Transportation refrigeration unit with integrated battery enclosure cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional transportation refrigeration units have environmental, reliability, and weight-related issues, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and emissions, as they rely on combustion engines and mechanical power transmission.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an energy storage device, such as a battery system, with a compressor motor and evaporator heat exchanger, where return airflow is used to thermodynamically adjust the temperature of the energy storage device, reducing the need for a combustion engine and enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a combustion engine is used to power the refrigeration system, then sufficient power is provided, but fuel consumption increases and environmental emissions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the combustion engine (mechanical system) with an electric motor powered by a battery system. The electric motor drives the compressor directly, eliminating the need for combustion and associated emissions. This substitution of mechanical power transmission with electrical power transmission resolves the contradiction between providing sufficient power and reducing fuel consumption/emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is thermally managed using the refrigeration system's own return air, creating a self-service cooling mechanism. The return air from the cargo compartment is directed through the battery enclosure to cool the battery, eliminating the need for a separate cooling system and reducing overall energy consumption.
2Power
If a combustion engine with mechanical power transmission is used, then the compressor is driven, but the system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical power transmission components (engine, belts, shafts) and replaces them with an electric motor and battery system. This substitution reduces the overall weight of the power transmission mechanism while maintaining sufficient power delivery to the compressor.
3Power
If traditional mechanical power transmission is used, then the compressor operates, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the noisy combustion engine and mechanical power transmission system with a quiet electric motor. The electric motor provides smooth, vibration-free operation and eliminates the noise associated with combustion engines, belts, and mechanical linkages, thereby reducing noise pollution while maintaining compressor operation.
4Temperature
If the battery system is cooled using the refrigeration system's return air, then battery temperature is regulated, but the refrigeration efficiency is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the return air from the cargo compartment serve dual functions: it continues to cool the cargo compartment while also cooling the battery system. This multi-functionality approach allows the same air stream to perform two cooling tasks simultaneously, improving overall system efficiency rather than creating a conflict between battery cooling and refrigeration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cooling system is designed to be self-service, using the refrigeration system's own return air as the cooling medium. This eliminates the need for a separate battery cooling system and its associated energy consumption, thereby improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining proper battery temperature.
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 results in lower fuel consumption, reduced noise, and a lighter weight refrigeration unit with improved reliability, while efficiently powering the refrigeration system using renewable energy sources and energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
return airflow thermodynamically adjusts a temperature of the energy storage device
Implementation Method 2
evaporator heat exchanger operatively coupled to the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A transportation refrigeration unit is provided. The transportation refrigeration unit comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a compressor motor configured to drive the compressor; an evaporator heat exchanger operatively coupled to the compressor; an energy storage device for providing power to the compressor motor; and an evaporator fan configured to provide return airflow from a return air intake and flow the return airflow over the evaporator heat exchanger, wherein the return airflow thermodynamically adjusts a temperature of the energy storage device.