Operation of transport refrigeration systems to prevent engine stall and overload

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9499027-B2
Application number	US-201113876270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2011
Priority date	Sep 28, 2010
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

The performance of a transport refrigeration system ( 12 ) having a transport refrigeration unit powered by a diesel engine is optimized by matching a capacity output of the transport refrigeration unit to an available shaft power of the diesel engine. The power consumption of the transport refrigeration may be controlled by selectively limiting refrigerant mass flow through the refrigerant circuit of the transport refrigeration unit in response to an operating engine load and an operating speed of the diesel engine.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for optimizing the performance of a transport refrigeration system having a transport refrigeration unit powered by a diesel engine, comprising matching a capacity output of the transport refrigeration unit to an available shaft power of the diesel engine; the method further comprising:
monitoring an operating engine load of the diesel engine;
monitoring an operating engine speed of the diesel engine:
operating the transport refrigeration system at the capacity output necessary to meet a current refrigeration demand load so as long as both the operating engine load of the diesel engine is not at 100% and the operating speed of the diesel engine is at least 98% of a target engine operating speed; and
reducing the cooling capacity output of the refrigeration unit when the operating engine load of the diesel engine is greater than 90% and an operating speed of the diesel engine is less than 98% of a target engine operating speed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transport refrigeration unit includes a compressor having a compression mechanism drive shaft driven by a shaft of the diesel engine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the engine shaft directly drives the compression mechanism drive shaft.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the engine shaft drives an electric generator for generating electrical power to power a compressor drive motor for driving the compressor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating engine load of the diesel engine is indicated by a fuel rack position.

Assignees

• Steele John T
• Reason John R
• Stockbridge Michael
• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Steele John T
• Reason John R
• Stockbridge Michael

Classifications

• B60H1/3208 Primary

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

• B60H2001/3273

  related to the operation of the vehicle, e.g. the compressor driving torque · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

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

• B60H1/3222 Primary

  characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives (B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00364

  for caravans or trailers · CPC title