THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF ACTIVELY COOLED TOTES USED IN LAST MILE DELIVERY OF FOOD
Systems and methods for thermal management are provided. In some embodiments, a vehicle for transporting one or more actively cooled totes, the vehicle includes: a central heat reject subsystem operable to reject heat from the one or more actively cooled totes; and an attachment mechanism for moving heat from the one or more actively cooled totes to the central heat reject subsystem.
1 . A vehicle for transporting one or more actively cooled totes, the vehicle comprising:
a central heat reject subsystem operable to reject heat from the one or more actively cooled totes; and
an attachment mechanism for moving heat from the one or more actively cooled totes to the central heat reject subsystem.
2 . The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the central heat reject subsystem comprises one or more of:
a central vent fan able to provide airflow to outside of the vehicle; and
a liquid cooling loop.
3 . The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism for moving the heat comprises flexible ducting.
4 . The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism for moving the heat comprises one or more compressible gaskets that can seal a duct to the heat reject of one of the one or more actively cooled totes.
5 . The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism for moving the heat comprises one or more spring-loaded mechanisms to aid the connection of the one or more actively cooled totes.
6 . The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: one or more dampers that can reduce air from moving back into the vehicle when a tote location is not occupied.
7 . The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:
a support structure operable to hold the one or more actively cooled totes;
where the attachment mechanism for moving heat from the one or more actively cooled totes to the central heat reject subsystem is integrated into the support structure.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the support structure comprises hollow channels and ducting can be through these hollow channels.
9 . The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: one or more dampers that can reduce air from moving back into the vehicle when a tote location is not occupied.
10 . The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: one or more vents to improve air inlet from outside.
11 . The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the one or more vents are angled to increase an amount of air coming in as the vehicle travels faster.
12 . The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: one or more additional vents in the back of the vehicle to enhance turbulence and/or air mixing inside the vehicle.
13 . The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the liquid cooling loop comprises a liquid cold plate which stays stationary in the vehicle operable to mate to the one or more actively cooled totes.
14 . The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the liquid cooling loop is cooled using a radiator and/or a refrigerant chiller loop.