Alternator/inverter refrigeration unit

• US 20030000236A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hurych, Arnost, Kaiser, Zdenek, Bongaards, Donald J., Anderson, Eugene Thomas, Truckenbrod, Greg, Sulc, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 6,622,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/228.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/021 Inverters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/025 by controlling speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/111 of condenser fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1933 Suction pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21163 of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21175 of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A method of powering a refrigeration system. The method includes providing a mover and an alternator, the alternator being coupled to the mover and generating a power signal. The method also includes monitoring at a control a plurality of system parameters and sending a control signal based on the system parameters from the control. The method further includes receiving the power signal and the control signal at an inverter-based device which has a plurality of inverters, converting the power signal into a controlled power signal based on the control signal, and driving a plurality of components of the refrigeration system with the controlled power signal, which are also controlled by the control.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a refrigeration system comprising:

providing a mover;

providing an alternator, the alternator being coupled to the mover and generating a power signal;

monitoring at a control a plurality of system parameters and sending a control signal based on the system parameters from the control;

receiving the power signal and the control signal at an inverter-based device, the inverter-based device having a plurality of inverters and converting the power signal into a controlled power signal based on the control signal; and

driving a plurality of components of the refrigeration system with the controlled power signal, the components also being controlled by the control.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a controlled valve, the controlled valve regulating a refrigerant based on signals from the control, the control valve having a position, and wherein the inverter-based device has an output frequency and an output voltage.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a refrigerant pressure;

providing a high pressure control set point;

changing a compressor speed such that the refrigerant pressure is approximately the high pressure control set point when the refrigerant pressure rises;

sending the control signal from the control to the controlled valve;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverter-based device;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverter-based device; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring an alternator speed;

determining a plurality of refrigeration system pressure values;

sending the control signal based on the alternator speed and the system pressure values;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverter-based device;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverter-based device; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring an alternator speed;

determining a plurality of transducer values;

sending the control signal based on the alternator speed and the transducer values;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverter-based device;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverter-based device; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring an alternator speed;

determining a fixed suction pressure value;

sending the control signal based on the alternator speed and the fixed suction pressure value;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverter-based device;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverter-based device; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring an alternator speed;

determining a condenser and evaporator discharge temperature;

sending the control signal based on the alternator speed and the temperature;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverter-based device;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverter-based device; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

8. A method of power distribution in a temperature controlled transport system comprising:

providing a primary power signal;

converting the primary power signal into a secondary controlled power signal with a plurality of inverters, the inverters being coupled to a control, the control sending control signals to the inverters; and

driving a plurality of components in the temperature controlled system with the controlled power signal, the components also being controlled by the control.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a controlled valve, the controlled valve regulating a refrigerant based on signals from the control, the control valve having a position, and wherein each inverter has an output frequency and an output voltage.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a refrigerant pressure;

providing a high pressure control set point;

changing a compressor speed when the refrigerant pressure rises such that the refrigerant pressure is approximately the high pressure control set point;

sending a control signal from the control to the controlled valve;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverters;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverters; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an alternator speed;

determining a plurality of temperature controlled system pressure values;

sending a control signal based on the alternator speed and the system pressure values;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverters;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverters; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an alternator speed;

determining a plurality of transducer values;

sending a control signal based on the alternator speed and the transducer values;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverters;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverters; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an alternator speed;

determining a fixed suction pressure value;

sending a control signal based on the alternator speed and the fixed suction pressure value;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverters;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverters; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring an alternator speed;

determining a condenser and evaporator discharge temperature;

sending a control signal based on the alternator speed and the temperature;

establishing a second output frequency at the inverters;

establishing a second output voltage at the inverters; and

using the control signal to establish a second position at the controlled valve.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the inverter-based device has an output frequency and an output voltage, further comprises a controlled valve, the controlled valve regulating a refrigerant and having a position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the refrigerant has a refrigerant pressure, and further comprising a compressor, the compressor having a compressor speed, the compressor speed being changed such that the refrigerant pressure is approximately equal to a high pressure control set point when the refrigerant pressure rises, and the position of the controlled valve being adjusted based on the control signal.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of temperature controlled system pressure transducers, each pressure transducer determining a pressure value, and establishing a second position at the controlled valve based on the pressure values and an alternator speed.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a suction pressure transducer, the pressure transducer determining a pressure value, and establishing a second position at the controlled valve based on the pressure value and an alternator speed.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a condenser and evaporator discharge, the discharge having a temperature, and establishing a second position at the controlled valve based on the temperature and an alternator speed.

15. A power distribution system in a temperature controlled transport system, the system comprising:

a mover being operatively coupled to an alternator, the alternator generating a power signal;

a control, the control monitoring a plurality of system parameters and sending a control signal based on the system parameters;

an inverter-based device operatively coupled to the control, the inverter-based device having a plurality of inverters, receiving the power signal and the control signal, and converting the power signal into a controlled power signal based on the control signal; and

a plurality of components, the components being driven with the controlled power signal and being controlled by the control.