The present invention concerns a cooling device and method of forming and regenerating same for use in keeping perishable products cool. The cooling device includes a porous substrate that has been soaked in a first composition including at least one anti-freeze agent before being soaked in a second composition including at least one crosslinking agent and be exposed to UV irradiation. The cooling device further includes a substrate cover for sealingly covering the porous substrate after being soaked in the second composition and exposed to the UV irradiation. Prior to use, the cooling device is cooled to a desired temperature and exposed to further UV irradiation.

Provided are a latent heat storage material having a melting point within a prescribed temperature range; a latent heat. The latent heat storage material includes a compound (A) represented by a formula (A), an inorganic salt (B) represented by a formula (B) and composed of a cation of an alkali metal and an anion of the same element as the anion of the quaternary alkyl salt, and water. The compound (A) is a material that forms a clathrate hydrate together with the water, the composition ratio of the compound (A) and water is a composition ratio that gives a congruent melting point of the clathrate hydrate, and the molar ratio of the inorganic salt (B) to the compound (A) is 0.1 or more and 10 or less.

A knockdown cooler with a number of removable chilling panels that cool an interior cavity of the cooler without exposing the contents therein to contact with unhygienic ice or water is provided. A collapsible storage member is positioned atop one or more structural support members to suspend the storage member in the chilling cavity, providing exposure to prolonged cooling impetus, a duration that may be prolonged if desired by removing and replacing one or more of the chilling panels without disrupting the contents of the cooler. A method of cooling items such as food, beverages, or the like without exposing the same to unhygienic ice or water in a knockdown cooler that can be assembled or disassembled without tools, mechanical fasteners, or adhesives is also provided.

In one aspect, systems for storing and/or transporting a payload are described herein. In some embodiments, systems have a portable storage vessel having an internal cavity, the internal cavity having: a central zone for receiving the payload; a first cooling zone disposed radially outward from the central recess, with a first phase change material disposed in the first cooling zone; a second cooling zone disposed radially outward from the first cooling zone, with a second phase change material disposed in the second cooling zone, wherein the first phase change material has a first phase transition temperature; wherein the second phase change material has a second phase transition temperature; and wherein the second phase transition temperature is between 10 C. and 15 C. higher than the first phase transition temperature; and wherein each of the first phase transition temperature and the second phase transition temperature are below 0 C.

There is provided a latent heat storage material that retains the cold insulation capability thereof and is still restrained from supercooling. The latent heat storage material includes: quaternary ammonium ions and first anions that together form a quaternary ammonium salt; water; and calcium carbonate, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt and the water can form a clathrate hydrate, the quaternary ammonium salt and the water have a composition ratio in which the quaternary ammonium salt and the water can at least form the clathrate hydrate, and the calcium carbonate has an addition ratio relative to a mass of an aqueous solution that is the latent heat storage material excluding the calcium carbonate, the addition ratio being higher than a solubility of the calcium carbonate in the aqueous solution at an onset temperature of melting of the aqueous solution that is the latent heat storage material excluding the calcium carbonate.

A system for monitoring and reporting internal refrigeration unit temperatures includes a temperature measuring device for placement within the refrigeration unit. The temperature measuring device has a first temperature sensors situated in a liquid or solid mass (e.g. glycol or glass beads) for measuring an average temperature within the refrigeration unit and/or has a second temperature sensors exposed to ambient air within the refrigeration unit for measuring an instantaneous temperature within the refrigeration unit. A circuit periodically transmits the average temperature and/or the instantaneous temperature from the temperature measuring device to a server where the average temperature and the instantaneous temperature are analyzed to determine and/or predict a fault with the refrigeration unit. Upon determination and/or prediction of the fault, an alert is sent to at least one staff member indicating the refrigeration unit and fault.

In a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods, there is a chamber for receiving the transport goods and a shell enclosing the chamber. The shell has at least one first latent heat storage element wherein the heat storage element is arranged in a heat exchanging relationship with the chamber. The at least one first latent heat storage element includes a carrier material which is dimensionally stable at use temperature, and a phase change material distributed within the mass of the carrier material, so that the at least one first latent heat storage element is dimensionally stable in a temperature range both below and above the melting point of the phase change material. The at least one first latent heat storage element is designed as a casting part which surrounds the chamber in one piece, seen in cross section, at least over half the circumference.

Phase change materials (PCM) such as a liquid salt hydrate may be stored in capsules of various sizes and applied to fabrics and fibers to fabricate PCM features that provide passive temperature control for shipping containers and goods. In one implementation, PCM fabric covers may be placed over palletized cargo and over individual goods. Modular fabric pieces may be combined and interconnected to cover goods. Fabric covers may emphasize thermal performance over comfort or aesthetics when selecting microcapsule size and coating materials. In another implementation, PCM capsules may be combined with fiber filler, shaped as desired, and sealed within an exterior skin to produce rigid PCM panels having various shapes. Panels may be used to line interiors or exteriors of shipping containers or goods. Panels may be shaped to include contours that fit snugly against a desired surface, or to include interior portions in which goods can be fit into.

Described herein is a refrigeration pack and a method of providing same, comprising: providing a pumpable slurry comprising a frozen component and a liquid component, providing within the pumpable slurry a thickening agent to absorb some of the liquid component of the pumpable slurry, and to increase a viscosity of the pumpable slurry; providing a refrigeration pack housing; and, providing the pumpable slurry to the refrigeration pack housing.

Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials within a target temperature range for an extended time. In one embodiment, the system keeps materials within a temperature range of +2 C. to +8 C. and includes an insulated container, a product box, ice packs, and organic phase-change material (PCM) packs. The ice packs are preconditioned to a very low temperature, such as 20 C. The organic PCM packs do not require preconditioning and may be kept at room temperature. In use, the frozen ice packs and the warm organic PCM packs may be loaded into the insulated container, together with a payload in the product box. Preferably, the frozen ice packs are sandwiched between a pair of organic PCM packs on each face of the product box. The masses of ice and organic PCM are selected so that, upon thermal equilibration, the ice and organic PCM are within the target temperature range.