Transport container

Abstract

A transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods comprising a chamber for receiving the transport goods, a casing enclosing the chamber and at least one cooling element for temperature control of the chamber, wherein the cooling element comprises an evaporation element with a cooling surface, a desiccant for receiving coolant evaporated in the evaporation element and a reservoir for the coolant which is fluidly connectable with the evaporation element. Means are provided for evaporating the coolant stored in the desiccant and the desiccant is connected to the reservoir for transporting the vaporized coolant to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive transport goods comprising a chamber for receiving the transport goods, a housing enclosing the chamber and at least one cooling element for temperature control of the chamber, wherein the at least one cooling element comprises: an evaporation element with a cooling surface, a desiccant for receiving coolant evaporated in the evaporation element, a transport path for transporting the evaporated coolant to the desiccant, a reservoir for the coolant which can be brought into fluid communication with the evaporation element, wherein means are provided for evaporating the coolant stored in the desiccant and that the desiccant is connected to the reservoir for transporting the evaporated coolant to the reservoir, wherein the means for evaporating the coolant comprise a vacuum pump, which is arranged in a line that connects the desiccant and the reservoir.

2. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the means for evaporating the coolant further comprise a heating device.

3. The transport container according to claim 2, wherein the heating device comprises heating coils extending through the desiccant.

4. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the line connecting the desiccant and the reservoir has at least one meandering portion, which serves as a condenser.

5. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein at least one shut-off device is arranged in the line connecting the desiccant and the reservoir.

6. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein at least one shut-off device is arranged in the transport path for transporting the evaporated coolant to the desiccant.

7. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein at least one shut-off device is arranged in the line connecting the desiccant and the reservoir.

8. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling element is sealed against the environment in a vapour diffusion tight manner.

9. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the transport container further comprises a latent heat accumulator, which communicates with the chamber to exchange heat.

10. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the cooling surface is connected with the latent heat accumulator to exchange heat and that the latent heat accumulator is connected with the chamber to exchange heat.

11. The transport container according to claim 10, wherein the latent heat accumulator is arranged between the cooling surface and the chamber.

12. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the latent heat accumulator is arranged between the cooling surface and the chamber.

13. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the cooling surface and the latent heat accumulator are separated from each other by a thermal insulation.

14. The transport container according to claim 13, wherein the evaporation element and the desiccant are separated from each other by a thermal insulation.

15. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the latent heat accumulator has a phase transition temperature of 3-10° C.

16. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation element and the desiccant are separated from each other by a thermal insulation.

17. The transport container according to claim 16, wherein the thermal insulation arranged between the evaporation element and the desiccant comprises an insulating layer that is permeable to vapour diffusion and which forms the transport path.

18. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the transport path comprises at least one channel extending between the evaporation element and the desiccant.

19. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation element comprises a coolant receiving textile.

20. The transport container according claim 19, wherein the coolant comprises water and wherein the textile comprises a felt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. Therein, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the cooling system for a transport container according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the transport container with such a cooling system, and FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a transport container with such a cooling system.

(2) The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. Therein, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the cooling system for a transport container according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the transport container with such a cooling system, and FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a transport container with such a cooling system.

(3) In FIG. 1, a cooling system is shown, which comprises an evaporative cooling system 1 and a latent heat accumulator 2. The evaporative cooling system 1 comprises an evaporation element 3, which is soaked with a coolant, such as e.g. water, and has a cooling surface 4, and a desiccant 5 for receiving evaporated coolant from the evaporation element 3. To supply the evaporation element 3 with coolant, the same is connected to a reservoir 6. The transport of the evaporated coolant from the evaporation element 3 to the desiccant 5 is performed via a channel 10. The common shell or wall of the evaporation element 3, the channel 10 and the desiccant 5 is gas-tight, so that the relative humidity of the gas atmosphere within the evaporative cooling system 1 can be regulated independently from the environment. The evaporated coolant is absorbed in the desiccant 5, which is e.g. a silica gel.

(4) In that case the desiccant 5 is located on that side of the evaporative cooling system 1, on which heat is to be emitted, and the evaporation element 3 is located on that (opposite) side of the evaporative cooling system 1, on which cooling is to be effected. On the heat-emitting side of the evaporation element 3, a thermal insulation 7 is arranged.

