Methods and systems to control engine loading on a transport refrigeration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723201-B2
Application number	US-201615251665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling a transport refrigeration system are provided. In one instance, the method includes identifying an operational mode change request for a heat exchanger unit of the transport refrigeration system. The method also includes preparing the transport refrigeration system for the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit, wherein preparing the transport refrigeration system for the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit includes performing a load control action, the load control action preventing a power source of the transport refrigeration system from at least one of operating outside of a predefined revolutions per minute (RPM) bandwidth and exceeding a predefined power limit of the power source. Also, the method includes changing the operational mode of the heat exchanger unit; and removing the load control action.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a transport refrigeration system for a transport unit, comprising:
a heat exchanger unit of the transport refrigeration system providing climate control of an internal space of the transport unit;
identifying an operational mode change request for the heat exchanger unit;
preparing the transport refrigeration system for an operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit requested by the operational mode change request, wherein preparing the transport refrigeration system for the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit includes:
obtaining parameter data of the transport refrigeration system by measuring one or more parameters of the transport refrigeration system,
determining a load control action based on the parameter data, wherein determining the load control action includes determining a future load of the power source based on the parameter data, and determining the load control action and a degree in which the load control action is to be applied based on the future load of the power source, wherein the future load of the power source is a predicted load on the power source during the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit when no load control action is performed, and
performing the load control action to the determined degree, the load control action preventing a power source of the transport refrigeration system from at least one of operating outside of a predefined revolutions per minute (RPM) bandwidth and exceeding a predefined power limit of the power source;

changing the operational mode of the heat exchanger unit; and
removing the load control action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining parameter data of the transport refrigeration system includes obtaining at least one of: a return air temperature of the heat exchanger unit; a discharge air temperature of the heat exchanger unit; an ambient air temperature outside of the transport unit; a fuel temperature of fuel used by the power source; a suction pressure of a compressor of the transport refrigeration system; a discharge pressure of the compressor; an energy consumption of a fan of a second heat exchanger unit; a return air temperature of the second heat exchanger unit; an altitude at the current location of the transport refrigeration system; a battery charging load of a battery of the transport refrigeration system;
and an evaporator coil temperature of an evaporator of the transport refrigeration system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the load control action based on the parameter data includes at least one of:
controlling a refrigerant flow rate based on the parameter data;
adjusting a fan speed of a fan of the heat exchanger unit based on the parameter data;
reducing a battery charging load of a battery charger of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data;
adjusting an engine speed of an engine of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data; and
unloading a compressor of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the load control action includes adjusting a load on the transport refrigeration system back to a load level of the transport refrigeration system prior to performing the load control action.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the load control action based on the parameter data includes determining a load control electronic throttle valve (ETV) opening position for an ETV of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data, and
wherein performing the load control action includes adjusting the ETV to the load control ETV opening position.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein changing the operational mode of the heat exchanger unit includes:
opening a heat exchanger valve of the heat exchanger unit to switch the heat exchanger unit from a first operational mode to a desired operational mode, and
instructing the ETV to hold the load control ETV opening position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein removing the load control action includes instructing the ETV to release the load control ETV opening position.

8. A transport refrigeration system for a transport unit, comprising:
a heat exchanger unit for providing climate control of an internal space of the transport unit; and
a controller that is configured to:
identify an operational mode change request for the heat exchanger unit;
prepare the transport refrigeration system for an operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit requested in the operational mode change request, wherein preparing the transport refrigeration system for the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit includes:
the controller obtaining parameter data of the transport refrigeration system that includes one or more measurements of one or more parameters of the transport refrigeration system,
the controller determining a load control action based on the parameter data, wherein the controller determining the load control action based on the parameter data includes the controller determining a future load of the power source based on the parameter data, and the controller determining the load control action and a degree in which the load control action is to be applied based on the future load of the power source, wherein the future load of the power source is a predicted load on the power source during the operational mode change of the heat exchanger unit when no load control action is performed, and
the controller performing the load control action to the determined degree, the load control action preventing a power source of the transport refrigeration system from at least one of operating outside of a predefined revolutions per minute (RPM) bandwidth and exceeding a predefined power limit of the power source;

change the operational mode of the heat exchanger unit; and
remove the load control action after changing the operational mode of the heat exchanger unit.

9. The transport refrigeration system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to obtain at least one of:
a return air temperature of the heat exchanger unit; a discharge air temperature of the heat exchanger unit; an ambient air temperature outside of the transport unit; a fuel temperature of fuel used by the power source; a suction pressure of a compressor of the transport refrigeration system; a discharge pressure of the compressor; an energy consumption of a fan of a second heat exchanger unit; a return air temperature of the second heat exchanger unit; an altitude at the current location of the transport refrigeration system a battery charging load of a battery of the transport refrigeration system an evaporator coil temperature of an evaporator of the transport refrigeration system,

in order to obtain the parameter data of the transport refrigeration system.

10. The transport refrigeration system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to at least one of:
control a refrigerant flow rate based on the parameter data;
adjust a fan speed of a fan of the heat exchanger unit based on the parameter data;
reduce a battery charging load of a battery charger of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data;
adjust an engine speed of an engine of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data; and
unload a compressor of the transport refrigeration system based on the parameter data, in order to perform the load control action based on the parameter data.

11. The transport refrigeration system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a load on the transport refrigeration system back to a load

Assignees

• Thermo King Corp

Inventors

• Neu Timothy J
• HEBERER Brett
• Conde James E
• Donnellan Wayne

Classifications

• F25B27/00 Primary

  Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B30/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H2001/3255

  related to temperature · CPC title

• F25B2700/2106

  of fresh outdoor air · CPC title

• F25B2700/1931

  Discharge pressures · CPC title

• B62D63/08

  Component parts or accessories · CPC title