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.

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.

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.

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.

Supercooled water or solutions can be destabilized by the nucleation of ice, which can be triggered by a wide range of different mechanisms. Constraining water in a constant-volume (isochoric) container minimizes the effects of many of these mechanisms through thermodynamic, kinetic, and fluid dynamic means, significantly enhancing supercooling stability. This invention describes methods and devices for high-stability and optionally transportable supercooling of aqueous solutions or suspensions, and the stable and long-term preservation of biological matter that may be stored therein.

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.

A storage system for storing a drug includes a container, at least one passive cooling system, and an active cooling system. The container includes an interior volume to accommodate at least one drug. The at least one passive cooling system is disposed within the container and includes a phase change material. The active cooling system is operably coupled with the container and, when in an operational mode, maintains a desired temperature within the interior volume of the container.

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.

Methods, systems, and device for solidification and/or solid production, such as ice production, are provided. For example, a method of solid production includes contacting a first fluid with a second fluid to facilitate solidifying the second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The method includes solidifying the second fluid. A solid production system includes a first fluid and a second fluid; the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to each other. The system includes 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.

Apparatus and system for preparing an ice-containing tea or coffee beverage. The apparatus (300) comprising a beverage concentrate reservoir (360), a sweetener concentrate reservoir (361) and a water pre-chiller (312). A first pre-mixer (362) for mixing beverage concentrate supplied from the beverage concentrate reservoir with water supplied from the water pre-chiller, a second pre-mixer (363) for mixing sweetener concentrate supplied from the sweetener concentrate reservoir with water supplied from the water pre-chiller. A mixing chamber (364) for mixing an output from the first pre-mixer with an output from the second pre-mixer to form a beverage liquor, a cooling unit (310). An ice-generating system (311), a beverage product circuit for supplying the beverage liquor from the mixing chamber to the ice-generating system and a cooling circuit for supplying coolant from the cooling unit to the ice-generating system to cool the beverage liquor and to thereby form a plurality of ice crystals within the beverage liquor. A beverage dispensing outlet (303) is also provided.