Efficient electric trailer refrigeration system
First Claim
1. An energy efficient intelligent trailer refrigeration system for a trailer comprising:
- a) a trailer refrigeration unit comprising;
i) an evaporator;
ii) a condenser;
iii) a compressor and a compressor motor to power said compressor;
wherein the compressor motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor;
iv) an air moving device to circulate air across the evaporator and within trailer and having an air moving motor to power said air moving device;
wherein the air moving motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor;
b) a trailer power source configured on the trailer to provide power to the trailer refrigeration unit including the compressor motor and the air moving motor;
wherein the trailer power source comprises;
i) a battery pack; and
c) an auxiliary power source electrically coupled with the battery pack to provide a charging power to the battery pack;
d) a power management system electrically coupled between the power source and the trailer refrigeration unit, wherein the power management system comprises;
i) a controller comprising a microprocessor;
wherein the controller controls the speed of the compressor motor and air moving motor to efficiently refrigerate the refrigeration unit;
ii) a battery management system that comprises a charge controller coupled with the battery pack to control the state of charge of the battery pack to avoid overcharging or undercharging of the batteries;
wherein the battery management system is coupled between said auxiliary power source and said battery pack and controls a charge level of the battery pack from said charging power from said auxiliary power source;
iii) a CAN bus comprising;
a plurality of inputs and outputs,a central processing unit configured to run a control program;
wherein the CAN bus is coupled to the controller and the battery management system by said plurality of inputs and outputs and regulates power delivery to the refrigeration unit via said control program run by the central processing unit; and
iv) a traction motor controller that inverts electrical power from the battery pack and provides it to the compressor motor and air moving device motor and also controls a voltage of said electrical power provided to each of the compressor motor and air moving device motor;
wherein the CAN bus is programmable; and
wherein the CAN bus receives input from the power source and from the refrigeration trailer refrigeration unit including from a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the refrigeration unit.
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Abstract
A trailer refrigeration system incorporates a trailer refrigeration unit that is powered by multiple sources including a generator coupled to the truck, photovoltaic cells and a battery pack. The trailer refrigeration unit may be a conventional refrigerator having a compressor, an evaporator and a compressible refrigerant. The refrigeration unit may be powered by one or more electric motors, such as an axial flux or transverse flux motor that has high efficiency, high torque at low revolutions per minute (RPM). The refrigeration unit is powered at least in part by the generator when the truck is running below a threshold power level and may be powered by the battery pack and/or photovoltaic cells when the truck engine is not running or running above a threshold power level. A power management system including the battery management system is used to control the flow of power to the refrigeration unit and to and from the battery pack.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy efficient intelligent trailer refrigeration system for a trailer comprising:
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a) a trailer refrigeration unit comprising; i) an evaporator; ii) a condenser; iii) a compressor and a compressor motor to power said compressor; wherein the compressor motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor; iv) an air moving device to circulate air across the evaporator and within trailer and having an air moving motor to power said air moving device; wherein the air moving motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor; b) a trailer power source configured on the trailer to provide power to the trailer refrigeration unit including the compressor motor and the air moving motor; wherein the trailer power source comprises; i) a battery pack; and c) an auxiliary power source electrically coupled with the battery pack to provide a charging power to the battery pack; d) a power management system electrically coupled between the power source and the trailer refrigeration unit, wherein the power management system comprises; i) a controller comprising a microprocessor; wherein the controller controls the speed of the compressor motor and air moving motor to efficiently refrigerate the refrigeration unit; ii) a battery management system that comprises a charge controller coupled with the battery pack to control the state of charge of the battery pack to avoid overcharging or undercharging of the batteries; wherein the battery management system is coupled between said auxiliary power source and said battery pack and controls a charge level of the battery pack from said charging power from said auxiliary power source; iii) a CAN bus comprising; a plurality of inputs and outputs, a central processing unit configured to run a control program; wherein the CAN bus is coupled to the controller and the battery management system by said plurality of inputs and outputs and regulates power delivery to the refrigeration unit via said control program run by the central processing unit; and iv) a traction motor controller that inverts electrical power from the battery pack and provides it to the compressor motor and air moving device motor and also controls a voltage of said electrical power provided to each of the compressor motor and air moving device motor; wherein the CAN bus is programmable; and wherein the CAN bus receives input from the power source and from the refrigeration trailer refrigeration unit including from a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the refrigeration unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An energy efficient intelligent trailer refrigeration system for a trailer comprising:
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a) a trailer refrigeration unit comprising; i) an evaporator; ii) a condenser; iii) a compressor and a compressor motor to power said compressor; wherein the compressor motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor; iv) an air moving device to circulate air across the evaporator and within trailer and having an air moving motor to power said air moving device; wherein the air moving motor is an axial flux permanent magnet traction motor; b) a tractor having a tractor engine, wherein the tractor is coupled to the trailer to transport the trailer; wherein the tractor comprises an engine, and c) a trailer power source configured on the trailer to provide power to the trailer refrigeration unit including the compressor motor and the air moving motor; wherein the trailer power source comprises i) a battery pack; and d) an auxiliary power source electrically coupled with the battery pack to provide a charging power to the battery pack; wherein the auxiliary power source comprises an electrical generator; wherein the electrical generator is an axial-flux permanent magnet generator; and wherein the electrical generator is configured on the tractor; e) a power management system electrically coupled between the power source and the trailer refrigeration unit wherein the power management system comprises; i) a controller comprising a microprocessor; wherein the controller controls the speed of the compressor motor and air moving motor to efficiently refrigerate the refrigeration unit; ii) a battery management system that comprises a charge controller coupled with the battery pack to control the state of charge of the battery pack to avoid overcharging or undercharging of the batteries; wherein the battery management system is coupled between said auxiliary power source and said battery pack and controls a charge level of the battery pack from said charging power from said auxiliary power source; iii) a Can bus that is coupled to the controller and the battery management system, said CAN bus comprising; a plurality of inputs and outputs, a central processing unit configured to run a control program; wherein the CAN bus is coupled to the controller and the battery management system by said plurality of inputs and outputs and regulates power delivery to the refrigeration unit via said control program run by the central processing unit; and iv) a traction motor controller that inverts electrical power from the battery pack and provides it to the compressor motor and air moving device motor and also controls a voltage of said electrical power provided to each of the compressor motor and air moving device motor; wherein the CAN bus is programmable; wherein the CAN bus receives input from the power source and from the trailer refrigeration unit including from a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the refrigeration unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification