System and method of mode-based compressor speed control for refrigerated vehicle compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018001745-A1
Application number	US-201715635444-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jan 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system is provided that includes mode, shore power, engine, and battery modules. The mode module determines whether to operate in a shore power, engine, or battery mode based on parameters. The shore power module, while in the shore power mode, runs a compressor at a speed based on a temperature within a container of a vehicle and limits the speed to a first speed. A battery is charged based on utility power while in the shore power mode. The engine module, while in the engine mode, limits the compressor speed to a second speed. The battery, while in the engine mode, is charged based on power received from an alternator/generator. The battery module, while in the battery mode, limits the compressor speed to a third speed. While in the battery mode, the battery is not being charged based on power from a shore power source and the alternator/generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a mode module configured to determine whether to operate in a shore power mode, an engine mode, or a battery mode based on a plurality of parameters; a shore power module configured to, while operating in the shore power mode, set a compressor at a speed based on a temperature within a temperature-controlled container of a vehicle and limit the speed of the compressor to a first speed, wherein a first battery is charged based on power received from at least one of a utility power source and a solar power source while in the shore power mode; an engine module configured to, while operating in the engine mode, set the speed of the compressor based on the temperature and limit the speed of the compressor to a second speed, wherein the first battery, while in the engine mode, is charged based on power received from at least one of an electrical source driven by an engine of the vehicle or the solar power source, wherein the second speed is less than or equal to the first speed, and wherein the electrical source is an alternator or a generator; and a battery module configured to, while operating in the battery mode, set the speed of the compressor based on the temperature and limit the speed of the compressor to a third speed, wherein, while in the battery mode, the first battery is not being charged based on power from (a) a shore power source, and (b) the electrical source from which power is received during the engine mode, and wherein the third speed is greater than 0 and less than the first speed and the second speed.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprise (i) a first parameter indicating whether shore power is connected, (ii) a second parameter indicating whether the alternator or the generator is ON and charging the first battery, and (iii) a suction pressure of the compressor.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of parameters comprise a state of charge of one or more batteries; and the one or more batteries include the first battery.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shore power module is configured to, while operating in the shore power mode:
if the temperature is less than a set point temperature, prevent a refrigerant from passing through eutectic plates and an evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature, permit the refrigerant to pass through the eutectic plates or the evaporator.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the shore power module is configured to, while operating in the shore power mode:
if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for more than a predetermined period, permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates and the evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for less than the predetermined period, (i) permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates, and (ii) prevent passage of the refrigerant through the evaporator.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shore power module is configured to, while operating in the shore power mode and if the plurality of parameters satisfy a plurality of conditions, (i) run an evaporator fan, (ii) run a condenser fan, and (iii) permit passage of a refrigerant through eutectic plates and an evaporator.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shore power module is configured to (i) if the plurality of parameters satisfy a plurality of conditions, set the speed of the compressor to 0 for a first predetermined period, and (ii) subsequent to the first predetermined period, set the speed of the compressor to a speed greater than 0 for a second predetermined period.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the shore power module is configured to (i) if an ambient temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature, set the speed of the compressor to a speed less than or equal to the first speed, and (ii) if the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, set the speed of the compressor to the third speed or a speed less than the first speed.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the shore power module is configured to (i) if the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, set the speed of the compressor to a speed less than or equal to the third speed for a third predetermined period, and (ii) subsequent to the third predetermined period, set the speed of the compressor to a speed less than or equal to the first speed; and the third predetermined period is less than the second predetermined period.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the shore power module is configured to, based on a suction pressure of the compressor, operate in a pulldown maintenance mode; and the pulldown maintenance mode comprises, based on the temperature, switching between (i) preventing passage of a refrigerant to eutectic plates and an evaporator, (ii) permitting passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates and preventing passage of the refrigerant through the evaporator, and (iii) permitting passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates and the evaporator.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine module is configured to, while operating in the engine mode:
if the temperature is less than a set point temperature, prevent a refrigerant from passing through eutectic plates and an evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature, permit the refrigerant to pass through the eutectic plates or the evaporator.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the engine module is configured to, while operating in the engine mode:
if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for more than a predetermined period, permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates and the evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for less than the predetermined period, (i) permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates, and (ii) prevent passage of the refrigerant through the evaporator.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the battery module is configured to, while operating in the battery mode:
if the temperature is less than a set point temperature, prevent a refrigerant from passing through eutectic plates and an evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature, permit the refrigerant to pass through the eutectic plates or the evaporator.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the battery module is configured to, while operating in the battery mode:
if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for more than a predetermined period, permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates and the evaporator; and if the temperature is greater than the set point temperature for less than the predetermined period, (i) permit passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates, and (ii) prevent passage of the refrigerant through the evaporator.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control module configured to, while in at least one of the shore power mode, the engine mode, or the battery mode:
shut off an evaporator fan if a door of the temperature-controlled container is in an open state; and run the evaporator fan based on the temperature when the door is in a closed state.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the shore power module is configured to determine the first speed based on a load on the compressor; the engine module is configured to determine the second speed based on the load on th

Assignees

• Emerson Climate Technologies

Inventors

• Vehr Shawn W
• Rozsnaki Joseph J
• Siefker Louis

Classifications

• B60H2001/3255

  related to temperature · CPC title

• B60H2001/3272

  to control the revolving speed of a compressor · CPC title

• B60H2001/3283

  to control the refrigerant flow · CPC title

• B60H2001/3277

  to control the air flow · CPC title

• B60H2001/3289

  Additional cooling source · CPC title