Transport Climate Control Feedback for Battery Energy Awareness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Transport climate control systems lack effective feedback mechanisms for drivers and operators regarding energy consumption, making it difficult to assess and optimize energy usage, particularly in electrified systems where battery capacity is limited and hard to replenish.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine energy level states before and after a predetermined time interval, combine status and energy consumption data to provide feedback, and display this information via a display device, allowing drivers and operators to forecast trip completion and assess energy usage patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If electrified transport climate control systems are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but battery capacity limitations and inability to easily replenish energy worsen system reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism that provides real-time energy consumption information to drivers and operators through display devices. The controller monitors energy usage by climate control components and delivers feedback about operational impact, enabling users to adjust behavior to conserve battery capacity and ensure reliable trip completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If real-time energy monitoring is implemented, then energy consumption awareness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption awarenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it controls the climate system components (compressor, condenser fan, evaporator fan) and simultaneously monitors their energy usage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate monitoring hardware, reducing overall system complexity while providing comprehensive energy consumption awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own controller to perform both climate control and energy monitoring functions. The existing controller infrastructure is leveraged to self-monitor energy consumption without requiring external dedicated monitoring equipment, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If comprehensive energy monitoring is implemented, then energy optimization is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy optimizationVSAvoidmeasurement difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes communication pathways and monitoring frameworks within the controller before energy consumption measurement begins. By having the controller already equipped with sensing and calculation capabilities for climate component operation, the system avoids complex real-time measurement challenges and enables straightforward energy optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3906174B1Methods and systems for providing feedback for a transport climate control system
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 THERMO KING CORP
  • EP3906174B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3906174B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3906174B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Methods and systems for providing feedback for a transport climate control system are disclosed. The transport climate control system provides climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit. The method includes determining, by a controller, a first energy level state capable of providing power to the transport climate control system. The method also includes obtaining, by the controller, status data when a predetermined triggering event occurs. The method further includes determining, by the controller, a second energy level state capable of providing power to the transport climate control system after a predetermined time interval. Also the method includes determining energy consumption data based on the first energy level state and the second energy level state. The method further includes combining the status data and the energy consumption data to obtain feedback data. The method also includes displaying, via a display device, the feedback data.