Semi-electric mobile refrigerated system
First Claim
1. A mobile refrigerated system for transport of perishable cargo, the mobile refrigerated system comprising:
- a refrigeration unit having a compressor and a plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads;
a power supply system including a single engine coupled to the compressor for direct drive powering the compressor, and a generator arranged to be driven by the engine for generating electric power;
wherein the power supply system further comprises an alternator arranged to be belt driven by the engine for generating electric power;
a power distribution system arranged to receive electric power generated by the generator and by the alternator and configured to selectively distribute electric power to the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads;
wherein the generator generates alternating current power and the alternator generates direct current power and the power distribution system is configured to distribute alternating current power to at least one of the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads and to distribute direct current power to at least one of the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads;
wherein the power supply system further comprises a battery pack for storing electric power and providing a second source of direct current power;
wherein the plurality of refrigeration unit loads includes at least one direct current powered fan motor, powered, the power distribution system selectively powering the direct current fan motor by selecting at least one of direct current generated by the alternator, direct current from the battery pack, and direct current derived from converting alternating current generated by the generator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply system for a transport refrigeration system includes an engine coupled to a compressor of a refrigeration unit for direct drive powering the compressor and a generator arranged to also be direct driven by the engine for generating electric power. The generator and the compressor are mounted to a common drive shaft driven by the engine, and the generator may be integrated with the compressor. The power supply system may further include an alternator arranged to be belt driven by the engine for generating DC electric power. A battery pack may be provided for storing and supplying additional DC power. During peak load demand on the refrigeration unit, the engine may be operated with the generator switched off to directly drive the compressor and direct current may be drawn from the battery pack to drive the condenser/gas cooler and evaporator fans.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A mobile refrigerated system for transport of perishable cargo, the mobile refrigerated system comprising:
-
a refrigeration unit having a compressor and a plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads; a power supply system including a single engine coupled to the compressor for direct drive powering the compressor, and a generator arranged to be driven by the engine for generating electric power; wherein the power supply system further comprises an alternator arranged to be belt driven by the engine for generating electric power; a power distribution system arranged to receive electric power generated by the generator and by the alternator and configured to selectively distribute electric power to the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads; wherein the generator generates alternating current power and the alternator generates direct current power and the power distribution system is configured to distribute alternating current power to at least one of the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads and to distribute direct current power to at least one of the plurality of refrigeration unit electric loads; wherein the power supply system further comprises a battery pack for storing electric power and providing a second source of direct current power; wherein the plurality of refrigeration unit loads includes at least one direct current powered fan motor, powered, the power distribution system selectively powering the direct current fan motor by selecting at least one of direct current generated by the alternator, direct current from the battery pack, and direct current derived from converting alternating current generated by the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for operating a transport refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit having a compressor, a condenser fan and an evaporator fan, the method comprising:
-
providing an engine and coupling the engine to the compressor for driving the compressor; providing a generator and coupling the generator to the engine for directly driving the generator for generating alternating current power; providing a battery pack for storing and supplying direct current power; providing direct current motors for driving the condenser fan and the evaporator fan; during a temperature pull down mode, operating the engine to drive the compressor, and during the temperature pull down mode, switching off the generator and powering the direct current motors with direct current supplied by the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for operating a transport refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit having a compressor, a condenser fan and an evaporator fan, the method comprising:
-
providing an engine and coupling the engine to the compressor for driving the compressor; providing a generator and coupling the generator to the engine for directly driving the generator for generating alternating current power; providing a battery pack for storing and supplying direct current power; providing direct current motors for driving the condenser fan and the evaporator fan; during a temperature pull down mode, operating the engine to drive the compressor switching off the generator and powering the direct current motors with direct current supplied by the battery pack; during a temperature control mode switching on the generator, operating the engine to drive the compressor and the generator, converting alternating current power generated by the generator to direct current power and powering the direct current motors with the converted power; during a standstill mode shutting down the engine and operating the evaporator fan at selected intervals for selected time periods using direct current power supplied by the battery pack.
-
Specification