Methods and devices for controlling a cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high electrical consumption of refrigerated containers and their associated cooling systems on ships poses a significant energy challenge, with refrigerated containers accounting for up to 70% of a ship's electricity consumption, leading to increased operational costs and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling the cooling system by measuring the electricity consumption of refrigerated containers and fans, calculating optimal rotation speeds for fans to minimize energy use while maintaining efficient cooling, using an electronic control device to adjust fan speeds based on measured consumption and temperature data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling system operates continuously at maximum speed to ensure efficient cooling of refrigerated containers, then the cooling performance is improved, but the electrical consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system transitions from static maximum-speed operation to dynamic speed adjustment. The control device continuously monitors temperature and electrical consumption, then adapts fan speeds in real-time to match actual cooling needs, optimizing the balance between cooling performance and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback control by measuring temperature and electrical consumption, comparing these values against setpoints, and adjusting fan speeds accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the cooling system responds to actual conditions rather than operating at fixed maximum capacity
Solution Approach 3:
The invention changes the operational parameter of fan speed from a fixed maximum value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted based on measured conditions. By modifying the speed parameter dynamically, the system achieves both adequate cooling and reduced energy consumption
2Reliability
If the cooling system is manually set to operate continuously at maximum speed to avoid any incident that could harm the goods, then the reliability of cooling is improved, but the electrical consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system transitions from manual operator control to automated self-regulating operation. The control device independently monitors conditions and adjusts fan speeds without human intervention, maintaining reliable cooling while eliminating the need for continuous maximum-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
Automated feedback control replaces manual monitoring and adjustment. The system continuously measures temperature and consumption, then automatically adjusts operations to maintain reliability while optimizing energy use, removing the need for conservative maximum-speed manual settings
3Stability of the object's composition
If refrigerated containers operate continuously to avoid any heating of the transported goods, then the temperature stability is improved, but the electrical consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to maintain temperature stability only when necessary. By continuously monitoring temperature and adjusting cooling output accordingly, the system preserves temperature stability while avoiding continuous maximum operation that would waste energy
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling operation transitions from static continuous maximum-speed operation to dynamic adjustment based on actual thermal conditions. The system adapts its operation to maintain temperature stability while consuming less energy by matching cooling output to actual needs
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for controlling a cooling system (4) comprising a plurality of fans (22) configured to cool a storage area (6) of a ship (2), this method comprising: measuring the electrical consumption of refrigerated containers (8) stored in the storage area (6) and of fans (22) of the cooling system (4) during a measurement period; calculating, by an electronic control device, a setpoint value of the rotation speed for each fan as a function of the measured electrical consumption; applying the calculated setpoint value for each of the fans (22).