received by the International Bureau on 30 March 2020 (30.03.2020)

What is claimed is:

1. A eutectic heat exchange apparatus comprising:

a container body having an interior and an exterior;

a eutectic material contained in the container body within the interior of the container body;

one or more refrigerant conduits positioned on or near the exterior of the container wall, wherein the one or more conduits are arranged to transport a refrigerant therethough;

wherein the container body includes an internal wall and an external wall, wherein the internal wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the external wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the eutectic material is contained within the internal wall, and wherein the one or more refrigerant conduits are positioned between the exterior surface of the internal wall and the interior surface of the external wall; and

wherein same ones of the plurality of conduits transport cooling refrigerant therethrough to cool the eutectic material, and to transport heating refrigerant therethrough to defrost the exterior surface of the external wall of the container body.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising a plurality of partitions positioned between and joined to the internal wall and the external wall of the container body, wherein the plurality of partitions establish with the internal wall and the external wall the one or more conduits.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more external heat transfer elements coupled to the exterior of the container body and arranged to extend into an environment surrounding the container body.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more internal heat transfer elements coupled to the interior of the container body and arranged to extend into the eutectic material in the container body.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more retainers coupled to the container body, wherein each retainer includes a refrigerant transfer ring arranged to enable

11 refrigerant transfer through the one or more conduits, and a eutectic material end cap arranged to seal the eutectic material within the container body.

6. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein each ring is brazed to the container body.

7. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein each refrigerant transfer ring includes a refrigerant inlet port and/or a refrigerant outlet port in fluid communication with the one or more conduits.

8. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the eutectic material is an aqueous phase change material.

9. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the container body is of a cylindrical ring shape.

10. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the container body is fabricated of extruded

Aluminum.

11. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the one or more conduits are arranged and configured to transport cooling refrigerant therethrough to cool the eutectic material, and to transport heating refrigerant therethrough to defrost the exterior of the container body.

12. A eutectic heat exchange apparatus comprising:

a container body including an internal wall and an external wall, wherein the internal wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the external wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a eutectic material contained in the container body within the internal wall;

a plurality of conduits positioned between the exterior surface of the internal wall and the interior surface of the external wall, wherein the plurality of conduits are arranged to transport a refrigerant therethough, wherein same ones of the plurality of conduits transport cooling refrigerant therethrough to cool the eutectic material, and to transport heating refrigerant therethrough to defrost the exterior surface of the external wall of the container body;

12 one or more internal heat transfer elements coupled to the interior surface of the internal wall of the container body and arranged to extend into the eutectic material in the container body; and

one or more external heat transfer elements coupled to the exterior surface of the external wall of the container body and arranged to extend into an environment surrounding the container body.

13. The apparatus of Claim 12 further comprising a plurality of partitions positioned between and joined to the internal wall and the external wall of the container body, wherein the plurality of partitions establish with the internal wall and the external wall the transport of heat from the exterior to the internal wall.

14. The apparatus of Claim 12 further comprising one or more retainers coupled to the container body and include a eutectic material end cap arranged to seal the eutectic material within the container body.

15. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the one or more end caps are brazed to the container body.

16. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein the one or more retainers include a refrigerant transfer ring arranged with a refrigerant inlet port and a refrigerant outlet port in fluid communication with the plurality of conduits.

17. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the eutectic material is an aqueous phase change material.

18. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the container body is of a cylindrical ring shape.

19. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the container body is fabricated of extruded

Aluminum.

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