Hybrid refrigeration system for a mobile unit and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9557100-B2
Application number	US-201013504813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2010
Priority date	Oct 27, 2009
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A method for operating a refrigeration system for a mobile unit includes steps of: 1) providing a refrigeration unit having a compressor, an evaporator, and at least one fan operable to move air towards the evaporator, a generator dedicated to the refrigeration unit, and a battery; 2) determining at least one environmental parameter in one or both of the mobile unit and the refrigeration unit; and 3) selectively operating the refrigeration unit in one of a plurality of modes based on the environmental parameter. The plurality of modes includes a first mode wherein at least the fan is powered by the battery, and a second mode wherein the compressor and the fan are powered by the generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a refrigeration system for a mobile unit, the method comprising:
providing a refrigeration unit, a generator, a battery and at least one sensor, the refrigeration unit including a compressor, an evaporator and a fan operable to move air towards the evaporator, and the generator being dedicated to the refrigeration unit;
determining an environmental parameter in one or both of the mobile unit and the refrigeration unit using the at least one sensor;
selecting a mode in which to operate the refrigeration unit based on the environmental parameter, wherein the selected mode is one of a plurality of modes in which the refrigeration unit is capable of operating, and the plurality of modes include:
a first mode where at least the fan is powered by the battery; and
a second mode where the compressor and the fan are powered by the generator; and

operating the refrigeration unit in the selected mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the generator and the compressor are non-operational.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the second mode the generator charges the battery.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental parameter is indicative of a temperature within the mobile unit.

5. The method of claim 4 , where the at least one sensor is disposed within the mobile unit to determine the at least one environmental parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode the fan and the compressor are powered by the battery.

Assignees

• Chopko Robert A
• Reason James R
• Perkovich Mark J
• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Chopko Robert A
• Reason James R
• Perkovich Mark J

Classifications

• B60H2001/327

  related to a compressing unit · CPC title

• F25D2700/123

  more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment · CPC title

• B60H2001/3255

  related to temperature · CPC title

• F25D29/003 Primary

  for movable devices · CPC title

• B60H2001/3292

  Compressor drive is electric only · CPC title