An environmental control unit for use with a transport container is provided. The environmental control unit includes: a thermoelectric device; a fan to blow air across the thermoelectric device; a cooling passage configured to receive the air blown across the thermoelectric device and convey the air to a compartment of a transport container when the transport container is removably connected to the environmental control unit; a controller in electronic communication with the thermoelectric device and the fan; a battery configured to power the environmental control unit; and one or more piezoelectric devices configured to generate electrical power to charge the battery, wherein each of the one or more piezoelectric devices is electrically connected to the battery.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for heating and cooling substances, such as food and beverages. A portable device may have an exterior surface and an interior surface, with one or more heating elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and with one or more cooling elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The portable device may include one or more power sources operatively connected to the one or more heating elements and the one or more cooling element, and may include at least one processor that controls, based on the one or more power sources, activation of one of the one or more heating elements or the one or more cooling elements at a time.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for heating and cooling substances, such as food and beverages. A portable device may have an exterior surface and an interior surface, with one or more heating elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface, and with one or more cooling elements positioned at least partially between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The portable device may include one or more power sources operatively connected to the one or more heating elements and the one or more cooling element, and may include at least one processor that controls, based on the one or more power sources, activation of one of the one or more heating elements or the one or more cooling elements at a time.

Shipping container for a temperature-sensitive payload. In one embodiment, the shipping container includes an insulated base having a bottom wall and four side walls. A first thermally conductive member is positioned on the bottom wall. A payload box is centered on top of the first thermally conductive member, and four frozen packs, each having a thickness matching the height of the payload box, are positioned along the four sides of the payload box. An insulating frame may be placed around the payload box to keep the frozen packs from directly contacting the payload box. A second thermally conductive member is positioned on top of the payload box and the four frozen packs, and an insulated lid is positioned on top of the second thermally conductive member and the four side walls of the base. One, both or neither of the thermally conductive members may be removed to optimize seasonal suitability.

Shipping container for a temperature-sensitive payload. In one embodiment, the shipping container includes an insulated base having a bottom wall and four side walls. A first thermally conductive member is positioned on the bottom wall. A payload box is centered on top of the first thermally conductive member, and four frozen packs, each having a thickness matching the height of the payload box, are positioned along the four sides of the payload box. An insulating frame may be placed around the payload box to keep the frozen packs from directly contacting the payload box. A second thermally conductive member is positioned on top of the payload box and the four frozen packs, and an insulated lid is positioned on top of the second thermally conductive member and the four side walls of the base. One, both or neither of the thermally conductive members may be removed to optimize seasonal suitability.

Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials. According to one embodiment, the method involves positioning temperature-sensitive materials within a product box and positioning phase-change material around the product box. If the edges of the product box where adjoining sides meet are covered by phase-change material, then the product box and the phase-change materials are loaded into a frame-and-panel-type insulated container in which an insulating material having a higher R-value is located along the container edges and an insulating material having a lower R-value is spaced away from the container edges. By contrast, if the edges of the product box are not covered by phase-change material, then the product box and the phase-change materials are loaded into a frame-and-panel-type insulated container in which an insulating material having a lower R-value is located along the container edges and an insulating material having a higher R-value is spaced away from the container edges.

Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials. According to one embodiment, the method involves positioning temperature-sensitive materials within a product box and positioning phase-change material around the product box. If the edges of the product box where adjoining sides meet are covered by phase-change material, then the product box and the phase-change materials are loaded into a frame-and-panel-type insulated container in which an insulating material having a higher R-value is located along the container edges and an insulating material having a lower R-value is spaced away from the container edges. By contrast, if the edges of the product box are not covered by phase-change material, then the product box and the phase-change materials are loaded into a frame-and-panel-type insulated container in which an insulating material having a lower R-value is located along the container edges and an insulating material having a higher R-value is spaced away from the container edges.

Systems and methods including a container assembly configured to maintain a controlled environment for storing a product therein are disclosed. Controlled environmental parameters may include at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, payload moisture content, solar radiation, magnetism, microwave, or light illumination. In certain implementations, the system includes a payload chamber and a self-contained environmental control unit (ECU) that may be coupled to the payload chamber using a substantially airtight seal. In certain embodiments, the ECU may include a condenser, a humidity controller, a liquid tank and a power source. Certain embodiments may include a warmer, temperature and/or humidity sensors, and/or a lock. Various combinations of the foregoing components and features may be incorporated, depending on the requirements of each particular implementation.

Systems and methods including a container assembly configured to maintain a controlled environment for storing a product therein are disclosed. Controlled environmental parameters may include at least one of the following: temperature, humidity, payload moisture content, solar radiation, magnetism, microwave, or light illumination. In certain implementations, the system includes a payload chamber and a self-contained environmental control unit (ECU) that may be coupled to the payload chamber using a substantially airtight seal. In certain embodiments, the ECU may include a condenser, a humidity controller, a liquid tank and a power source. Certain embodiments may include a warmer, temperature and/or humidity sensors, and/or a lock. Various combinations of the foregoing components and features may be incorporated, depending on the requirements of each particular implementation.

Temperature-controllable container with vacuum insulation elements and with an interior space, which container comprises a wall with an opening for objects to be placed into the interior space, and a door element closing the opening, wherein transport elements are arranged on an outer surface of the container, which transport elements are designed to enable lifting by means of a transport vehicle, and wherein the container further comprises a temperature control unit which is designed so as to bring the interior space to a predetermined temperature T, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a heating/cooling unit operated via a solar energy device or a heating/cooling unit operated via a power supply network, and wherein a receptacle means for melt-storage elements or sample bodies is arranged in the interior space, which receptacle means is designed so as to position at least two melt-storage elements or sample bodies at a distance from each other.