Transport refrigeration system and method of regenerating a diesel particulate filter

A method for performing a regeneration cycle for regenerating a diesel particulate filter of a transport refrigeration system comprising:

• determining if an engine exhaust temperature is above a threshold temperature required for regeneration;
• and
• heating an engine intake air flow with an engine preheater until the engine exhaust temperature is above the threshold temperature required for regeneration;
• increasing an air intake throttling level of the engine intake air flow by reducing an air control valve area of an air control valve prior to heating of the engine intake air flow with the engine preheater;
• wherein heating the engine intake air flow with the engine preheater is initiated subsequent to the air control valve reaching a desired air throttling level.

A transport refrigeration system comprising:

• a diesel engine powering a refrigeration unit, the diesel engine having an engine air preheat circuit and an exhaust system for discharging engine exhaust gas from the diesel engine to the atmosphere;
• a diesel engine exhaust gas treatment unit disposed in the diesel engine exhaust system, the diesel engine exhaust gas treatment unit including a diesel particulate filter;
• and
• a refrigeration unit controller for controlling operation of the refrigeration unit, the refrigeration unit controller configured to:
• perform a regeneration cycle for regenerating the diesel particulate filter by increasing an exhaust temperature of an exhaust gas flow, the exhaust temperature increased with an engine preheater which is part of the engine air preheat circuit;
• control the engine preheater to increase the exhaust temperature subsequent to exhaust temperature heating performed by throttling an engine intake air flow with an air control valve;
• control the air control valve to be adjustable to an area corresponding to an air throttling level, and
• initiate the engine preheater subsequent to the air control valve reaching a desired air throttling level.