Closed loop capacity and power management scheme for multi stage transport refrigeration system

• US 9,908,452 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Senf, Jr., Raymond L., Stockbridge, Michael, Reason, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crenshaw, Henry
• Application Number:
  US14/370,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20150013361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3208 Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3222 characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/10 with multi-stage compression with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2327/001 of the internal combustion type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/13 Economisers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2509 Economiser valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/22 between evaporator and compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices

Abstract

A unit, such as a transport refrigeration unit 12, may include a plurality of components arranged in multiple stages. At least a portion of the components 18,20 may be arranged in a serial or parallel manner. A position associated with the plurality of components may be selected to control a load on a power source, such as an engine 30. For example, a position for each of the components may be selected so as to maximize a delivery of available power from the power source to the unit. In some embodiments, one or more controllers 32,34 may measure a parameter associated with the power source and select a position for one or more of the components. In some embodiments, an economized refrigeration cycle may be used. Capacity may be staged from a single stage compression cycle or mode to a multistage compression cycle or mode, with a corresponding increase in capacity via subcooling.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a transport refrigeration unit comprising two valves;

an engine; and

at least one controller,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to measure a parameter associated with the engine, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured to dynamically select a position for each of the valves based at least in part on the measured parameter so as to maximize a power provided by the engine to the transport refrigeration unit without exceeding a capacity of the engine, and

wherein the valves are arranged in a plurality of stages;

wherein a first of the valves is a suction modulation valve, and wherein a second of the valves is an economizer expansion valve associated with an economizer circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the two valves are subjected to different pressures, and wherein the first of the plurality of stages dictates an evaporator mass flow, and wherein a second of the plurality of stages dictates a subcooling potential to an evaporator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises at least one of:

speed of the engine, a position of a mechanical fuel rack associated with the engine, and a temperature of the engine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to apply hysteresis to the selection of the position for at least one of the valves.

2. A system comprising:

a transport refrigeration unit comprising two valves;

an engine; and

at least one controller,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to measure a parameter associated with the engine, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured to dynamically select a position for each of the valves based at least in part on the measured parameter so as to maximize a power provided by the engine to the transport refrigeration unit without exceeding a capacity of the engine, and

wherein the valves are arranged in a plurality of stages;

wherein the valves are operated in a serial manner with respect to one another, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to;

keep a first of the valves closed until a second of the valves is fully open, and

keep the second of the valves fully open until the position associated with the first of the valves changes from partially open to closed.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first of the valves is a suction modulation valve, and wherein the second of the valves is an economizer expansion valve associated with an economizer circuit.

3. A system comprising:

a transport refrigeration unit comprising two valves;

an engine; and

at least one controller,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to measure a parameter associated with the engine, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured to dynamically select a position for each of the valves based at least in part on the measured parameter so as to maximize a power provided by the engine to the transport refrigeration unit without exceeding a capacity of the engine, and

wherein the valves are arranged in a plurality of stages;

wherein the valves are operated in a parallel manner with respect to one another, and wherein the position for a first of the two valves is based on a first threshold associated with an overload condition of the engine, and wherein the position for a second of the two valves is based on a second threshold associated with the overload condition of the engine.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the first of the valves is a suction modulation valve, and wherein the second of the valves is an economizer expansion valve associated with an economizer circuit.