Transport Climate Control Power Switching Under Emissions Restrictions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Transport climate control systems face challenges in maintaining autonomous operation during transit without relying on utility power sources, particularly due to regulatory compliance and varying energy availability from multiple power sources.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a controller to manage multiple operation modes in parallel, including energy harvesting and energy conservation, to store excess power from prime movers and auxiliary energy storage, ensuring continuous operation while adhering to regulatory requirements and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the prime mover is used to power the transport climate control system during transit, then the system can maintain autonomous operation, but emissions and noise regulations may be violated
Solution Approach 1:
The power system is segmented into multiple independent power sources: the prime mover and auxiliary energy storage devices. This segmentation allows the system to switch between power sources or combine them, enabling autonomous operation while avoiding prime mover operation in restricted zones by using stored energy instead.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy is harvested and stored in advance during periods when the prime mover can operate freely. The auxiliary energy storage devices are charged beforehand so that when the transport unit enters restricted zones, the climate control system can continue operating autonomously using pre-stored energy without violating emissions or noise regulations.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple power sources are used to power the transport climate control system, then energy availability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power sources (prime mover and auxiliary energy storage devices) are merged into a unified power management system controlled by a single controller. This integration allows the controller to automatically manage power flow between sources, harvest energy when available, and switch between sources as needed, improving energy availability while keeping the control architecture manageable through centralized coordination.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the transport unit connects to utility power sources, then energy consumption of the prime mover is reduced, but autonomous operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system serves itself by harvesting and storing its own excess energy during operation. The auxiliary energy storage devices are recharged from the prime mover during periods of excess power generation, creating a self-sustaining energy management system that maintains autonomous operation without requiring external utility connections.
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 approach enables the transport climate control system to maintain autonomous operation during transit by efficiently managing power from various sources, reducing the need for utility power connections and ensuring compliance with emissions and noise regulations.
Implementation Method 1
storing excess power generated by the prime mover into the auxiliary energy storage
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A method for preserving autonomous operation of a transport climate control system is provided. The method includes the controller determining whether a regulatory compliance at a current location is restricting and/or preventing the use of a prime mover for powering the transport climate control system while a transport unit is in transit. When the controller determines that use of the prime mover is not being restricted or prevented because of a regulatory compliance, the method includes operating the transport climate control system and the transport power system in an energy harvesting operation mode for storing excess power generated by the prime mover into the auxiliary energy storage. When the controller determines that use of the prime mover is being restricted or prevented because of a regulatory compliance, the method includes the controller instructing the auxiliary energy storage to provide power to the transport climate control system.