Methods and systems to control an engine of a transport refrigeration unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10682897-B2
Application number	US-201314648096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2013
Priority date	Nov 28, 2012
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods to control a prime mover of a transport refrigeration system are disclosed. A controller may be configured to receive input from various information sources including a global satellite positioning system and/or a human machine interface. The controller can be configured to select a prime mover operation mode based on the input received. In some embodiment, the controller can select a noise reduction operation mode when the TRU is located in a noise regulated area, and can select a fuel efficient mode when the TRU is located outside of the noise regulated areas. In some embodiments, the noise reduction operation mode may include increasing a speed of the prime mover in a soft sloped ramp. In some embodiments, the operation modes can include prime mover operation instructions containing parameters of fuel injection of the prime mover. The operation instructions can be sent to an ECU to execute.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to control a prime mover of a refrigerated transport unit comprising:
obtaining information from an information source including information indicating a current geographic location of the refrigerated transport unit;
determining a prime mover operation mode based on the information, wherein determining the prime mover operation mode based on the information includes:
determining a geographic specific regulation at the current geographic location of the refrigerated transport, and
selecting between a plurality of prime mover operation modes in order to comply with the geographic specific regulation, wherein selecting between the plurality of prime mover operation modes is based on a modifiable priority list that prioritizes between complying with a geographic specific regulation and meeting a product storage requirement of cargo stored in the refrigerated transport unit;

obtaining a prime mover operation instruction set that is calibrated for the selected prime mover operation mode; and
operating the prime mover to power or drive a compressor of the refrigerated transport unit according to the prime mover operation instruction set;
wherein the plurality of prime mover operation modes includes a noise reduction mode that operates the prime mover near a minimal noise operation level, and
wherein by selection of the noise reduction mode the prime mover is operated for powering or driving the compressor according to the prime mover operation instruction set calibrated to the noise reduction mode which instructs the prime mover to operate to reduce noise by switching from an abrupt stepped speed change mode to a soft ramped speed change mode, wherein during the soft ramped speed change mode the prime mover is accelerated more gradually compared to the abrupt stepped speed change mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prime mover operation modes includes a fuel efficient mode that operates the prime mover near a minimal fuel consumption level, and
wherein the prime mover operation instruction set calibrated for the fuel efficient mode includes a duration, a timing and a rate of fuel injection for an injector of the prime mover, and the duration, the timing and the rate of fuel injection are calibrated to operate the prime mover at about a minimal fuel consumption level.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover operation instruction set calibrated for the noise reduction mode includes a duration, a timing and a rate of fuel injection for an injector of the prime mover, and the duration, the timing and the rate of fuel injection are calibrated to operate the prime mover at about a minimal noise level.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soft ramped speed change mode includes increasing a speed of the prime mover at about 5% of a maximum RPM of the prime mover per second.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prime mover operation modes includes an emission modulation mode that operates the prime mover to reduce at least one of carbon dioxide emission, oxides of nitrogen emission, and particulate matter emission, and
wherein the prime mover operation instruction set calibrated for the emission modulation mode includes a duration, a timing and a rate of fuel injection for an injector of the prime mover, and the duration, the timing and the rate of fuel injection are calibrated to operate the prime mover to achieve an emission goal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the emission goal is selected from one or more of carbon dioxide reduction, oxides of nitrogen reduction, and particulate matter reduction.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the emission goal is a location specific emission standard that includes specific emission requirements for carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prime mover operation modes includes a hybrid mode that operates the prime mover to balance two or more of the noise reduction, a fuel efficiency and an emission reduction mode, and
wherein the prime move instruction set calibrated for the hybrid mode includes a duration, a timing and a rate of fuel injection for an injector of the prime mover, and the duration, the timing and the rate of fuel injection are calibrated to operate the prime mover below a maximum fuel consumption level and a maximum noise level, and over a minimum fuel consumption level and a minimum noise level.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information source includes a global positioning system that is configured to obtain a current position of the transport refrigeration unit.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information source includes a human machine interface.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes a current time of day where the refrigerated transport unit is geographically located.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes a current speed of the transport refrigeration unit.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the prime mover operation mode based on the information includes selecting the noise reduction mode when the current position of the transport refrigeration unit is in a noise regulated zone.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the prime mover operation mode based on the information includes selecting a fuel efficient mode when the current position of the transport refrigeration unit is not in a noise regulated zone.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the prime mover operation mode based on the information includes selecting the noise reduction mode when the current time is later than a time threshold.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the prime mover operation mode based on the information includes selecting a fuel efficient mode when the current speed is faster than a speed threshold.

17. A transport refrigeration system comprising:
a compressor;
a prime mover that powers or drives the compressor;
a controller having a memory unit;
an information source; and
a prime mover engine control unit;
wherein the memory unit is configured to store a plurality of prime mover operation instruction sets that are each calibrated to a prime mover operation mode, and the controller is configured to:
obtain information from an information source including information indicating a current geographic location of the transport refrigeration system,
determine a geographic specific regulation at the current location of the transport refrigeration system,
select between a plurality of prime mover operation modes in order to comply with the geographic specific regulation, wherein selection between the plurality of prime mover operation modes is based on a modifiable priority list that prioritizes between complying with a geographic specific regulation and meeting a product storage requirement of cargo stored in the refrigerated transport unit,
obtain a particular prime mover instruction set calibrated for a particular prime mover operation mode selected between the plurality of prime mover operation modes, and send the particular prime mover operation instruction set to the prime mover engine control unit to operate the prime mover,

wherein the plurality of prime mover operation modes includes a noise reduction mode operates the prime mover near a minimal noise operation level, and
wherein by selection of the noise reduction mode the prime mover is operated for powering or driving the compressor according to the prime mover operation instruction set calibrated to the noise r

Assignees

• Thermo King Corp

Inventors

• Lucht Erich Albert
• Ambaruch Art

Classifications

• B60H1/3222

  characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives (B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

  particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles (B60H1/3226 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M26/23

  Layout, e.g. schematics · CPC title

• F02D41/021

  Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine (conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18) · CPC title

• F02D31/007

  controlling fuel supply · CPC title