(5) On the cooling side of the evaporative cooling system 1, a plate-shaped latent heat accumulator 2 is arranged, which is in heat exchange connection with the cooling surface 4 of the evaporative cooling system 1 either directly or with the interposition of a thermal insulation (not shown). On the side of the latent heat accumulator 2 facing away from the evaporative cooling system 1, the chamber 9 to be temperature controlled is arranged.

(6) In the channel 10, a valve 8 is arranged, with which the connection between the evaporation element 3 and the desiccant 5 can be opened or closed. Furthermore, a channel 11 is provided, which connects the desiccant 5 with the reservoir 6, to direct coolant, which was recuperated from the desiccant 5 by evaporation, in the reservoir 6. For evaporating the coolant from the desiccant 5, a heating device 15 and/or a vacuum pump 14 is arranged. The vaporized coolant enters the channel 11 and, with the valve 13 open, passes through the condenser 12, where the coolant is cooled, so that it is added to the reservoir 6 in its liquid state.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a cuboid transport container 16 in cross section, whose walls are denoted by 17, 18, 19 and 20. The walls 17, 18, 19 and 20 comprise a layer structure with an outer insulating layer 21 of heat-insulating material and an inner layer 22, which forms the evaporation element. The evaporation element 22 is connected to the desiccant 5 via a channel 10 extending through the insulating layer 21. Furthermore, a channel 11 is provided, which connects the desiccant 5 with the reservoir 6, to direct coolant, which was recuperated from the desiccant 5 by evaporation, in the reservoir 6. For evaporating the coolant from the desiccant 5, a heater 15 is arranged. The evaporated coolant enters the channel 11 and, with the valve open (not shown), passes through a condenser (not shown), where the coolant is cooled so that it is added to the reservoir 6 in the liquid state. The unit consisting of the desiccant, the channel 11 and the reservoir 6 may be built as a unit that is removable from the transport container 16 in order to ensure easy attachment and removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) In FIG. 1, a cooling system is shown, which comprises an evaporative cooling system 1 and a latent heat accumulator 2. The evaporative cooling system 1 comprises an evaporation element 3, which is soaked with a coolant, such as e.g. water, and has a cooling surface 4, and a desiccant 5 for receiving evaporated coolant from the evaporation element 3. To supply the evaporation element 3 with coolant, the same is connected to a reservoir 6. The transport of the evaporated coolant from the evaporation element 3 to the desiccant 5 is performed via a channel 10. The common shell or wall of the evaporation element 3, the channel 10 and the desiccant 5 is gas-tight, so that the relative humidity of the gas atmosphere within the evaporative cooling system 1 can be regulated independently from the environment. The evaporated coolant is absorbed in the desiccant 5, which is e.g. a silica gel.

(9) In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the cooling device comprising the evaporation element, the desiccant and the reservoir is accommodated in an external housing 24, which can be attached to conventional transport containers as required. FIG. 3 shows a cuboid transport container 23 in cross section, whose walls are designated 25, 26, 27 and 28. The walls 25, 26, 27 and 28 each comprise an insulating material 29 of heat-insulating material. The wall 28 is provided with openings 30 and 31, wherein a fan ensures that the air in the chamber 9 of the container 23 is circulated, wherein the air is passed through the opening 31 to the cooling unit 32 and the air cooled there is returned to the chamber 9. The cooling unit 32 in turn comprises a meander-shaped evaporation element 33, a desiccant 34, an insulating material 35 arranged therebetween and a reservoir 36 for the cooling liquid. The evaporation element 33 is connected to the desiccant 34 via a channel 37 extending through the insulation 35. Furthermore, a channel 38 is provided, which connects the desiccant 34 with the reservoir 36 in order to direct the coolant, which was recuperated from the desiccant 34 by evaporation, in the reservoir 36. For evaporating the coolant from the desiccant 34, a heater 39 is arranged. The evaporated coolant enters channel 38 and, with the valve open (not shown), passes through a condenser 40, where the coolant is cooled so that it is added to the reservoir 36 in its liquid state.