Method and system for controlling operation of evaporator fans in a transport refrigeration system
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorsSrinivasa Rao KOPPINEEDI, Panayu Robert SRICHAI
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Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling the operation of the evaporator fans in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) are described. In some examples, the TRS is a multi-zone temperature control system (MTCS). The methods and systems described herein generally dynamically control a plurality of system fans in MTCSs in instances where running the system fans can lead to inefficiencies in energy consumption and fluctuations in temperature control.
Claims20
A multi-zone temperature control system that is configured to cool a plurality of zones, comprising:
- a host unit;
- at least one remote unit that is connected to the host unit;
- wherein each of the host unit and the at least one remote unit includes an evaporator fan;
- and
- a controller that is configured to:
- determine a zone with the highest temperature set point relative to the other of the plurality of zones;
- determine a parameter that is reflective of an amount of heat added by the evaporator fan relative to the cooling capacity of a respective unit;
- determine if the zone should be in a COOL state or a NULL state based on the parameter;
- and
- when the set point of the zone with the highest temperature set point is satisfied, switch the zone to the NULL state.
A method of controlling an operation of evaporator fans in a multi-zone temperature control system that includes a controller, a host unit and one or more remote units, wherein the host unit and the one or more remote units are configured to distribute a cooling capacity to each of a plurality of zones, and wherein each of the host unit and the one or more remote units includes an evaporator fan, the method comprising:
- determining a focus zone of the plurality of zones with the highest temperature set point relative to the other of the plurality of zones using the controller;
- determining, via the controller, a parameter that is reflective of an amount of heat added by the evaporator fan of the focus zone relative to the cooling capacity of the respective host unit or remote unit of the focus zone;
- determining if the focus zone should be operated in a COOL state or a NULL state based on the determined parameter;
- setting a timer for a predetermined amount of time;
- and
- when the set point of the focus zone is satisfied, switching the zone to the NULL state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.