TERU Communication Interface for Engine-Off Refrigeration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport refrigeration units (TERUs) require a vehicle engine to be running for power and control, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and inefficiencies, particularly in systems without dedicated engines.
Innovation Solution
A controller with direct data and power connections to vehicle devices, such as a temperature sensor, allows independent operation without intermediate components like PTOs, relying on vehicle safety logic for engine start-up, enabling a sleep mode for reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle engine is kept running to power the TERU and control systems, then the refrigeration unit can operate continuously, but energy consumption increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between different operational states: the controller can wake up the engine when refrigeration is needed and allow it to sleep when not needed. This dynamic state change enables the system to maintain reliability when required while minimizing energy consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor continuously monitors the refrigerated compartment and autonomously determines when refrigeration is needed, triggering engine startup only when necessary. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous engine operation while maintaining temperature control reliability.
2Power
If intermediate components like PTO are used to connect the engine to the TERU, then power transmission is established, but system complexity increases and control efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is extracted from the PTO integration and given direct connections to both the engine and temperature sensor. This separation eliminates the need for PTO as an intermediate component, reducing system complexity while maintaining full power transmission capability through direct engine-to-controller linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as a new intermediary that directly mediates between the engine and temperature sensor, replacing the PTO's intermediary role. This new mediator simplifies the power transmission path while enabling more efficient control signals to flow directly between components.
3Extent of automation
If the controller is integrated within the PTO, then control functions are consolidated, but the engine must run for control signals to be transmitted, reducing operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent components: the temperature sensor, controller, and engine are separated but connected through direct interfaces. This segmentation allows the controller to operate independently of PTO, enabling the engine to remain off while control functions are fully available when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is prepared with direct connections to both the engine and temperature sensor in advance, eliminating the need for PTO-based control signal transmission. This preliminary setup enables the controller to immediately activate the engine when temperature thresholds are exceeded, without requiring PTO to be operational first.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A control system (300) for a transport engineless refrigeration unit (301), the control system comprising: a controller (302) for communication between a vehicle (307) and a plurality of vehicle devices, the controller comprising: a vehicle data connection (306) for transmitting data to and from a vehicle; a vehicle engine on/off connection (308) for triggering start-up of the vehicle engine; a plurality of device data connections (314), wherein each device data connection transmits data to and from at least one device external to the controller; and a device power connection (313), wherein the device power connection supplies power from the controller to at least one device external to the controller.