Hybrid refrigeration system for a mobile unit and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10202023-B2
Application number	US-201615384422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2009
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A method for operating a refrigeration system for a mobile unit includes steps of: 1) providing a refrigeration unit having a compressor, an evaporator, and at least one fan operable to move air towards the evaporator, a generator dedicated to the refrigeration unit, and a battery; 2) determining at least one environmental parameter in one or both of the mobile unit and the refrigeration unit; and 3) selectively operating the refrigeration unit in one of a plurality of modes based on the environmental parameter. The plurality of modes includes a first mode wherein at least the fan is powered by the battery, and a second mode wherein the compressor and the fan are powered by the generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration system for a mobile unit, comprising:
a refrigeration unit including a compressor, an evaporator, a generator, and at least one fan operable to move air towards the evaporator, wherein the generator is dedicated to the refrigeration unit;
a battery; and
a controller adapted to selectively operate the refrigeration unit in one of a plurality of modes based on an environmental parameter within the mobile unit, which plurality of modes includes a first mode where the fan is powered by the battery, and a second mode where the compressor and the fan are powered by the generator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the generator and the compressor are non-operational.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor adapted to determine the environmental parameter within the mobile unit.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is disposed within the refrigeration unit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dedicated generator is configured to charge the battery during the second mode.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile unit is one of a truck trailer, a box truck, a bus, and a shipping container.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the fan and the compressor are powered by the battery.

8. A refrigeration system for a mobile unit, comprising:
a refrigeration unit including a compressor, an evaporator and a fan operable to move air towards the evaporator;
a generator being dedicated to the refrigeration unit;
a battery;
at least one sensor; and
a controller configured to determine an environmental parameter in one or both of the mobile unit and the refrigeration unit using data received from the at least one sensor; and
the controller configured to select a mode in which to operate the refrigeration unit based on the environmental parameter, wherein the selected mode is one of a plurality of modes in which the refrigeration unit is capable of operating, and wherein the plurality of modes comprise (A) a first mode where at least the fan is powered by the battery and (B) a second mode where the compressor and the fan are powered by the generator; and
the controller further configured to operate the refrigeration unit in the selected mode.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein, in the first mode, the generator and the compressor are non-operational.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is disposed within the refrigeration unit.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dedicated generator is configured to charge the battery during the second mode.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mobile unit is a truck trailer, a box truck, a bus or a shipping container.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein, in the first mode, the fan and the compressor are powered by the battery.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein, in the second mode, the generator charges the battery.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the environmental parameter is indicative of a temperature within the mobile unit.

16. The system of claim 15 , where the at least one sensor is disposed within the mobile unit to determine the at least one environmental parameter.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Chopko Robert A
• Reason John R
• Perkovich Mark J

Classifications

• F25D2700/123

  more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment · CPC title

• B60H1/3211

  for increasing the efficiency of a vehicle refrigeration cycle · CPC title

• F25D29/003

  for movable devices · CPC title

• B60H2001/3255

  related to temperature · CPC title

• B60H2001/3292

  Compressor drive is electric only · CPC title