Abstract: The present application is related to a portable refrigeration apparatus for vaccines, food items, beverage containers, or any other item. The apparatus includes a refrigerated container comprised of a plurality of substantially identical chilling panels interconnected to form a sealed container that defines an internal volume, each of the chilling panels containing a cooling element. The refrigerated container encloses an internal storage space and has a generally modular design to facilitate packaging and transportation. The apparatus permits the internal storage space to maintain a temperature in the range of 4° C.˜8° C. for a long period of time following a loss of electrical power.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit designed for prolonged cooling with intermittent power supplies and adaptability to rotation is described. A spherical design is utilized comprising internal compartments that shift according to orientation of the sphere and enable internal cycling of water at substantially 4 degrees Celsius about an icy core.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit designed for prolonged cooling with intermittent power supplies and adaptability to rotation is described. A spherical design is utilized comprising internal compartments that shift according to orientation of the sphere and enable internal cycling of water at substantially 4 degrees Celsius about an icy core.

Abstract: The present application is related to a portable refrigeration apparatus for vaccines, food items, beverage containers, or any other item. The apparatus includes a refrigerated container comprised of a plurality of substantially identical chilling panels interconnected to form a sealed container that defines an internal volume, each of the chilling panels containing a cooling element. The refrigerated container encloses an internal storage space and has a generally modular design to facilitate packaging and transportation. The apparatus permits the internal storage space to maintain a temperature in the range of 4° C.˜8° C. for a long period of time following a loss of electrical power.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling objects such as food items, beverages or vaccines comprises at least two reservoirs, a cooling device for cooling fluid contained in one of the reservoirs and a thermal transfer region between respective upper regions of the reservoirs. The thermal transfer region permits thermal transfer between the fluid contained in the reservoirs such that cooling of the fluid in one reservoir causes cooling of the fluid in the other reservoir.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit designed for prolonged cooling with intermittent power supplies and adaptability to rotation is described. A spherical design is utilized comprising internal compartments that shift according to orientation of the sphere and enable internal cycling of water at substantially 4 degrees Celsius about an icy core.

Abstract: The present application is related to a portable refrigeration apparatus for vaccines, food items, beverage containers, or any other item. The apparatus includes a refrigerated container comprised of a plurality of substantially identical chilling panels interconnected to form a sealed container that defines an internal volume, each of the chilling panels containing a cooling element. The refrigerated container encloses an internal storage space and has a generally modular design to facilitate packaging and transportation. The apparatus permits the internal storage space to maintain a temperature in the range of 4° C.˜8° C. for a long period of time following a loss of electrical power.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for cooling an article. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger arranged to be fed with fluid from a fluid reservoir disposed, in use, above the heat exchanger. The fluid reservoir includes cooling means for cooling fluid in the reservoir such that the fluid flows under gravity into the heat exchanger so as to cool an article. The apparatus may be arranged to cool one or more batteries or other articles, for example in a telecommunications base station.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit designed for prolonged cooling with intermittent power supplies and adaptability to rotation is described. A spherical design is utilized comprising internal compartments that shift according to orientation of the sphere and enable internal cycling of water at substantially 4 degrees Celsius about an icy core.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus (1) comprising at least one receptacle (42) within which an article (44) can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The apparatus (1) has a reservoir (10) within which fluid is contained, the reservoir (10) having a cooling region in thermal communication with the at least one receptacle (42). The reservoir (10) includes a headspace containing fluid that is, in use, higher than the at least one receptacle (42). The apparatus (1) has cooling means (30) for cooling fluid within the headspace. The or each receptacle (42) comprises a tube or pouch having an opening defined by an aperture (40) disposed in a wall of the reservoir (10) and extending inwardly into the cooling region so as to be submerged therein.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a cooling apparatus comprising: a fluid reservoir for holding fluid to be cooled, the reservoir having a head region and a body region below the head region each arranged to contain fluid to be cooled; and a heat exchange portion arranged in use to be provided in thermal communication with fluid in the body region thereby to allow thermal transfer between the heat exchange portion and fluid in the body region, the apparatus being configured in use to permit cooling means to cool fluid in the head region, wherein the fluid reservoir is arranged such that a cross-sectional area of the reservoir decreases by tapering as a function of distance from the head region to the body region over at least a portion of the distance from the head region to the body region.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a refrigeration device. The refrigeration device includes a cold store, positioned next to a reservoir having a head region and a body region, and a payload space positioned next to the reservoir opposite the cold store. The reservoir includes a cooling fluid (in many cases, water). A cooling element in the cold store absorbs heat from fluid contained in the head region of the reservoir. The fluid in the head region cools the fluid in the body region, which in turn cools the payload. In some embodiments, the body region has a greater volume than the head region which in turn increases the thermal resistance of the body region. The refrigeration device, once at an in use equilibrium, is resistant to temperature change in a payload container. The stable temperature is maintained at a critical temperature of the cooling fluid—the critical temperature being a temperature wherein the cooling fluid is of lower density both above and below the critical temperature.

