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 portable cooler container is provided, with a payload chamber for one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods. A cooling unit is disposed in the payload chamber. The cooling unit includes a vessel filled with a cooling material (e.g., dry ice) and closed with a lid. One or more variable apertures of the cooling unit are operable to controllably release a chilled gas (e.g., CO2 gas) generated by the cooling material into the payload chamber of the vessel to cool the payload.

An optimal package structure and an amount of refrigerant to insert into the package structure are determined based upon product information, consumer preference information, and weather information. The optimal package structure and the amount of refrigerant are an optimized combination that is effective to both protect the product from damage and preserve the product from spoilage. A package is constructed to contain the product according to the optimal package structure and the amount of refrigerant is inserted into the structure.

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.

Shipping system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system includes an outer box having four side walls, bottom closure flaps, and top closure flaps. A vacuum insulated panel (VIP) is detachably coupled to one of the top closure flaps and is removably covered by a cover. An insulation unit is removably positioned within the outer box, the insulation unit including a plurality of VIPs arranged to define a cavity bounded by a bottom wall and four side walls. A disposable liner is removably mounted on the insulation unit. The liner may be a thermoformed sheet and may cover the interior and top surfaces of the insulation unit. A plurality of temperature-control members and a product box may be removably positioned in the liner. Preferably, the liner is shaped so that the temperature-control members snugly fit around all sides of the product box.

An apparatus for cooling wine comprising an upper housing including an outer portion and an inner portion where a first volume is created in between the outer and inner portions, the outer portion including a tapered cup that creates a second volume in the upper housing portion for receiving wine bottles, a cold sink within a third volume created by the inner portion and the tapered cup, the cold sink coupled to a first end of a Peltier unit, a lower housing that exhausts heat removed from the upper housing, and at least one fan in the third volume, the fan coupled to and controlled by a microcontroller configured to receive temperature parameters from a client device over a communications network.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments include a method of solid production that may include contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The method may include solidifying the second fluid. Some embodiments include a solid production system that may include a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid may be immiscible with respect to each other. The system may include one or more surfaces configured to contact the first fluid and the second fluid with each other and to form one or more solids from the second fluid.

Shipping system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system includes an outer box having four side walls, bottom closure flaps, and top closure flaps. A vacuum insulated panel (VIP) is detachably coupled to one of the top closure flaps and is removably covered by a cover. An insulation unit is removably positioned within the outer box, the insulation unit including a plurality of VIPs arranged to define a cavity bounded by a bottom wall and four side walls. A disposable liner is removably mounted on the insulation unit. The liner may be a thermoformed sheet and may cover the interior and top surfaces of the insulation unit. A plurality of temperature-control members and a product box may be removably positioned in the liner. Preferably, the liner is shaped so that the temperature-control members snugly fit around all sides of the product box.

A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow utilizes a hierarchical vasculature and a sacrificial transpirant to cool the component. The component includes a body that defines a transpirant reservoir and the hierarchical vasculature. The transpirant is configured to transition between a solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.

An insert configured to be disposed in a receptacle, the insert comprising a bottom surface, a first top surface, a second top surface, the second top surface being located further from the bottom surface than the first top surface in a first direction, the first direction being orthogonal to the bottom surface, and a chamber, the chamber residing between the first top surface and the bottom surface and the second top surface and the bottom surface, the chamber being configured to hold a liquid, is provided. An associated method is also provided.