Integrated thermal energy module within an air-cooled evaporator design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10436495-B2
Application number	US-201615141448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) includes a compressor. The TRU further includes a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor. The TRU further includes an expansion device disposed downstream of the condenser. The TRU further includes a first flow control device disposed downstream of the condenser. The TRU further includes a first evaporator disposed downstream of the expansion device and the first flow control device. The first evaporator is disposed upstream of a second flow control device. The second evaporator is disposed downstream of the first flow control device, the expansion device, and the second flow control device. The second evaporator includes a thermal accumulator. The second flow control device disposed upstream of the compressor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport refrigeration unit comprising:
a compressor configured to compress a heat transfer fluid;
a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor, the condenser configured to condense the heat transfer fluid from a gaseous state to a liquid state;
an expansion device disposed downstream of the condenser, the expansion device configured to release pressure of the heat transfer fluid;
a first flow control device disposed downstream of the condenser, the first flow control device configured to direct the heat transfer fluid downstream of the expansion device;
a first evaporator disposed downstream of the expansion device and the first flow control device;
a second evaporator disposed downstream of the expansion device and the first flow control device, wherein the second evaporator includes a thermal accumulator;
a second flow control device disposed downstream of the first evaporator and upstream of the compressor;
a third flow control device disposed downstream of the second evaporator and upstream of the compressor,
wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to operate in a series mode such that the first flow control device, the second flow control device, and the third flow control device are controlled to direct the flow of heat transfer fluid from an outlet of one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator to an inlet of the other of the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

2. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the second flow control device includes a three-way valve.

3. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the second flow control device includes two two-way valves.

4. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to operate in a first evaporator mode such that the first flow control device, the second flow control device, and the third flow control device are controlled to direct the flow of heat transfer fluid through the first evaporator and prevent the flow of heat transfer fluid through the second evaporator.

5. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to operate in a second evaporator mode such that the first flow control device, the second flow control device, and the third flow control device are controlled to direct the flow of heat transfer fluid through the second evaporator and prevent the flow of heat transfer fluid through the first evaporator.

6. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to operate in a parallel mode such that the first flow control device, the second flow control device, and the third flow control device are controlled to direct the flow of heat transfer fluid through the first evaporator and the second evaporator in parallel.

7. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the thermal accumulator includes a spine fin tubing.

8. A transport refrigeration unit comprising:
a compressor configured to compress a heat transfer fluid;
a condenser disposed downstream of the compressor, the condenser configured to condense the heat transfer fluid from a gaseous state to a liquid state;
an expansion device disposed downstream of the condenser, the expansion device configured to release pressure of the heat transfer fluid;
a first flow control device disposed downstream of the condenser;
a second flow control device disposed downstream of a first evaporator upstream of the compressor;
a third flow control device disposed downstream of a second evaporator and upstream of the compressor; and
an air discharge unit defined by a housing, the air discharge unit including:
an air intake port,
a first air discharge port,
an air blower creating a first air flow from the air intake port to the first air discharge port,
the first evaporator disposed in the housing, the first evaporator being disposed downstream of the expansion device and the first flow control device, the first evaporator being disposed upstream of the second flow control device, and
a second evaporator disposed in the housing, the second evaporator being disposed downstream of the first flow control device, the expansion device, and the third flow control device, the second evaporator including a thermal accumulator,

wherein the transport refrigeration unit is configured to operate in a series mode such that the first flow control device, the second flow control device, and the third flow control device are controlled to direct the flow of heat transfer fluid from an outlet of one of the first evaporator and the second evaporator to an inlet of the other of the first evaporator and the second evaporator.

9. The transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the housing further includes a damper, wherein the damper changes its position to direct the first air flow through the first evaporator and/or the second evaporator.

10. The transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in a heightwise direction within the housing.

11. The transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in a widthwise direction within the housing.

12. The transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in a lengthwise direction within the housing.

13. The transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the air discharge unit includes:
a second air discharge port, wherein the air blower creates a second air flow from the air intake port to the second air discharge port;
a first damper controlling the first air flow to flow through the first evaporator; and
a second damper controlling the second air flow to flow through the second evaporator.

14. A transport refrigeration unit according to claim 8 , wherein the air discharge unit includes:
a second air discharge port, wherein the air blower creates a second air flow from the air intake port to the second air discharge port;
a third evaporator disposed in the housing, the third evaporator being disposed downstream of the expansion device and the first flow control device, the third evaporator being disposed upstream of the second flow control device,
a fourth evaporator disposed in the housing, the fourth evaporator being disposed downstream of the first flow control device, the expansion device, and the second flow control device, the fourth evaporator including a second thermal accumulator,
a first damper directing the first air flow through the first evaporator and/or the second evaporator, and
a second damper directing the second air flow through the third evaporator and/or the fourth evaporator.

15. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the thermal accumulator includes a heat exchanger tube that includes an inner tube, a fluid channel in the inner tube, an outer tube, a phase change material stored in a space between the inner tube and the outer tube, and a plurality of protrusions from an outer surface of the inner tube and that are configured to enhance heat exchanging efficiency between the heat transfer fluid flowing in the inner tube through the fluid channel and the phase change material stored in the space between the inner tube and the outer tube.

16. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 8 , wherein the thermal accumulator includes a heat exchanger tube that includes an inner tube, a fluid channel in the inner tube, an

Assignees

• Thermo King Corp

Inventors

• Srichai Panayu Robert
• Sulc Vladimir
• Mcginley Gary O
• Kirby Eric
• Ganshert Christopher L
• Kroeker Christopher J
• Briscoe Casey

Classifications

• F28D2020/0013

  the heat storage material being enclosed in elements attached to or integral with heat exchange conduits · CPC title

• F28D20/02

  using latent heat · CPC title

• F25D2317/0683

  the fans not of the axial type · CPC title

• F25B5/00

  Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity (with cascade operation F25B7/00) · CPC title

• F25D19/003

  with respect to movable containers · CPC title