Patent ID: 8109327

Claim:
A temperature control system for a container having a plurality of compartments, the temperature control system comprising: a refrigeration circuit having a primary fluid circulating therein; a secondary fluid circuit in communication with a first compartment of the container and a second compartment of the container, the secondary fluid circuit having a secondary fluid circulating therein, the secondary fluid being separate from the primary fluid, the secondary fluid circuit including a first heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the first compartment, and a second heat exchange module in communication with an interior load space of the second compartment, each of the first and second heat exchange modules including a pump configured to pump the secondary fluid, a heater selectively operable to heat the secondary fluid, a heat exchanger positioned within the respective interior load space, and a three-way valve configured to control the flow of the secondary fluid through the respective heat exchange module, the three-way valve operable to direct a first portion of the secondary fluid from the heat exchanger to the heat exchange interface before flowing back to the heat exchanger through the pump and the heater and to concurrently direct a second portion of the secondary fluid from the heat exchanger through the pump and the heater and back to the heat exchanger without flowing to the heat exchange interface; and a heat exchange interface between the refrigeration circuit and the secondary fluid circuit operable to transfer heat from the secondary fluid to the primary fluid.