Modified dry ice systems and methods for preserving perishable items within a single holding volume

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085688-B2
Application number	US-201916550740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Aug 29, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel two-stage dry ice system for preserving perishable items during transport and methods thereof. The improved two-stage dry ice system includes dry ice and a phase change material specifically configured within a single and continuous holding volume with perishable items. Preservation of the perishable items for extended durations in comparison to other refrigeration techniques can be achieved as a result of the two-stage dry system having the ability to re-orient itself during transport.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An improved two-stage dry ice system for preserving a first perishable item and a second perishable item during transport of the first perishable item and the second perishable item, said improved two-stage dry ice system, comprising:
a transportable container with a holding volume defined by a first region and a second region, said first region containing the first perishable item and maintaining the first perishable item at a first cooling temperature regime, said second region containing the second perishable item and maintaining the second perishable item at a second cooling temperature regime;
a phase change material (PCM) in close proximity or direct contact to the first perishable item, the PCM disposed within the first region of the holding volume prior to transport;
dry ice in close proximity or direct contact with the second perishable item, said dry ice disposed within the second region of the holding volume prior to transport;
insulative material configured to partially encapsulate the second perishable item during transport of the transportable container;
wherein the PCM and the dry ice form a substantially stacked arrangement with the first perishable item and the second perishable item, said PCM configured to interact with the dry ice in the stacked arrangement whereby the dry ice serves as a first primary refrigerant to maintain the first cooling temperature regime and the second cooling temperature regime during an initial duration of the transport of the transportable container, subsequently followed by the PCM acting as a second primary refrigerant to maintain the first cooling temperature regime and the second cooling temperature regime during a final duration of the transport of the transportable container.

2. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM is at least partially liquid.

3. The improved two-stage dry system of claim 2 , wherein the PCM comprises substantially water.

4. The improved two-stage dry system of claim 3 , wherein the water is in a temperature range of 32° F. to 75° F.

5. The improved two-stage system of claim 4 , wherein the water is confined in one or more gel packs.

6. The improved two-stage dry system of claim 5 , wherein the water is at approximately 32° F. in a partially or fully thawed state.

7. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a ratio of weight of the PCM to weight of the dry ice greater than about 0.1 and less than 5.

8. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a ratio of weight of the PCM to weight of the dry ice greater than about 0.5 and less than about 1.1.

9. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a ratio of weight of the PCM to weight of the dry ice greater than about 1.1 and less than about 1.6.

10. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the holding volume is defined by an absence of a functional partition or a functional compartment.

11. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM is a water gel pack that is in a partially or fully frozen state during the initial duration of the transport.

12. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the second region during the final duration of the transport is characterized by the PCM in close proximity or direct contact to the second perishable item.

13. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the second perishable item is substantially encapsulated by the insulative material and the PCM.

14. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the first cooling temperature regime is between 32° F. to 60° F. and the second cooling temperature regime is below 50° F.

15. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the second perishable item has a first surface in direct contact or close proximity with the PCM, and the second perishable item has a second surface in direct contact or close proximity with the dry ice during the initial duration of the transport.

16. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the second perishable item has a first surface in direct contact or close proximity with the PCM, and the second perishable item has a second surface in direct contact or close proximity with the insulative layer.

17. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the second region upon completion of the initial duration of the transport has a residual amount of the dry ice remaining.

18. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein the PCM is in direct contact or close proximity with the dry ice.

19. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first cooling temperature regime and the second cooling temperature regime is approximately 0° F.

20. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first cooling temperature regime and the second cooling temperature regime is approximately 4° F. or greater.

21. An improved two-stage dry ice system for preserving a first perishable item and a second perishable item during transport of the first perishable item and the second perishable item, said improved two-stage dry ice system, comprising:
a transportable container with a holding volume defined by a first region and a second region, said first region containing the first perishable item and maintaining the first perishable item at a first cooling temperature regime, said second region containing the second perishable item and maintaining the second perishable item at a second cooling temperature regime, the holding volume further defined by an absence of partitions or compartments therewithin;
one or more gel packs (GPs) substantially comprised of water in a partially or fully thawed state in close proximity or direct contact to the first perishable item, the one or more GPs disposed within the first region of the holding volume prior to transport;
dry ice in close proximity or direct contact with the second perishable item, said dry ice disposed within the second region of the holding volume prior to transport and during an initial duration of the transport;
insulative material configured to extend along a portion of the second perishable item;
wherein the GP and the dry ice form a substantially stacked arrangement with the first perishable item and the second perishable item.

22. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 21 , said GP configured to interact with the dry ice in the stacked arrangement whereby the dry ice serves as a first primary refrigerant to provide a requisite cooling to preserve the first and the second perishables during the initial duration of the transport of the transportable container, subsequently followed by the GP serving as a second primary refrigerant to provide the requisite cooling to preserve the first and the second perishables during the initial duration of the transport of the transportable container during a final duration of the transport of the transportable container.

23. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 22 , wherein the GP transitions from a partially or fully thawed state to a partially or fully frozen state during the initial duration of the transport of the transportable container.

24. The improved two-stage dry ice system of claim 23 , wherein the GP reverts from the partially or fully frozen stat

Assignees

• Seo Chang Yup
• Jampala Soujanya N
• Israni Sameer H
• Sever Robert R
• Praxair Technology Inc

Inventors

• Seo Chang Yup
• Jampala Soujanya N
• Israni Sameer H
• Sever Robert R

Classifications

• F25D3/125 Primary

  Movable containers · CPC title

• F25D2303/0844

  above the product · CPC title

• F25D2303/082

  disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator · CPC title

• B65D81/18

  providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) · CPC title

• F25D3/06

  Movable containers · CPC title