Dual compressor transportation refrigeration unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019299751-A1
Application number	US-201716315876-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jul 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 3, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transportation refrigeration unit includes an evaporator circulating a flow of refrigerant therethrough to cool a flow of supply air flowing over the evaporator, a first compressor operably connected to an engine and driven by the engine, a second compressor operably connected to a battery and driven by the battery. The first compressor and/or the second compressor are in fluid communication with the evaporator to compress the flow of refrigerant and configured and connected in parallel with one another. A condenser is in fluid communication with the evaporator and the first compressor and/or the second compressor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transportation refrigeration unit comprising:
an evaporator circulating a flow of refrigerant therethrough to cool a flow of supply air flowing over the evaporator; a first compressor operably connected to an engine and driven by the engine; a second compressor operably connected to a battery and driven by the battery, the first compressor and/or the second compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator to compress the flow of refrigerant and configured and connected in parallel with one another; and a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator and the first compressor and/or the second compressor.

2 . The transportation refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the battery is operably connected to one or more electrically-operated components of the transportation refrigeration unit to drive operation of the one or more components.

3 . The transportation refrigeration unit of claim 2 , wherein the one or more electrically-operated components include an evaporator fan, a condenser fan or a mechanical subcooler.

4 . The transportation refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the battery is configured for recharging via operation of the engine.

5 . The transportation refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the battery is rechargeable via one or more of one or more solar panels operably connected to the battery, regenerative braking, a wall outlet and/or an electrical generator.

6 . The transportation refrigeration unit of claim 1 , wherein the battery is operably connected to the second compressor via an inverter.

7 . A refrigerated cargo container comprising:
a cargo compartment; and a transportation refrigeration unit in fluid communication with the cargo compartment including: an evaporator circulating a flow of refrigerant therethrough to cool a flow of supply air flowing from the cargo compartment over the evaporator; a first compressor operably connected to an engine and driven by the engine; a second compressor operably connected to a battery and driven by the battery, the first compressor and/or the second compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator to compress the flow of refrigerant and configured and connected in parallel with one another; and a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator and the first compressor and/or the second compressor.

8 . The refrigerated cargo container of claim 7 , wherein the battery is operably connected to one or more electrically-operated components of the transportation refrigeration unit to drive operation of the one or more electrically-operated components, the one or more electrically-operated components include an evaporator fan, a condenser fan or a mechanical subcooler.

9 . The refrigerated cargo container of claim 7 , wherein the battery is configured for recharging via operation of the engine.

10 . The refrigerated cargo container of claim 7 , wherein the battery is rechargeable via one or more of one or more solar panels operably connected to the battery, regenerative braking, a wall outlet and/or an electrical generator.

11 . The refrigerated cargo container of claim 7 , wherein the battery is operably connected to the second compressor via an inverter.

12 . A method of operating a transportation refrigeration unit comprising:
flowing a liquid flow of refrigerant through an evaporator; directing a flow of supply air from a cargo compartment across the evaporator thus cooling the supply air and boiling the flow of refrigerant; routing the flow of refrigerant from the evaporator to a first compressor and/or a second compressor, the first compressor and the second compressor arranged in parallel, the first compressor powered by operation of an engine operably connected to the first compressor and the second compressor powered by a battery operably connected to the second compressor; injecting the flow of refrigerant into a first compressor inlet of the first compressor and/or a second compressor inlet of the second compressor; compressing the flow of refrigerant at the first compressor and/or the second compressor; and directing the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator via a condenser.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising recharging the battery via operation of the engine.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising recharging the battery via one or more of one or more solar panels operably connected to the battery, regenerative braking, a wall outlet or an electrical generator.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a high level aspect of system control and stopping operation of the first compressor and/or the second compressor to maintain a setpoint temperature.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Poolman Ciara
• Chopko Robert A

Classifications

• B60H1/3232

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

• F25B2400/075

  with parallel compressors · CPC title

• F25B27/00

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

• B60H1/3223 Primary

  characterised by the arrangement or type of the compressor (B60H1/3222 takes precedence) · CPC title