A phase change thermal storage unit having has at least one conformational feature selected from (i) a fill port located proximate a corner of the of the panel, (ii) internal contouring that alters the thickness of the phase change material retention chamber for creating an average thickness of the chamber within a central portion of the chamber which is less than the average thickness of the chamber within a peripheral portion of the chamber, and (iii) fingertip indentation handles proximate each and every edge.

Systems and methods for vertical storage bag transport coolers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a carrier device for liquids, the carrier device includes a body compartment; a lid; a strap configured to receive at least one vessel having an attachment loop, the strap comprising a first end and a second end, where the first end of the strap attaches to a first end of the internal face of the lid; the strap inserts through the attachment loop of the at least one vessel resulting in the at least one vessel being oriented vertically; and wherein the lid encloses an at least one opening of the body compartment while the at least one vessel is encapsulated by an at least one internal wall of the body compartment and an internal face of the lid, and is oriented vertically.

A refrigerator includes a thermoelectric element module disposed at a wall of a storing chamber and includes a heat-absorbing sink and a heat-dissipating sink; a supply duct disposed at an inner case to discharge cold air, which has exchanged heat in the heat-absorbing sink, to a storing chamber; and a cold air accumulation agent disposed in the supply duct and cooled by the cold air flowing through the supply duct.

Shipping container systems are provided for shipping a temperature sensitive product or payload. The systems include at least one heat transfer element and a payload container configured to hold payload therein and configured to be positioned within a shipping container; the payload container being spaced from sidewalls of the shipping container. Also included are spacers that may space the payload container from one or more of the heat transfer elements, or the spacers may space the heat transfer elements from an inside surface of the shipping container, or the spacers space multiple heat transfer elements from one another. The spacers are configured to allow air to flow over surfaces of the payload container and heat transfer elements. Also included are kits that include components of the system and methods of packing a shipping container with the system and/or kit components. Further provided are products that include any one or more of the described elements, such as the unique shuttle horizontal spacers provided herein; and fully assembled shipping containers.

An appliance having a storage tank disposed on its back surface wherein the storage tank includes a front cover and a back cover that matingly engages the front cover to form a liquid tight seal with the front cover. The storage tank further includes a phase-changing material disposed within the storage tank and a heat exchanger containing refrigerant tubing which transfers cooling from refrigerant tubing to the phase-changing solution. The storage tank, when fully charged with cooling capacity, maintains the food storage compartment at a temperature of 45 F. or less for at least 8 hours without activating a compressor.

A refrigerator includes a thermoelectric element module disposed at a wall of a storing chamber and includes a heat-absorbing sink and a heat-dissipating sink; a supply duct disposed at an inner case to discharge cold air, which has exchanged heat in the heat-absorbing sink, to a storing chamber; and a cold air accumulation agent disposed in the supply duct and cooled by the cold air flowing through the supply duct.

Shipping container systems are provided for shipping a temperature sensitive product or payload. The systems include at least one heat transfer element and a payload container configured to hold payload therein and configured to be positioned within a shipping container; the payload container being spaced from sidewalls of the shipping container. Also included are spacers that may for example, space the payload container from one or more of the heat transfer elements. The spacers are configured to allow air to flow over surfaces of the payload container and heat transfer elements. Also included are kits that include components of the system and methods. Further provided are products that include any one or more of the described elements; and fully assembled shipping containers.

A phase change thermal storage unit having has at least one conformational feature selected from (i) a fill port located proximate a corner of the of the panel, (ii) internal contouring that alters the thickness of the phase change material retention chamber for creating an average thickness of the chamber within a central portion of the chamber which is less than the average thickness of the chamber within a peripheral portion of the chamber, and (iii) fingertip indentation handles proximate each and every edge.

An appliance having a storage tank disposed on its back surface wherein the storage tank comprises a front cover and a back cover that matingly engages the front cover to form a liquid tight seal with the front cover. The storage tank further includes a phase-changing material disposed within the storage tank and a heat exchanger containing refrigerant tubing which transfers cooling from refrigerant tubing to the phase-changing solution. The storage tank, when fully charged with cooling capacity, maintains the food storage compartment at a temperature of 45 F. or less for at least 8 hours without activating a compressor.