Enhanced Temperature-Controlled Product Shipper with Advanced Phase Change Materials and Modular Design

This inventive concept presents a temperature-controlled product shipper with improved thermal insulation, optimized phase change materials, and a modular design, ensuring efficient and reliable transportation of temperature-sensitive products.

The original patent disclosed a temperature-controlled shipper with a dual phase change material liquid suspension, but it had limitations in terms of thermal insulation, phase change material selection, and adaptability to different product sizes and temperature requirements. This new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing advanced thermal insulation, optimized phase change materials, and a modular design, enabling more efficient and reliable transportation of temperature-sensitive products.

The enhanced temperature-controlled product shipper features a product receptacle with improved thermal insulation, achieved through the use of vacuum-insulated panels with a thermal conductivity of less than 0.01 W/mK. The shipper also incorporates a method for optimizing the performance of the phase change materials, wherein the thermal mass of the shipper is determined and a phase change material with a latent heat of fusion that matches the thermal mass is selected. Additionally, the shipper features a dual phase change material liquid suspension with a tailored phase transition temperature, adjusted based on the specific temperature requirements of the product being shipped. A system for monitoring the temperature of the product during shipment is also integrated, comprising a temperature sensor disposed within the product receptacle and a communication module for transmitting temperature data to a remote server. The modular design of the shipper allows for the product receptacle and phase change material containers to be interchangeable, accommodating different product sizes and temperature requirements.

The new claims introduce several novel and non-obvious features, including the use of vacuum-insulated panels, optimized phase change material selection, and a modular design. These advancements provide a significant improvement over the original patent, enabling more efficient and reliable transportation of temperature-sensitive products.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include the use of different thermal insulation materials, such as aerogels or fiber-based insulation, or the integration of additional features, such as active cooling or heating elements. The modular design could also be adapted for use in other applications, such as refrigerated transportation containers or temperature-controlled storage units.

The enhanced temperature-controlled product shipper has significant commercial potential in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food industries, where the reliable transportation of temperature-sensitive products is critical. The shipper's advanced features and modular design make it an attractive solution for companies seeking to improve their logistics and supply chain operations.