and the first storage chamber, a second evaporator configured to cool the second storage chamber, a compressor configured to be connected to the first evaporator and the second evaporator, a second fan configured to circulate air in the second storage chamber to the second evaporator and the second storage chamber; a refrigerant valve configured to guide refrigerant to the first evaporator or the second evaporator, and a controller configured to perform a plurality of modes sequentially to defrost the second evaporator.

A method and device for freezing food items in a controlled and homogeneous manner. The method and device use plate freezers to bring the food items in a regulated manner through the whole freezing process.

A water output device is provided. The water output device comprises a housing mechanism; a water purification mechanism, which comprises a water purifier located within the housing mechanism; a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism; a tank assembly, which comprises a first tank mechanism configured for providing hot water, and second tank mechanism configured for providing ice water and soda water; the first tank mechanism comprises a hot water tank in communication with the water purifier; the second tank mechanism comprises a ice water tank in communication with the water purifier, a soda water tank located within the ice water tank, a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively, and a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank.

The double walled vacuum insulated beverage housing system provides an aperture for receiving a heat transfer unit. The heat transfer unit also provides an aperture for receiving a beverage vessel within the heat transfer unit. The heat transfer unit stores a heat transfer material including but not limited to a fluid, gel, phase change material, or other substance that can be heated or cooled depending upon the desired effect on the beverage. A retention shoulder secures the heat transfer unit adjacent an insulating chamber to insulate both the heat transfer unit and the beverage.

A medical contact shock freezer adapted for fast freezing a plurality of individual bags containing a medical liquid has the contact surface of its upper freezing plate arranged at an angle of at least 2° to the horizontal.

Temperature-controllable container with vacuum insulation elements and with an interior space, which container comprises a wall with an opening for objects to be placed into the interior space, and a door element closing the opening, wherein transport elements are arranged on an outer surface of the container, which transport elements are designed to enable lifting by means of a transport vehicle, and wherein the container further comprises a temperature control unit which is designed so as to bring the interior space to a predetermined temperature T, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a heating/cooling unit operated via a solar energy device or a heating/cooling unit operated via a power supply network, and wherein a receptacle means for melt-storage elements or sample bodies is arranged in the interior space, which receptacle means is designed so as to position at least two melt-storage elements or sample bodies at a distance from each other.