Electrical power supply management for climate-controlled system associated with automotive application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12528336-B2
Application number	US-202318194879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2023
Priority date	Nov 8, 2019
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

Technologies described herein pertain to delivering power to primary and accessory electrical components associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, as well as to a power source of the vehicle itself. To operate one or more of accessory electrical components and deliver power to a vehicle battery, via a power distribution unit, the embodiments facilitate understanding of dynamic power available to the accessory electrical components as well as the vehicle battery, and distributing of the power in a prioritized manner to optimize the system for a most efficient power delivery process, with regards to power needs and power availability. Managing power supplied to a climate control unit that is used in a transport climate control system providing climate control to at least one of an internal space of a vehicle, may be performed by a controller that is electrically connected to at least the climate control unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for managing power supplied to a transport climate control system from an electrical power source, the method being performed by a controller and comprising:
determining a ramp rate of power transmission for the transport climate control system; determining a maximum power delivery available to the transport climate control system from the electrical power source; adjusting the ramp rate of power transmission to the transport climate control system to modify operation of the transport climate control system when the maximum power available from the electrical power source does not exceed a first threshold for the transport climate control system to start-up; and transmitting power to the transport climate control system when the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source exceeds the first threshold.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicatively connecting the transport climate control system to the electrical power source.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining includes receiving data indicating the maximum power delivery available via communication with the electrical power source.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting power includes transmitting power to the transport climate control system when the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source exceeds the first threshold and a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is an expected steady state power draw of a load of the transport climate control system.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting power demanded by the transport climate control system by reducing a load of the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the adjusting the ramp rate power transmission to the transport climate control system includes slowly ramping power, via power electronics, to a load of the transport climate control system to limit an expected maximum transient power draw from the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source during start up.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing a restriction for power transmission to the transport climate control system by using power electronics to slowly ramp power to a load of the transport climate control system to limit an expected maximum transient power draw from the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the removing of a restriction for power transmission to the transport climate control system includes operating the transport climate control system with no reduction on a back steady state power draw from the electrical power source.

9 . A method for managing power supplied to a transport climate control system from an electrical power source, the method being performed by a controller and comprising:
determining a maximum power delivery available to the transport climate control system from the electrical power source; adjusting power transmission to the transport climate control system to modify operation of the transport climate control system when the maximum power available from the electrical power source does not exceed a first threshold for the transport climate control system to start-up, wherein the adjusting of the power transmission to the transport climate control system includes prohibiting start-up of the transport climate control system when the first threshold is a minimum amount of power for the transport climate control system to start-up; and transmitting power to the transport climate control system when the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source exceeds the first threshold.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicatively connecting the transport climate control system to the electrical power source.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the determining includes receiving data indicating the maximum power delivery available via communication with the electrical power source.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmitting of power includes transmitting power to the transport climate control system when the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source exceeds the first threshold and a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is an expected steady state power draw of a load of the transport climate control system.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting power demanded by the transport climate control system by reducing a load of the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting power transmission to the transport climate control system includes slowly ramping power, via power electronics, to a load of the transport climate control system to limit an expected maximum transient power draw from the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source during start up.

15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing a restriction for power transmission to the transport climate control system by using power electronics to slowly ramp power to a load of the transport climate control system to limit an expected maximum transient power draw from the transport climate control system, based on the determined maximum power delivery available from the electrical power source.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the removing of a restriction for power transmission to the transport climate control system includes operating the transport climate control system with no reduction on a back steady state power draw from the electrical power source.

Assignees

• Thermo King Llc

Inventors

• Srnec Matthew
• Vanous Michael James
• Schumacher Ryan Wayne
• Lewelling Carolyn

Classifications

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B60P3/20

  Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

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

• B60H1/3208

  Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes · CPC title

• B60H1/00428 Primary

  electric · CPC title