The present application is related to a portable refrigeration apparatus for vaccines, food items, beverage containers, or any other item. The apparatus includes a refrigerated container comprised of a plurality of substantially identical chilling panels interconnected to form a sealed container that defines an internal volume, each of the chilling panels containing a cooling element. The refrigerated container encloses an internal storage space and has a generally modular design to facilitate packaging and transportation. The apparatus permits the internal storage space to maintain a temperature in the range of 4° C.˜8° C. for a long period of time following a loss of electrical power.

An entrance refrigerator includes a cabinet, a guide plate partitioning the cabinet into a storage compartment at the front and a cold air generating compartment at the rear, a first cold air supply module mounted at an upper portion of a rear surface of the cabinet, a second cold air supply module mounted at a lower portion of the rear surface of the cabinet, wherein each of the first and second cold air supply modules may include a thermoelectric element. An internal air guide is provided on one side of a rear surface of the guide plate between the first cold air supply module and the second cold air supply module and guides cold air forcibly moved by the first cold air supply module and the second cold air supply module to the storage compartment.

A cooling module for solid-state refrigerant cooling includes an annular storing portion having a housing portion, low and high temperature side inflow paths, low and high temperature side outflow paths, first and second spaces between the first and second ends of housing flow paths and the low and high temperature side inflow paths, and first and second intermediate flow paths. The first intermediate flow path is in fluid communication with the low temperature side inflow path and the first space, and is configured to widen a flow of the heating medium flowing from the low temperature side inflow path to the first space. The second intermediate flow path is in fluid communication with the high temperature side inflow path and the second space, and is configured to widen a flow of the heating medium flowing from the high temperature side inflow path to the second space.

A cooling module for solid-state refrigerant cooling includes an annular storing portion having a housing portion, low and high temperature side inflow paths, low and high temperature side outflow paths, first and second spaces between the first and second ends of housing flow paths and the low and high temperature side inflow paths, and first and second intermediate flow paths. The first intermediate flow path is in fluid communication with the low temperature side inflow path and the first space, and is configured to widen a flow of the heating medium flowing from the low temperature side inflow path to the first space. The second intermediate flow path is in fluid communication with the high temperature side inflow path and the second space, and is configured to widen a flow of the heating medium flowing from the high temperature side inflow path to the second space.

An environmental control unit for use with a transport container is disclosed. The environmental control unit includes a thermoelectric device, a fan configured to blow air across the thermoelectric device, a cooling module, a controller in electronic communication with the thermoelectric device and the fan, and a communication module in electronic communication with the controller. The communication module is configured to transmit parameters of the environmental control unit to a computing device through wireless communication. The controller is also configured to determine a present location of the transport container, determine a destination of the transport container, evaluate an internal temperature of the transport container, and control an on or off condition of the thermoelectric device based on the present location, the destination, and the internal temperature of the transport container.

An environmental control unit for use with a transport container is disclosed. The environmental control unit includes a thermoelectric device, a fan configured to blow air across the thermoelectric device, a cooling module, a controller in electronic communication with the thermoelectric device and the fan, and a communication module in electronic communication with the controller. The communication module is configured to transmit parameters of the environmental control unit to a computing device through wireless communication. The controller is also configured to determine a present location of the transport container, determine a destination of the transport container, evaluate an internal temperature of the transport container, and control an on or off condition of the thermoelectric device based on the present location, the destination, and the internal temperature of the transport container.

A container has a chamber and a phase change material (PCM) that can remove heat from the chamber. The container can have a thermal conductor movably coupled in the container between a retracted position and a deployed position, where in the deployed position, while on a heat sink unit, the thermal conductor can draw heat from the PCM to solidify or charge the PCM, which can then maintain the chamber in a chilled state for a prolonged period of time. The container can have one or more heating elements in thermal communication with the chamber and operable to add heat to the chamber to increase or maintain a temperature of the chamber in a heated state for a prolonged period of time.

A container has a chamber and a phase change material (PCM) that can remove heat from the chamber. The container can have a thermal conductor movably coupled in the container between a retracted position and a deployed position, where in the deployed position, while on a heat sink unit, the thermal conductor can draw heat from the PCM to solidify or charge the PCM, which can then maintain the chamber in a chilled state for a prolonged period of time. The container can have one or more heating elements in thermal communication with the chamber and operable to add heat to the chamber to increase or maintain a temperature of the chamber in a heated state for a prolonged period of time.

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.

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.