Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B35/00—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for
  • F04B35/002—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for driven by internal combustion engines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
  • F25D11/003—Transport containers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B39/00—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00
  • F04B39/06—Cooling; Heating; Prevention of freezing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
  • F25D29/003—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for movable devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2327/00—Refrigeration system using an engine for driving a compressor

Definitions

• transport refrigeration units typically make use of a transport refrigeration unit, which may be attached to a mobile container.
• transport refrigeration units include a power source, such as a diesel engine. They also include a refrigerant loop that includes a compressor for circulating refrigerant through an evaporator and a condenser and one or more blowers for circulating air into and within the container and for facilitating exchange of heat with the refrigerant loop.
• a generator is often included to produce electricity to power the fans, and in some cases, a battery is also included for storing energy to enable the fans to operate when the diesel engine is not operating.
• An integrated transport refrigeration unit comprises an engine providing power to drive a shaft.
• the shaft drives a refrigerant compressor and a generator, both of which are encased within a housing, and the generator is immersed in refrigerant.
• an integrated transport refrigeration unit also includes an auxiliary generator driven by the shaft and disposed externally from the housing. In this embodiment, the auxiliary generator produces current for charging a battery and for operating a fan.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of an integrated transport refrigeration unit with an immersed generator disposed between the engine and the compressor;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of an integrated transport refrigeration unit with a compressor disposed between the engine and the immersed generator;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit with a high-voltage, alternating-current fan
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit with a combination of direct-current and alternating-current fans.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit with a combination of direct-current and alternating-current fans and an integrated, high-voltage battery pack.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of an integrated transport refrigeration unit 100 with an immersed generator 110 disposed between an engine 120 and a compressor 130.
• engine 120 is an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel or gasoline engine, and drives an output shaft (not shown), to which immersed generator 110 and compressor 130 are directly coupled.
• the drive shaft may be open to the atmosphere or it may be magnetically driven.
• Housing 140 encases both compressor 130 and immersed generator 110 and seals a volume of refrigerant within housing 140.
• Refrigerant inlet 150 carries refrigerant to housing 140 for uptake and re-compression by compressor 130, and refrigerant outlet 160 delivers re-compressed refrigerant to a high pressure coolant line for expansion in an evaporator (not shown).
• both compressor 130 and generator 110 are immersed in low-pressure refrigerant that has been returned to housing 140 via refrigerant inlet 150. Being immersed, compressor 130 and generator 110 are cooled by the refrigerant.
• housing 140 is sealed so as to retain refrigerant, and generator 110 is constructed using magnet wire or another wire suitable for immersion in refrigerant.
• a single shaft is driven by engine 120, and permanent magnets are fixed to the shaft.
• Windings are disposed within housing 140 and around the permanent magnets. As the shaft is rotated by the engine, current is generated in the windings.
• an induction generator is disposed on the drive shaft wherein an alternating current is induced as a consequence of the rotation of the shaft.
• compressor 130 is also driven by the shaft, and comprises a series of pistons cycled by the rotation of the shaft.
• the transport refrigeration unit may be made more compact as space is no longer required to position a generator on an auxiliary shaft.
• the generator can be made smaller due to decreased need to entrain air to cool the generator.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of an integrated transport refrigeration unit
• generator 210 is outboard of compressor 230.
• housing 240 surrounds compressor 230 and immersed generator 210 and seals a volume of refrigerant within housing 240.
• Refrigerant is reserved within housing 240 for uptake and re-compression by compressor 230, and both compressor 230 and generator 210 are immersed in low-pressure refrigerant that has been returned to housing 240.
• compressor 230 and generator 210 are cooled by the refrigerant.
• housing 240 is sealed to retain refrigerant, and generator 210 is constructed for immersion in refrigerant.
• generator 210 is constructed for immersion in refrigerant.
• the incorporation of the generator within the housing enables the transport refrigeration unit to be made more compact as space is no longer required to position a generator on an auxiliary shaft.
• the generator can be made relatively smaller due to decreased need to entrain air to cool the generator.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit 300.
• engine 320 drives integrated compressor/generator unit 310 with a single shaft 330.
• Integrated compressor/generator unit 310 is sealed within a single housing (not shown in FIG. 3) that also serves as a low pressure reservoir for refrigerant that is returned to the compressor after the refrigerant has flowed through a typical refrigeration cycle such as having passed through a condenser and an evaporator for extracting heat from a cooled space.
• shaft 330 also drives an auxiliary generator 340 using belt 350 or other means for extracting power from shaft 330.
