A hybrid shellfish cooling system employs both DC and AC cooling units that use both solar power and AC electrical supply as energy sources. As temperature control and uniform temperature distribution in the cooling system are critical factors in reducing vibrio growth on raw oysters and reducing energy consumption, the hybrid shellfish cooling system is equipped with a specially configured divider that optimizes airflow through the cooling system interior cabinet to achieve uniform temperature distribution in six individual internal compartments inside of the cooling system. Test results indicated that an average of 130 min. cooling was required to reach the suggested oyster temperatures of 7.2° C. and meet the cooling time requirement (i.e., 10 h or less). Airflow is further optimized via fan location and airflow direction, whereby a circulation fan located on the lower part of the 12-volt DC section with an air supply from the 12-volt DC section to the 110-volt AC section provides the optimal condition to achieve relatively uniform temperature distribution.

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 transport container for transporting livestock and/or agricultural products is disclosed. The transport container is releasably connected with a box comprising an open connecting side, at which the box is provided with anchor parts. The box contains an inlet opening for supplying fresh air, wherein an air conditioning device is arranged in the box and is connectable to the inlet opening for fresh air supply into the air conditioning device. The open connecting side of the box contains a region, in which an air outlet from the air conditioning device is arranged and is in fluid communication with an intake opening in the container, and a re-entry opening which is for re-entry of air from the container and which is fluidly connectable with intake of the air conditioning device.

A control method of a refrigerating and freezing device and a refrigerating and freezing device are provided. The refrigerating and freezing device includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment. The control method includes a refrigerating operation step, a foodstuff determining step, and a cooling operation step. The refrigerating operation step is to control a temperature of the storage compartment to be within a first preset temperature range. The foodstuff determining step is to determine whether a new foodstuff is put into the storage compartment. The cooling operation step is to, when a new foodstuff is put into the storage compartment, cool the storage compartment. Since the temperature of the new foodstuff is greater than that of the original foodstuffs in the refrigerating and freezing device, cooling the storage compartment changes a storage temperature suitable for the foodstuffs originally stored in the storage compartment into a storage temperature suitable for the foodstuffs originally stored in the storage compartment into a storage temperature suitable for the new foodstuff, and the storage temperature is more convenient for the preservation of the new foodstuff and ensures good storage conditions for the newly put foodstuff. Furthermore, the preservation effect on the original foodstuffs will not be affected, and the preservation effect of the refrigerating and freezing device on the foodstuff is enhanced.

A cooling package that includes a sensor that provides a signal to the user to indicate that the cooling package is ready for use and when the cooling package is depleted is described. The sensor and sensor display are selected on the basis of the freezing point of the contained solution. The freezing point of the solution is adjustable through use of organic or inorganic additives. The sensor can further be used by placement directly in contact with a food product and through measurement of temperature, pH or electrical conductivity a signal to the user through the built in display warns of food spoilage if the temperature, cumulative time above a pre-selected temperature, pH or electrical conductivity exceed a pre-selected limit.

A transport refrigeration system including: a transport refrigeration unit configured to refrigerate a refrigerated cargo space within a transport container; and a sensor system including one or more sensors configured to detect whether the refrigerated cargo space is empty or free of perishable goods, wherein the sensor system is configured to transmit a message to at least one of the transport refrigeration unit or a user device, the message indicating that the refrigerated cargo space is empty or free of perishable goods, and wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to shut off or return to an atmospheric temperature when the refrigerated cargo space is empty or free of perishable goods in response to least one of the message from the sensor system or a command from the user device.

Systems and methods for container condition determination are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more optical sensors; at least one processor; and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions when executed cause the system to: obtain image data of a container from the one or more optical sensors; determine from the image data, position information of one or more items located inside the container; determine from the image data air delivery information in the container; determine airflow characteristics of the container using the position information of the one or more items and the air delivery information; and determine, using the airflow characteristics and the position information of the one or more items, a probability of an item of the one or more items being damaged.

A refrigerator includes an upper door, a lower door positioned below the upper door and configured to be extended out of and retracted into the lower storage chamber, wherein the lower door includes a drawer part having a storage space and a door part configured to open and close the lower storage chamber, respectively, a draw-out, an ascending and descending mechanism provided at the drawer part and configured to ascend and descend the storage space, a driving mechanism provided at the door part and configured to provide a driving force to the ascending and descending mechanism, a controller to control the driving mechanism, a microphone module provided at the upper door and configured to receive a voice input from a user, and a voice recognition module to allow the controller to control the driving mechanism in response to the voice input from the user.

A transportation refrigeration system including: a transportation refrigeration unit comprising a motor; a power conversion unit configured convert an amplitude, a frequency and a phase of an input electrical power signal, wherein the power conversion unit comprises a first power bridge, a DC link and a second power bridge; an energy storage device configured to supply electrical power to the motor via the power conversion unit during a road mode; a first switch configured to selectively connect the first power bridge to the energy storage device or the motor; and a second switch configured to selectively connect the second power bridge to the motor or a power grid; wherein the first switch and second switch are positioned to connect the first power bridge and second power bridge to specified sources and outputs during each of the road mode and the standby mode.

The present application is at least directed to a control system to cool cooled objects and to keep cooled objects cool without cooling an entire storage space for cooled objects. The control system includes containers, which hold cooled objects and a TES member to cool the cooled objects. The control system is configured to judge if it is time to replace the TES member based on a combination of cooled objects, stored in the containers to keep cool, and the TES member. The control system also is configured to notify if it is time to replace the TES member based upon the judging step.