Evaporator Blower Space Defrost Control for Ice Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport climate control systems face issues with ice and frost buildup in the evaporator blower space, leading to evaporator blower imbalance, vibration, and potential system failure.
Innovation Solution
The system extends the defrost mode to actively monitor and adjust operations based on evaporator blower space parameters to prevent and reduce ice and frost buildup, ensuring effective defrosting before transitioning out of the defrost mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the defrost mode is terminated based on evaporator coil temperature, then the evaporator coil is adequately defrosted, but ice and frost buildup remains in the evaporator blower space causing imbalance and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensors including evaporator coil temperature sensors and evaporator blower space temperature sensors to continuously monitor defrosting progress. The controller adjusts defrost mode operation based on real-time temperature data from both locations, ensuring complete removal of ice and frost from both the evaporator coil and the evaporator blower space before terminating defrost mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the defrosting approach from a single-point monitoring (evaporator coil only) to a multi-dimensional monitoring system that includes both evaporator coil temperature and evaporator blower space temperature. This spatial expansion ensures comprehensive defrosting coverage across all critical areas.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If defrost mode operates longer to remove evaporator blower space frost, then ice and frost buildup is reduced, but system operation time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors evaporator blower space temperature and other parameters to determine when frost removal is complete. This feedback mechanism allows the system to terminate defrost mode as soon as the frost is removed, avoiding unnecessary extended operation and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and assessment of frost conditions in the evaporator blower space before committing to extended defrost operation. By evaluating the severity and extent of frost buildup initially, the system can adjust the defrost duration appropriately, avoiding both insufficient defrosting and unnecessarily long operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents evaporator blower imbalance and failure, maintains airflow, and preserves system performance by effectively managing ice and frost in the evaporator blower space.
Implementation Method 1
the controller monitoring an evaporator blower space parameter indicative of ice and/or frost buildup in the evaporator blower space
Implementation Method 2
the controller adjusting operation of the transport climate control system to reduce ice and/or frost buildup in the evaporator blower space
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing ice and/or frost buildup in an evaporator blower space of a transport climate control system is provided. The evaporator blower space houses an evaporator blower of the transport climate control system. The method includes a controller instructing the transport climate control system to operate in a defrost mode. The method also includes the controller monitoring an evaporator blower space parameter indicative of ice and/or frost buildup in the evaporator blower space. Also, the method includes the controller determining ice and/or frost buildup in the evaporator blower space based on the evaporator blower space parameter. Further, the method includes the controller adjusting operation of the transport climate control system to reduce ice and/or frost buildup in the evaporator blower space.