System and method for managing power supplied to a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU)

A method for managing power supplied to a Transportation Refrigeration Unit (TRU), the method comprising:

• providing a power supply system in communication with the TRU, the power supply system comprising at least one battery unit and at least one fuel cell;
• receiving, via control circuitry coupled to the power supply system, information associated with an operational characteristic of at least one subcomponent of the TRU;
• predicting, via the control circuitry, an increase or a decrease in a load associated with the at least one subcomponent of the TRU based on the received information;
• and
• broadcasting, via the control circuitry, a control signal to at least one fuel cell at a predefined time duration before the predicted increase or decrease in the load, wherein the control signal regulates the power supply from the at least one fuel cell to the at least one subcomponent of the TRU,
• wherein responsive to the predicted increase in the load associated with the at least one subcomponent of the TRU is greater than a threshold load, the control circuitry is configured to broadcast a control signal to the at least one battery unit to supply supplemental power to the at least one subcomponent of the TRU.

A system for managing power supplied to a Transportation Refrigeration Unit (TRU), the system comprising:

• a power supply system in communication with the TRU, the power supply system comprising:
• at least one battery unit electrically connected to the TRU to supply power to the TRU;
• and
• at least one fuel cell electrically connected to the TRU and connected in parallel to the at least one battery unit;
• at least one electric power converter electrically connected between the power supply system and the TRU for regulating power supply to the TRU;
• and
• control circuitry coupled to the power supply system and the TRU, the control circuitry configured to:
• receive information associated with an operational characteristic of at least one subcomponent of the TRU;
• predict an increase or a decrease in a load associated with the at least one subcomponent of the TRU based on the received information;
• broadcast a control signal to the at least one fuel cell at a predefined time duration before the predicted increase or decrease in the load, wherein the control signal regulates the power supply from the at least one fuel cell to the at least one subcomponent,
• wherein predicting the decrease in the load associated with the at least one subcomponent of the TRU comprises:
• analysing the received information associated with the operational characteristic of the at least one subcomponent of the TRU;
• and
• determining a decrease in the operational characteristic associated with one or more of the at least one subcomponent, the air moving device, and the electrical drive motor.