Patent Application
20240421627
This invention relates to transport refrigeration units and battery management systems.
Transport refrigeration units (TRUs) may be used to conserve and maintain the temperature of perishable goods during transportation. Battery-powered TRUs may generally be employed for storing and transporting perishable goods while restricting emissions and lowering environmental impact. However, the battery associated with a battery-powered TRU may run low, which may affect the stored goods. Moreover, the charging system of existing battery-powered TRU may allow the battery to recharge only through an external power supply which may not be available at all places.
Disclosed herein is a first transport refrigeration unit (TRU) comprising a bi-directional battery charging system. The bi-directional battery charging system comprises a bi-directional charger operatively connected to a controller and a battery associated with the first TRU, wherein the bi-directional charger is configured to be electrically connected to an external electrical component selected from the group consisting of an electrical grid, a battery associated with a second TRU, a battery associated with a vehicle, and combinations thereof.
In one or more embodiments, in a first mode, the bi-directional charger enables supply of electrical power from the external electrical component to the battery associated with the first TRU.
In one or more embodiments, in a second mode, the bi-directional charger enables supply of electrical power from the battery associated with the first TRU to the external electrical component.
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger comprises an AC to DC (ADC) converter configured to convert AC electrical power received from the external electrical component into DC electrical power for the battery associated with the first TRU, and a DC to AC (DAC) converter configured to convert DC electrical power supplied by the battery associated with the first TRU into AC electrical power for the external electrical component.
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger comprises one or more AC to AC converters configured to convert AC electrical power having first electrical attributes received from the external electrical component into AC electrical power having second electrical attributes for the battery associated with the first TRU, and convert AC electrical power having the second electrical attributes supplied by the battery associated with the first TRU into AC electrical power having first electrical attributes for the external electrical component.
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger comprises one or more DC to DC converters configured to convert DC electrical power having first electrical attributes being received from the external electrical component into DC electrical power having second electrical attributes for the battery associated with the first TRU, and convert DC electrical power having the second electrical attributes supplied by the battery associated with the first TRU into DC electrical power having first electrical attributes for the external electrical component.
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional battery charging system comprises a battery management system (BMS) associated with the TRU, wherein the BMS comprises a DAC converter configured to convert DC electrical power supplied by the bi-directional charger into AC electrical power for one or more components of the first TRU and the battery associated with the first TRU.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS comprises an ADC converter to convert AC electrical power supplied by the bi-directional charger into DC electrical power for one or more components of the TRU and the battery associated with the first TRU.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS comprises one or more sensors to: monitor a battery level of the battery associated with the first TRU; monitor a battery level of a battery associated with the external electrical component when electrically connected to the bi-directional charger of the TRU; or monitor both battery levels.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS of the TRU is communicatively coupled to a first human-machine interface (HMI) device associated with a user of the first TRU, wherein the first HMI device enables the user of the first TRU to: monitor the battery level of the battery associated with the first TRU: monitor a battery level of a battery associated with the external electrical component when electrically connected to the bi-directional charger of the TRU; and switch the bi-directional charger between the first mode and the second mode.
In one or more embodiments, the first HMI device enables the user of the first TRU (the first user) to transmit to a second HMI device associated with a user of the external electrical component (the second user), a first set of signals pertaining to a request for supplying electrical power from the external electrical component to the battery associated with the first TRU, and/or receive, from the second HMI device, a second set of signals pertaining to a request for supplying electrical power from the battery associated with the first TRU to the external electrical component.
Also described herein is a system for enabling bi-directional charging in two or more transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The system comprises a server, and two or more TRUs, each comprising a battery, a controller, and a bi-directional charger operatively connected to the battery and the controller, wherein the controller associated with each of the two or more TRUs is in communication with the server, wherein the bi-directional charger associated with each of the two or more TRUs is configured to be electrically connected to the bi-directional charger associated with remaining TRUs.
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger of each of the two or more TRUs is configured to be electrically connected to an external electrical component selected from the group consisting of an electrical grid, a battery associated with a vehicle, and a combination thereof.
