EMBEDDED CARGO SENSORS FOR A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• US 20150345847A1
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Rusignuolo, Giorgio, Chen, Yu H., Varga, Stephen, Gavignet, Thibaut, Deldicque, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/04 Calculation of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices

Abstract

A method and system for use with a volume containing a cargo having a thermal mass includes, at least one temperature sensor associated with the cargo to provide at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass, a refrigeration unit associated with the volume, and a controller to control the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass and a temperature set point, wherein the controller models a temperature characteristic of the thermal mass.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system, for use with a volume containing a cargo having a thermal mass, the refrigeration system comprising:

at least one temperature sensor associated with the cargo to provide at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass;

a refrigeration unit associated with the volume; and

a controller to control the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass and a temperature set point, wherein the controller models a temperature characteristic of the thermal mass.

2. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one temperature sensor is disposed adjacent to the cargo.

3. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one temperature sensor is embedded in the cargo.

4. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising at least one air temperature sensor associated with the volume.

5. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a fuel level sensor.

6. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a door sensor associated with the volume.

7. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a sun load sensor.

8. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the controller redirects an airflow direction of the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature.

9. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor are wirelessly associated with the controller.

10. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration system is at least one of remotely monitored and remotely managed.

11. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the controller monitors an alarm status in response to the at least one temperature.

12. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the temperature set point is selected by a user.

13. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the temperature set point is selected from a reference table.

14. A method for controlling a refrigeration system, comprising:

providing a refrigeration unit associated with a volume containing a cargo, wherein the cargo has a thermal mass;

providing at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass to a controller via at least one temperature sensor;

modelling a temperature characteristic of the thermal mass via the controller;

selecting a temperature set point; and

controlling the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass and the temperature set point via the controller.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disposing at least one of the at least one temperature sensor adjacent to the cargo.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising embedding at least one of the at least one temperature sensor in the cargo.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the refrigeration system is at least one of remotely monitored and remotely managed.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising monitoring an alarm status in response to the at least one temperature via the controller.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting the temperature set point via a user.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting the temperature set point via a reference table.