Method and system for configuring a transport refrigeration unit battery charger for use in a transport refrigeration system
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorsAshok Muralidhar, Matthew S. Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for configuring a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) battery charger in a transport refrigeration system (TRS) is provided. The method includes receiving battery topology data indicating a battery topology of a TRU battery equipped in the TRS. The method also includes determining specific parameters for configuring a battery charging algorithm based on the battery topology data. Also, the method includes the TRU battery charger configuring the battery charging algorithm based on the specific parameters.
Claims20
A method for a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) battery charger in a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:
- receiving or accessing battery topology data indicating a battery topology of a TRU battery equipped in the TRS;
- determining specific parameters for configuring a battery charging algorithm based on the battery topology data, the specific parameters including a voltage or current parameter for charging the TRU battery;
- determining whether a secondary TRU battery is equipped in the TRS;
- receiving or accessing battery topology data indicating a battery topology of the secondary TRU battery equipped in the TRS;
- adjusting the specific parameters for configuring the battery charging algorithm to account for the battery topology of the secondary TRU battery and a parallel charging configuration of the TRU battery and the secondary TRU battery;
- the TRU battery charger configuring the battery charging algorithm based on the adjusted specific parameters;
- the TRU battery charger concurrently charging both the TRU battery and the secondary TRU battery in parallel utilizing the battery charging algorithm based on the adjusted specific parameters.
A transport refrigeration system (TRS) for a refrigerated transport unit, comprising:
- a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a thermal expansion device;
- a TRS controller configured to control the refrigeration circuit and to provide battery topology data to a TRU battery charger;
- a TRU battery configured to provide power to the TRS;
- the TRU battery charger including a memory portion storing a battery charging algorithm and a processor, the TRU battery charger configured to:
- determine specific parameters for configuring the battery charging algorithm for charging the TRU battery based on the battery topology data, the specific parameters including a voltage or current parameter for charging the TRU battery;
- determine whether a secondary TRU battery is equipped in the TRS;
- adjust the specific parameters for configuring the battery charging algorithm to account for a battery topology of the secondary TRU battery and a parallel charging configuration between the TRU battery and the secondary TRU battery,
- configure the battery charging algorithm based on the adjusted specific parameters, and
- concurrently charge both the TRU battery and the secondary TRU battery in parallel utilizing the battery charging algorithm based on the adjusted specific parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.