METHOD FOR PREPARING A TRANSPORT CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preparing a transport container which has an accommodation space for goods to be transported, said accommodation space being insulated by external thermal insulation. At an equipment site, the accommodation space is equipped with preconditioned, main latent heat storage elements necessary for a target heat capacity. In addition to the preconditioned, main latent heat storage elements, the accommodation space is also equipped with further thermal energy storage elements, the auxiliary energy storage elements, which are preconditioned to a specified temperature. This means that a longer transfer time period can be allowed after equipping and before filling the accommodation space with the goods to be transported, such that, from the filling time, the full target time period within the desired target temperature range is available for transporting the goods to be transported.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a transport container, wherein the transport container has an accommodation space for cargo to be transported and thermal insulation surrounding the accommodation space on all sides and wherein the thermal insulation can be opened in order to fill and empty the accommodation space, wherein the temperature in the accommodation space is kept over a given target period of timeduring the transportation of the cargo within a given target temperature rangewith the help of main latent heat storage elementsarranged in the accommodation space and preconditioned to a given target temperatureand having a given target heat capacity, having the following method steps: 1. the accommodation space is fitted out with the preconditioned main latent heat storage elements necessary for the target heat capacity at a given fitting location, 2. the accommodation space fitted with the preconditioned main latent heat storage elements is filled with the cargo at a given filling location, 3. the fitting of the accommodation space with the main latent heat storage elements takes place during a transfer time periodbefore the accommodation space is filled with the cargo to be transported, and 4. at the fitting location, the accommodation space is fitted out, in addition to the preconditioned main latent heat storage elements, supplementary heat energy storage elementswhich are preconditioned to a given supplementary target temperature, wherein the total heat capacity of said supplementary heat energy storage elementsis a supplementary heat capacitythat is adjusted to the transfer time period in such a manner that the full target time period is available for transportation of the cargo within the target temperature range from the time of filling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filling location is remote from the fitting location and consequently method steps 1 and 2 and/or 2 and 4 are carried out at locations which are remote from one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein latent heat storage elements are used as supplementary heat energy storage elements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein latent heat storage elements based on water or based on dry ice are used as supplementary heat energy storage elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplementary heat energy storage elements are removed from the accommodation space at the filling location before or during filling.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the supplementary heat energy storage elements that have been removed are temporarily stored for reuse as supplementary heat energy storage elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein previously used supplementary heat energy storage elements are used again as supplementary heat energy storage elements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used when the expected transfer time period exceeds a given proportion of the target time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal insulation comprises vacuum insulation panels or consists of vacuum insulation panels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the main latent heat storage elements and the vacuum insulation panels, if present, are tested for functional capability and compliance with target values at the fitting location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an outer casing surrounding the thermal insulation on the outside is provided in addition, which outer casing can be opened in order to be able to fill and empty the accommodation space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the outer casing is inextricably connected to the thermal insulation or is integrally formed therewith.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the expected transfer time period exceeds a given proportion of the target time period by more than approximately 4%.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the method is used when the expected transfer time period exceeds a given proportion of the target time period by more than approximately 10%.

Description

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the supplementary energy storage elements removed from the accommodation space before or during filling is reused, for example for fitting-out another transport container. Accordingly, in the method according to the invention, supplementary energy storage elements which have already been used (once or multiple times) can be introduced into the accommodation space. Alternatively, the supplementary energy storage elements removed from the accommodation space are disposed of.

[0026] If there is sufficient space available in the accommodation space and the target temperature range is maintained, one of the supplementary energy storage elements, or several or all supplementary energy storage elements, can be left in the accommodation space during and after filling.

[0027] The method according to the invention requires a certain additional expenditure which is not required in all cases. If it can be assumed with a degree of probability bordering on certainty that the safety margin built into the design of the transport container includes the transfer time period, the additional expenditure is not required. Consequently, according to the preferred teaching it is recommended that the method is (only) used if the expected transfer time period exceeds a given proportion of the target time period, in particular, is more than approximately 4%, quite particularly more than approximately 10%, of the target time period.

[0028] In the case of the variant explained above, with a target time period of 96 hours (including a safety margin designed for 100 hours) it is recommended, for example, that the method should only be used if the transfer time period is more than 4 hours, in particular at least 9.5 hours. In the case of a transport container which is designed for a very short running time of only 24 hours, for example, the method according to the invention will probably be applied even with a transfer time period of at least 1 hour or at least 2 hours.

[0029] In the method according to the invention, the supplementary energy storage elements can be arranged in such a manner that they are in contact to one or multiple main latent heat storage element(s). The supplementary energy storage elements are located on one or multiple main latent heat storage element(s), for example.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the supplementary energy storage elements is provided with a spacer, so that this supplementary energy storage element is not in contact with the main latent heat storage elements or maintains a minimum distance from the main latent heat storage elements. This procedure ensures a more uniform distribution of the thermal energy of the supplementary energy storage element.

[0031] It has already been pointed out previously with reference to the prior art that the thermal insulation for the accommodation space is of particular importance. According to the preferred teaching, it should have vacuum insulation panels or consist of vacuum insulation panels.

[0032] However, many other insulation materials can also be used alone or in addition, for example particle foams as expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), made of polyurethane (PU) or also anything in conjunction with vacuum insulation panels.

[0033] According to a further preferred teaching, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is recommended so that the main latent heat storage elements and the vacuum insulation panels, if present, are tested for functional capability and compliance with target values at the fitting location.

[0034] Thermal insulation exists which is outwardly so mechanically tight that it can at the same time be used overall as an outer casing. Otherwise, it is expedient for an outer casing surrounding the thermal insulation on the outside to be provided in addition, which outer casing can likewise be opened in order to be able to fill and empty the accommodation space.