• auxiliary generator 340 is disposed externally from the single housing that serves as a low pressure reservoir for refrigerant returned to the compressor.
• auxiliary generator 340 is an alternator coupled with a rectifier (i.e., a DC alternator) so as to produce DC current for charging unit battery 360 and current may also be made directly available to control box 370.
• Control box 370 may draw electrical current directly from battery 360 when engine 320 is not operating or may draw power from auxiliary generator 340 when engine 320 is operating.
• Control box 370 includes an inverter (not shown) for converting DC current to alternating current at a voltage suitable for operating at least one fan 380, which provides ventilation, circulation, heat transfer for a transportable container.
• control box 370 may receive indications from the transportable container to determine whether and how to operate fan 380 and/or compressor 310. When it is desirable to operate fan 380, control box 370 may draw power from battery 360 so long as it retains adequate charge. When a state of charge in battery 360 is insufficient to operate fan 380, control box 370 may command engine 320 to operate so as to provide power via compressor/generator 310 and to re-charge unit battery 360. Similarly, when it is desirable to provided cooling to the transportable container, control box 370 may command engine 320 to operate so as to provide cooling by pumping refrigerant through its refrigeration cycle components. While engine 320 is operating, compressor/generator 310 produces power to operate fan 380, and alternator 340 produces power to charge battery 360.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit 400 with a combination of direct-current and alternating-current fans.
• engine 420 drives integrated compressor/generator unit 410 with a single shaft 430.
• Integrated compressor/generator unit 410 is sealed within a single housing (not shown) that also serves as a low pressure reservoir for refrigerant that is returned to the compressor after the refrigerant has flowed through a typical refrigeration cycle such as having passed through a condenser and an evaporator for extracting heat from a cooled space.
• shaft 430 also drives auxiliary generator 440 using belt 450 or other means for extracting power from shaft 430.
• Auxiliary generator 440 may include an alternator coupled to a rectifier for producing DC current (i.e., a DC alternator) for charging unit battery 460 and current may also be made directly available to control box 470.
• Control box 470 may draw electrical current directly from battery 460 when engine 420 is not operating or may draw power from auxiliary generator 440 when engine 420 is operating.
• Control box 470 includes an inverter (not shown) for converting DC current to alternating current at a voltage suitable for operating condenser fans 480, which provide heat transfer for a transportable container.
• Control box 470 also provides power to converter 490 for providing DC current at a voltage suitable for operating evaporator fans 495, which provide heat transfer for a transportable container.
• this embodiment enables power to be delivered in various forms to drive different components. This can be useful in mobile refrigeration applications such as where it may be advantageous to employ direct current power to drive evaporator components, while it may be preferable to employ alternating current power to drive condenser components. Alternating current produced by the compressor/generator can be used to drive the condenser fan, while the auxiliary generator may be configured to provide DC power to drive the evaporator fan. Accordingly, this embodiment may be configured so as to eliminate any need for a separate rectifier device, thereby saving unit volume, weight, and cost.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary integrated transport refrigeration unit 500 with a combination of direct-current and alternating-current fans and an integrated high voltage battery pack.
• engine 520 drives integrated compressor/generator unit 510 with a single shaft 530.
• Integrated compressor/generator unit 510 is sealed within a single housing (not shown) that also serves as a low pressure reservoir for refrigerant that is returned to the compressor following its having flowed through a typical refrigeration cycle such as having passed through a condenser and an evaporator for extracting heat from a cooled space.
• shaft 530 also drives auxiliary generator 540 using belt 550 or other means for extracting power from shaft 530.
• Auxiliary generator 540 produces DC current for charging unit battery 560 and current may also be made directly available to control box 570.
• compressor/generator 510 produces high voltage current for use by a battery pack charger 512 to charge high voltage battery pack 514. Power stored in high voltage battery pack 514 can then be used by control box 570.
• Control box 570 may draw electrical current directly from battery 560 or from high voltage battery pack 514 when engine 520 is not operating.
• high voltage battery pack may be a commercial battery pack that generates approximately 600 volts.
• control box 570 may also draw power from auxiliary generator 540 or from compressor/generator 510, which is configured to produce high voltage current.
• Control box 570 provides power to AC/DC converter 580, which produces power or current at a sufficiently high voltage to drive high- voltage, direct-current fans 590.
• power from high voltage battery pack 514 may be used to drive compressor 510.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
• Control Of Charge By Means Of Generators (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-29 CN CN201280033735.3A patent/CN103649539B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-06-29 US US14/131,001 patent/US20140137590A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-06-29 WO PCT/US2012/044791 patent/WO2013006398A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-06-29 ES ES12732939.9T patent/ES2646185T3/es active Active
  • 2012-06-29 RU RU2013157769/06A patent/RU2596677C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2012-06-29 EP EP12732939.9A patent/EP2729702B1/en not_active Revoked

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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