Electrical Isolation Box for RESS-Powered Transport Climate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle powered transport climate control systems face challenges in isolating hazardous voltages, which can lead to safety issues and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electrical isolation box that houses the drive module and climate control circuit components, electrically isolating them at a climate control system electrical potential reference different from the vehicle chassis electrical potential reference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the drive module and climate control circuit components are connected directly to the vehicle chassis electrical system, then the system structure is simple and ease of manufacture is improved, but hazardous voltages from the RESS can cause safety issues and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into electrically isolated segments: the drive module and climate control components are housed in an electrical isolation box that separates them from the vehicle chassis electrical system. This segmentation allows the RESS-powered drive module to operate independently at a different electrical potential, preventing hazardous voltage propagation to chassis-connected components.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical isolation box acts as an intermediary barrier between the high-voltage RESS system and the low-voltage chassis electrical system. It provides controlled electrical coupling through isolation transformers or optocouplers for necessary signal and power transmission while maintaining electrical potential separation, thus mediating the interaction between incompatible electrical systems.
2Reliability
If an electrical isolation box is implemented to isolate hazardous voltages, then safety is improved and equipment damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protective and functional elements are merged into a single integrated electrical isolation box structure. The isolation box combines electrical isolation mechanisms, mounting structures for the drive module and climate control components, and necessary electrical connections in one unified enclosure, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical isolation box is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical isolation from hazardous voltages, houses and mounts the drive module and climate control circuit components, provides structural support, and facilitates controlled electrical connections to the chassis system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport climate control system configured to provide climate control within a climate controlled space towed by a vehicle is provided. The transport climate control system includes an electrical isolation box configured to house and a drive module and a compressor. The drive module receives power from a vehicle power network including a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to power the compressor. The drive module and the compressor are electrically isolated at a climate control system electrical potential reference, which is different from an electrical potential reference of a vehicle chassis to which the electrical isolation box is connected.