Transport Refrigeration ECU Shutdown for Low Battery Current Draw

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transport refrigeration systems (TRS) face inefficiencies in reducing current draw from batteries during non-running modes, leading to increased fuel consumption and reduced battery life due to continuous ECU operation, even when the engine is not running.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a TRS controller that disables the engine control unit (ECU) when the engine is in a non-running mode, initializes an ECU off timer based on ambient temperature, and enables it periodically to check engine parameters, thereby reducing current draw and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ECU remains continuously operational to monitor engine parameters, then the reliability of engine control is improved, but the current draw from the battery increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine control reliabilityVSAvoidbattery current draw

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ECU is disabled during NULL operating modes and re-enabled periodically through a NULL mode exit routine to check engine parameters. This periodic activation allows the system to maintain necessary monitoring capabilities while significantly reducing current draw from the battery during extended non-running periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the ECU is disabled to reduce current draw, then battery life is extended, but the ability to monitor engine parameters in real-time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidengine parameter monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines in advance whether to disable the ECU based on the operating mode. Before disabling, the system ensures that necessary engine parameter checks have been performed or are scheduled, allowing the ECU to be safely disabled while maintaining monitoring capabilities when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the ECU is frequently enabled to check engine parameters, then the monitoring accuracy is maintained, but the fuel consumption increases due to extended non-running mode duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine parameter check accuracyVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters of the ECU based on the operating mode. During NULL modes, the ECU is disabled with timing parameters adjusted to check engine parameters only when transitioning from NULL modes, rather than maintaining continuous operation. This parameter adjustment reduces fuel consumption while maintaining necessary monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9915462B2Current draw control in a transport refrigeraton system

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 THERMO KING CORP

AI summary

A system and method for controlling a current draw in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) including an electronically controlled engine having an engine control unit (ECU) are disclosed. The method includes disabling the ECU in response to the electronically controlled engine entering an operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is not running. The TRS controller determines an ambient temperature based on a temperature outside an internal space of the refrigerated transport unit. The TRS controller initializes an ECU off timer when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to an ambient temperature threshold.