Innovative Thermal Insulation Techniques Bring Vaccines to the Developing World

D. Gasperino, O. Yildirim
Intellectual Ventures, WA, USA

When medical professionals transport vaccines, their cargo needs to be kept at a cool temperature. This limits their ability to travel to regions where there is not enough electricity. Intellectual Ventures’ Global Good program designed a thermos-like container that is powered by ice and keeps vaccines cool for long periods of time. They used COMSOL Multiphysics and its Heat Transfer Module and Molecular Flow Module to model the device and maximize its cold storage capacity while minimizing outgassing within the vacuum space. With their simulation, they were able to increase storage time immensely and will continue to improve their model.

Thermal simulation of the Passive Vaccine Storage Device (PVSD) shortly after loading.