TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION UNIT, AND METHODS FOR SAME

• US 20120111044A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Yu H., Gan, Mingfei
• Granted Patent: US 9,889,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21172 at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21173 at the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices

Abstract

Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can control temperature within a transport refrigeration unit using remote sensor or sensors. Embodiments can monitor cargo temperature with remote sensor(s) and air temperature to adjust air delivery speed or cooling capacity. Selected operation parameters can be determined with consideration of both energy conservation and/or cargo quality. Embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods can control temperature within a transport refrigeration unit using a first selected mode of operation or a second mode of operation.

Claims

1. A transport refrigeration unit for regulating the temperature of an enclosed volume, the transport refrigeration unit comprising:

a refrigeration module operatively coupled to said enclosed volume, said refrigeration module including;

a supply port to output air to said enclosed volume at a supply temperature;

a return port to return air from to said enclosed volume to the refrigeration module at a return temperature;

at least one cargo temperature sensor unit to provide a cargo temperature; and

a controller coupled to regulate the operation of said refrigeration module responsive to said cargo temperature.

2. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said controller to selectively operate said refrigeration module in a first mode of operation or in a second mode of operation responsive to said cargo temperature.

3. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 2, said controller to selectively operate said refrigeration module in said first mode of operation responsive to said supply temperature and said return temperature.

4. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 3, said controller to selectively operate said refrigeration module responsive to said cargo temperature when said cargo temperature is Ts<

Tc<

Tr, where Ts is said supply temperature, Tr is said return temperature and Tc is said cargo temperature.

5. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said at least one cargo temperature sensor to include a plurality of cargo temperature sensor units, wherein a first cargo temperature sensor unit is positioned at a cargo position away from said supply port.

6. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 5, said first cargo temperature sensor unit positioned at a cargo position horizontally distant and vertically distant from said supply port.

7. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said at least one cargo temperature sensor is wirelessly connected or has a wired connection to the refrigeration module.

8. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said refrigeration module including:

a compressor having a discharge port and an input port;

a condenser heat exchanger unit operatively coupled to said discharge port;

an evaporator heat exchanger unit operatively coupled to said input port;

a condenser fan disposed proximate to said condenser heat exchanger unit; and

an evaporator fan disposed proximate to said evaporator heat exchanger unit, said controller to regulate the operation of said compressor, said condenser fan, and said evaporator fan.

9. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said controller to selectively operate in an economy mode or an operations mode responsive to said cargo temperature in a second mode;

said controller to selectively operate in the economy mode or the operations mode responsive to a return temperature and a supply temperature in a first mode.

10. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one cargo temperature sensor unit is for direct or indirect connection to a cargo for reading said cargo temperature for said cargo.

11. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 1, said controller to operate said refrigeration module responsive to a humidity, cargo respiration, or species concentration of the enclosed volume or ambient conditions outside the enclosed volume.

12. A refrigeration unit for regulating the temperature of an enclosed volume, the refrigeration unit comprising:

a refrigeration module operatively coupled to said enclosed volume, said refrigeration module including;

at least one cargo temperature sensor unit to provide a cargo temperature; and

a controller coupled to operate said refrigeration module in a first mode responsive to said first temperature and said second temperature, said controller to operate said refrigeration module in a second mode responsive to said cargo temperature.

13. The refrigeration unit of claim 12, said controller to selectively operate said refrigeration module responsive to said cargo temperature when said cargo temperature is Ts<

Tc<

Tr, where Ts is a supply temperature being said first temperature, Tr is a return temperature being said second temperature and Tc is said cargo temperature.

14. The refrigeration unit of claim 12, said at least one cargo temperature sensor to include a plurality of cargo temperature sensor units, wherein a first cargo temperature sensor unit is positioned at a cargo position away horizontally and vertically distant from said first port.

15. A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit, comprising:

determining a remote cargo temperature reading;

comparing said remote cargo temperature to a corresponding selected value;

entering a power savings mode of said transport refrigeration unit when the remote cargo temperature is in an approximation of the selected value; and

entering an operations mode of said transport refrigeration unit when the remote cargo temperature is out of the approximation of the selected value,

wherein the power saving mode is exited when the remote cargo temperature is not less than said corresponding selected value.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising said controller to selectively operating said refrigeration unit in said power savings mode responsive to said cargo temperature when said cargo temperature is Ts<

Tc<

Tr, where Ts is a supply temperature, Tr is a return temperature and Tc is said remote cargo temperature.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising determining a plurality of remote cargo temperatures, wherein a first cargo temperature is determined for a cargo position away horizontally and vertically distant from said supply temperature.