Transport Climate Control With Parallel Evaporators for Auxiliary Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport climate control systems face inefficiencies and potential damage due to heat generated by electrical components, which can impact the performance and longevity of batteries and other electronic equipment, while also requiring separate climate control for both cargo and passenger spaces.
Innovation Solution
A transport climate control system with multiple evaporators, including a main heat transfer circuit and a chiller heat transfer circuit, allows for adjustable capacity control by managing working fluid flow and pressure through parallel evaporators to provide climate control and auxiliary cooling, effectively addressing the heat management and efficiency issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single evaporator is used for climate control, then the system structure is simple, but it cannot provide auxiliary cooling for electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The single evaporator is divided into multiple independent evaporators, each capable of providing cooling to different locations or components. This segmentation allows the system to provide both climate control for the transport unit and auxiliary cooling for electrical components simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between system versatility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator system is designed to perform multiple functions: climate control for the transport unit interior and auxiliary cooling for electrical components. By making the evaporator system multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate cooling systems while maintaining structural efficiency.
2Reliability
If electrical components are cooled separately, then component reliability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system for electrical components is merged with the existing climate control system, allowing both functions to operate using a single refrigeration cycle. This integration enables auxiliary cooling for electrical components while avoiding the energy penalty of a completely separate cooling system, as the compressor and condenser serve both purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate control system is designed to perform dual functions: interior climate control and electrical component cooling. By making the system universal, the patent achieves component reliability improvement without proportionally increasing energy consumption, as the same refrigeration cycle serves both cooling needs.
3Productivity
If multiple evaporators are used for different cooling needs, then cooling capacity control improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic control mechanisms including electronic expansion valves and variable speed compressors that allow real-time adjustment of refrigerant flow and compression rate. This dynamic control enables independent regulation of cooling capacity for each evaporator, optimizing cooling performance while managing system complexity through intelligent control rather than purely mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors and control logic to monitor cooling needs and adjust refrigerant flow accordingly. Feedback control allows the system to automatically balance cooling capacity between different evaporators based on actual thermal loads, improving overall cooling efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated regulation.
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 enables efficient climate control for both cargo and passenger spaces while providing auxiliary cooling for electrical components, enhancing the performance and longevity of batteries and other electronic equipment by effectively managing heat and adjusting cooling capacity as needed.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor to compress a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
a condenser downstream of the compressor to cool the working fluid compressed by the compressor with a first process fluid
Implementation Method 3
a main expansion valve and a chiller electronic expansion valve (EEV) located in parallel with each other downstream of the condenser to expand the working fluid cooled by the condenser
Implementation Method 4
a main evaporator and a chiller evaporator located in parallel to each other downstream of the condenser... the main evaporator is configured to receive the working fluid expanded by the main expansion valve to cool a second process fluid
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A transport climate control system for a climate controlled transport unit includes a main heat transfer circuit and a chiller heat transfer circuit. The main heat transfer circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, a main expansion valve, a main evaporator, a chiller expansion valve, and a chiller evaporator. The main evaporator and a chiller evaporator positioned are in parallel to each other downstream of the condenser. Working fluid and a second process fluid flowing through the main evaporator. Working fluid and a third process fluid flowing through the chiller evaporator. The chiller heat transfer circuit includes the chiller evaporator and the third process fluid is configured to provide auxiliary cooling. A method of operating a transport climate control system for a climate controlled transport unit includes operating in a HVACR and chiller mode, operating in a HVACR mode, and operating a chiller mode.