Abstract: Refrigerators that can be used in the storage and transport of vaccines are disclosed. A refrigerator has a payload container (20) within which items can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The payload container (20) is submerged in a reservoir (21) that contains water. The reservoir has a cooling region containing the payload container and a headspace containing water that is, in use, higher than the payload container. Cooling means, that might include a refrigeration unit (30) having cooling elements (32) or a cold thermal mass can cool water within the headspace. Where there is a refrigeration unit, a power supply, typically solar powered, can act as a source of power for the refrigeration unit. Embodiments may include a freezer compartment close to the cooling elements (32). Alternatively, the cooling region includes a pipe manifold within the payload container.

Abstract: The present application is related to a portable refrigeration apparatus for vaccines, food items, beverage containers, or any other item. The apparatus includes a refrigerated container comprised of a plurality of substantially identical chilling panels interconnected to form a sealed container that defines an internal volume, each of the chilling panels containing a cooling element. The refrigerated container encloses an internal storage space and has a generally modular design to facilitate packaging and transportation. The apparatus permits the internal storage space to maintain a temperature in the range of 4° C.˜8° C. for a long period of time following a loss of electrical power.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide cooling apparatus comprising: a cold store portion for storing at least one cooling object; a fluid reservoir for holding fluid to be cooled, the reservoir having a head region and a body region below the head region each arranged to contain fluid to be cooled; a cold store heat exchange portion arranged in use to be provided in thermal communication with a cooling object in the cold store portion and fluid in the head region of the fluid reservoir and not fluid below the head region, the cold store portion and fluid reservoir being provided in a side by side configuration; and a second heat exchange portion arranged in use to be provided in thermal communication with fluid in the body region such that heat may flow from a heat source to fluid in the body region, wherein in use cooling of fluid in the head region by a cooling object in the cold store portion causes cooling of fluid in the body region and thereby cooling of the second heat exchange portion.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a cooling apparatus comprising: a fluid reservoir for holding fluid to be cooled, the reservoir having a head region and a body region below the head region each arranged to contain fluid to be cooled; and a heat exchange portion arranged in use to be provided in thermal communication with fluid in the body region thereby to allow thermal transfer between the heat exchange portion and fluid in the body region, the apparatus being configured in use to permit cooling means to cool fluid in the head region, wherein the fluid reservoir is arranged such that a cross-sectional area of the reservoir decreases by tapering as a function of distance from the head region to the body region over at least a portion of the distance from the head region to the body region.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for cooling an article. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger arranged to be fed with fluid from a fluid reservoir disposed, in use, above the heat exchanger. The fluid reservoir includes cooling means for cooling fluid in the reservoir such that the fluid flows under gravity into the heat exchanger so as to cool an article. The apparatus may be arranged to cool one or more batteries or other articles, for example in a telecommunications base station.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus (1) comprising at least one receptacle (42) within which an article (44) can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The apparatus (1) has a reservoir (10) within which fluid is contained, the reservoir (10) having a cooling region in thermal communication with the at least one receptacle (42). The reservoir (10) includes a headspace containing fluid that is, in use, higher than the at least one receptacle (42). The apparatus (1) has cooling means (30) for cooling fluid within the headspace. The or each receptacle (42) comprises a tube or pouch having an opening defined by an aperture (40) disposed in a wall of the reservoir (10) and extending inwardly into the cooling region so as to be submerged therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling objects such as food items, beverages or vaccines comprises at least two reservoirs, a cooling device for cooling fluid contained in one of the reservoirs and a thermal transfer region between respective upper regions of the reservoirs. The thermal transfer region permits thermal transfer between the fluid contained in the reservoirs such that cooling of the fluid in one reservoir causes cooling of the fluid in the other reservoir.

Abstract: Refrigerators, with particular, but not exclusive, application to the storage and transport of vaccines are disclosed. A refrigerator has a payload container (20) within which items can be placed for temperature-controlled storage. The payload container (20) is submerged in a reservoir (21) that contains water. The reservoir has a cooling region containing the payload container and a headspace containing water that is, in use, higher than the payload container. Cooling means, that might include a refrigeration unit (30) having cooling elements (32) or a cold thermal mass can cool waterwithin the headspace. Where there is a refrigeration unit, a power supply, typically solar powered, can act as a source of power for the refrigeration unit. Embodiments may include a freezer compartment close to the cooling elements (32). Alternatively, the cooling region may comprise a pipe manifold within the payload container.