A passive refrigeration apparatus comprising: (i) a container defining a cargo space; (ii) a liquid carbon dioxide cylinder; (iii) a control valve, in fluid communication with the cylinder; (iv) a controller for activating the control valve to control the flow of liquid CO2; and (v) a heat transfer assembly within the container, in fluid communication with the control valve; wherein the heat transfer assembly has (a) an expansion section for receiving the flow of liquid CO2; and (b) an expansion chamber bounded by a heat transfer surface in thermal contact with the cargo space; wherein the expansion section allows the vaporization of the liquid CO2 into the expansion chamber to create a mixture of carbon dioxide snow and CO2, thereby cooling the cargo space via the heat transfer surface.

A passive refrigeration apparatus comprising: (i) a container defining a cargo space; (ii) a liquid carbon dioxide cylinder; (iii) a control valve, in fluid communication with the cylinder; (iv) a controller for activating the control valve to control the flow of liquid CO2; and (v) a heat transfer assembly within the container, in fluid communication with the control valve; wherein the heat transfer assembly has (a) an expansion section for receiving the flow of liquid CO2; and (b) an expansion chamber bounded by a heat transfer surface in thermal contact with the cargo space; wherein the expansion section allows the vaporization of the liquid CO2 into the expansion chamber to create a mixture of carbon dioxide snow and CO2, thereby cooling the cargo space via the heat transfer surface.

The invention provides a compact and self-sustained refrigeration system for medical uses, including in hospitals, in clinics and in home uses, including rescue and field emergency situations, independent of external power supply, based on small amounts of liquid carbon dioxide.

The invention provides a compact and self-sustained refrigeration system for medical uses, including in hospitals, in clinics and in home uses, including rescue and field emergency situations, independent of external power supply, based on small amounts of liquid carbon dioxide.

A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.

Systems and methods are disclosed of a service cart for an aircraft or other vehicle, which includes a thermoelectric device capable of generating a current as a result of a temperature differential between a cold compartment of the cart and an ambient environment. The current can be either stored in a battery or other storage device, and used to power one or more electronic components associated with the cart.

Cryogenic devices are provided in which solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is used to maintain a temperature zone in which samples can be manipulated under conditions in which the sample is maintained at a temperature below −50° C.

For charging a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a cooling container with dry ice, a reservoir vessel has a dispensing opening and a dispensing unit which cooperates therewith and by means of which dry ice blocks stored in stacks in a magazine of the reservoir vessel are ejected one after the other from the reservoir vessel and are respectively inserted into a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a respectively provided cooling container. This makes it possible to provide cooling containers in rapid succession with a precisely metered quantity of dry ice as refrigerant.

For charging a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a cooling container with dry ice, a reservoir vessel has a dispensing opening and a dispensing unit which cooperates therewith and by means of which dry ice blocks stored in stacks in a magazine of the reservoir vessel are ejected one after the other from the reservoir vessel and are respectively inserted into a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a respectively provided cooling container. This makes it possible to provide cooling containers in rapid succession with a precisely metered quantity of dry ice as refrigerant.