Methods and systems for using mean kinetic temperature to control a transport climate control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570128-B2
Application number	US-202217872806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2022
Priority date	Jul 25, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system providing climate control within a climate controlled space of a transport unit, the method including setting a mean kinetic temperature setpoint to control a compressor and/or fans in the transport climate control system and determining a mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space. The method further includes regulating the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space while optimizing the energy spent by adjusting the cooling and/or heating capacity of the system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method of operating a transport climate control system used to provide climate control within a climate control space of a transport unit, the method comprising:
setting a mean kinetic temperature setpoint to control the transport climate control system; determining, using a controller, a mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space; determining, using the controller, a difference between the mean kinetic temperature setpoint and the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space; and controlling the transport climate control system based on at least the difference between the mean kinetic temperature setpoint and the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space to regulate the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space, wherein the controlling the transport climate control system of the transport climate control system comprises: determining whether a temperature recovery triggering event has occurred or is in progress for the transport unit; when the temperature recovery triggering event has occurred, the method further comprising: predicting the mean kinetic temperature and a temperature as a function of time, t, for recovery to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint in the climate controlled space along various times during the recovery, and during the recovery, adjusting a system cooling capacity of the transport climate control system to control the predicted mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the transport climate control system comprises:
switching between a continuous running mode and a start/stop cycle mode to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising, when at any time the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space is greater than the mean kinetic temperature setpoint, running the compressor in the continuous mode.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the transport climate control system operates the compressor in a start/stop control mode and comprises:
setting a start temperature for starting the compressor and a stop temperature for stopping the compressor; and adjusting the start temperature and/or the stop temperature to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the transport climate control system comprises:
wherein an upper bound and/or a lower bound of acceptable temperatures is set, and wherein the transport climate control system controls the temperature within the set bounds to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the system cooling capacity is increased or decreased by controlling at least one of a compressor speed or condenser fan speed.

7 . A transport climate control system for providing climate control within a climate controlled space of a transport unit, comprising:
a climate control circuit including a compressor; a temperature sensor, configured to measure a temperature in the climate controlled space; and a controller, having a processor, configured to:
receive the temperature from the temperature sensor;
receive a mean kinetic temperature setpoint to control the transport climate control system;
determine a mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space based on the temperature from the temperature sensor;
determine a difference between the mean kinetic temperature setpoint and the mean kinetic temperate in the climate controlled space; and
control the transport climate control system based on at least the difference between the mean kinetic temperature setpoint and the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space to regulate the mean kinetic temperature in the climate controlled space, which includes adjusting a speed of recovery of a system cooling capacity of the transport climate control system based on whether the difference between the mean kinetic temperature setpoint and the mean kinetic temperature is above or below a threshold value, wherein when the difference is greater or equal to the threshold value, the speed of recovery is at a first system cooling capacity, and wherein when the difference is not greater or equal to the threshold value, the speed of recovery is at a second system cooling capacity, wherein the first system cooling capacity is greater than the second system cooling capacity, and
wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether a temperature recovery triggering event has occurred or is in progress for the transport unit; wherein when the temperature recovery triggering event has occurred, the controller is further configured to:
predict the mean kinetic temperature and the temperature in the climate controlled space as a function of time, t, for recovery to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint along various times during the recovery,
adjust the system cooling capacity of the transport climate control system to control the predicted mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

8 . The transport climate control system of claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is located on cargo in the climate controlled space or along an inner surface of the transport unit.

9 . The transport climate control system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust a temperature range for a start/stop cycle mode to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

10 . The transport climate control system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to operate the compressor in a start/stop control mode and configured to:
receive a start temperature for starting the compressor and a stop temperature for stopping the compressor; and determine whether a cycle of the start/stop control mode has been completed, wherein when the cycle of the start/stop control mode has been completed, adjusting the start temperature and/or the stop temperature to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

11 . The transport climate control system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to operate the compressor in a continuous control mode and configured to:
set an upper bound and/or a lower bound of acceptable temperatures and control the transport climate control system to control the temperature within the set bounds to control the mean kinetic temperature to the mean kinetic temperature setpoint.

Assignees

• Thermo King Llc

Inventors

• Morrison Quinn
• Conde James E
• Coons Paul Harrison

Classifications

• B60H2001/3272

  to control the revolving speed of a compressor · CPC title

• B60H2001/3255

  related to temperature · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

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

• B60H1/00385

  for vehicles having an electrical drive, e.g. hybrid or fuel cell · CPC title

• B60H1/00807

  the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature · CPC title