Transport Climate Control Power Management via Auxiliary Battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport climate control systems face challenges in managing power demands due to varying levels of power availability in vehicle electrical systems, leading to potential failures when load demands exceed available capacity, especially with limited alternator capacity and emissions regulations reducing space for components in the vehicle power bay.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle electrical system with a DC regulated bus connecting a vehicle power network, an auxiliary battery system, and a transport climate control load network, managed by a controller that determines power draw and availability, sheds loads as necessary to match demand with supply, and supplements power using auxiliary sources to prevent failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the vehicle alternator capacity is increased to meet transport climate control load demands, then power availability improves, but device complexity and space requirements in the vehicle power bay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vehicle alternator and auxiliary battery system into a unified power management architecture. The auxiliary battery system supplements the alternator capacity, effectively merging two power sources to meet the high power demands of transport climate control loads without requiring a single oversized alternator that would increase complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary battery system serves multiple functions: it supplements alternator output during high demand, provides power when the vehicle is stationary, and can charge from the alternator when excess capacity is available. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address multiple power management scenarios without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle operates with auto start-stop system to reduce emissions, then fuel efficiency improves, but power availability for transport climate control loads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary battery system is pre-charged during periods when the vehicle alternator has excess capacity, such as during highway cruising or regenerative braking events. This preliminary energy storage ensures that power is available when the vehicle subsequently enters stop-and-go traffic conditions where the alternator cannot provide full capacity, thus maintaining climate control operation during emission-reduction idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary battery acts as an intermediary energy buffer between the alternator and the transport climate control loads. During auto start-stop operation, when the alternator capacity is insufficient, the battery mediates by providing the additional power needed to maintain climate control function, thus decoupling the direct dependency between alternator output and load demand.
3Duration of action of moving object
If auxiliary battery capacity is increased to extend holdover operation, then operational autonomy improves, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than sizing the auxiliary battery for complete system autonomy under all conditions, the patent implements a partial action approach where the battery is sized to provide sufficient holdover operation for typical stop durations and to supplement alternator capacity during common high-demand scenarios. The power management controller intelligently manages the battery state of charge to maximize operational autonomy within the constraints of the moderately-sized battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of the auxiliary battery based on real-time conditions such as vehicle speed, alternator output, climate control load demand, and battery state of charge. This dynamic management allows the system to optimize holdover duration and power supplementation without requiring excessive battery capacity, as the battery is actively charged and discharged based on instantaneous system needs rather than being sized for worst-case static conditions.
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
This solution ensures proper operation of transport climate control systems by efficiently managing power between vehicle and auxiliary networks, preventing failures and optimizing energy use even when the prime mover is off or unable to fully power the system.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary battery system configured to store power and supply the stored power to the DC regulated bus
Implementation Method 2
A vehicle electrical system with a DC regulated bus connecting a vehicle power network, an auxiliary battery system, and a transport climate control load network
Data Source
AI summary
A method for power and load management of a transport climate control system using a vehicle electrical system is provided. The method includes a controller determining a power draw of the transport climate control load network, determining an amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system, and determining whether the power draw of the transport climate control load network exceeds the amount of power available from the vehicle electrical system. Also, the method includes shedding one or more loads of the transport climate control load network to reduce the power draw of the transport climate control load network until the power draw of the transport climate control load network matches the power available from the vehicle electrical system. Further, the method includes supplying power from the vehicle electrical system to the transport climate control load network.