In one or more embodiments, the server is configured to operate the bi-directional charger of the two or more TRUs in a first mode, wherein the bi-directional charger enables the battery of the corresponding TRU to receive electrical power from the external electrical component, the battery associated with any of the remaining TRUs, or both.
In one or more embodiments, the server is configured to operate the bi-directional charger of the two or more TRUs in a second mode, wherein the bi-directional charger enables the battery of the corresponding TRU to supply electrical power to the external electrical component, the battery associated with any of the remaining TRUs, or both.
In one or more embodiments, the server is in communication with a battery management system of the TRU and configured to monitor a battery level associated with each of the two or more TRUs, wherein the server enables the transfer of electrical power between the two or more TRUs at a charging station, based on the battery level associated with each of the one or more TRUs.
In one or more embodiments, the server enables a first HMI device associated with a user of a first set of TRUs among the two or more TRUs having a battery level above a first level to transmit, to a second HMI device of a user associated with a second set of TRUs among the two or more TRUs having a battery level below the first level, a first set of signals pertaining to a location of the corresponding first TRU, and a request for supplying the electrical power from the battery of the corresponding first TRU to the battery of the corresponding second TRU.
In one or more embodiments, the server enables the second HMI device associated with the second set of TRUs, to transmit a second set of signals pertaining to a location of the corresponding second TRU, and a confirmation for supplying the electrical power in response to the request.
In one or more embodiments, the server enables the first HMI device associated with the first set of TRUs to transmit, to one or more third HMI devices associated with the external electrical component, a third set of signals pertaining to a request for supplying electrical power from the external electrical component to the battery associated with the first set of TRUs, and/or receive, from the one or more third HMI devices, a fourth set of signals pertaining to a location of the external electrical component and a confirmation for supplying the electrical power in response to the request.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, features, and techniques of the subject disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the subject disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the subject disclosure.
In the drawings, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Various terms are used herein. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the subject disclosure, the components described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “first”, “second” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components.
Trailer refrigeration units (TRUs) may be employed with containers or trailers to supply conditioned air within the corresponding container for maintaining a conditioned environment inside the storage space of the container. Various goods including but not limited to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, and perishable items such as foods and beverages may be stored and transported in the containers equipped with the TRU. Battery-powered TRUs may be employed for conserving and transporting goods, lowering emissions and the environmental impact that may be caused by diesel-powered TRUs, and the like. However, the battery associated with battery-powered TRU may run low, which may affect the stored goods. Moreover, the charging system of existing battery-powered TRU may allow the battery to recharge only through an external power source that may not be available at all places. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a system for more versatile charging option for the battery of a TRU.
This invention addresses the aforementioned needs of battery-powered TRUS, by providing an improved, cost-effective, and efficient battery charging system for battery-powered TRUs, which enables the TRU to receive electrical power from an electrical grid as well as from a battery associated with other TRUs and non-TRU equipped vehicles. Additionally, the battery charging system further allows the TRU to resell or supply the electrical power (stored in the battery) to the electric grid, and/or to a battery associated with other TRUs and non-TRU vehicles.
Referring to
The TRU 102 may be installed on the container/trailer 104 associated with one or more vehicles 104 including but not limited to an electric truck, a semi-electric truck, and a non-electric truck such that the TRU 102 remains fluidically connected to the ambient and further remains fluidically connected to the storage space of the container/trailer 104-1. However, the TRU 102 of the vehicles 104 may be battery-powered, which may receive electrical power from the battery 106. Accordingly, based on the environment to be maintained in the storage space or based on the products to be transported, the TRU 102 may be operated to adjust its cooling capacity and supply conditioned air within the storage space.
In one or more embodiments, the container/trailer 104-1 may be coupled to a rear end of a cab or truck 104-2 associated with the cargo truck/vehicle 104 such that a gap remains therebetween. The TRU 102 may be coupled to the front end (F) of the container/trailer 104-1 in the gap area between the cab 104-2 and container/trailer 104-1 as shown in
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional battery charging system 100 may include an existing battery management system 108 associated with the vehicle 104 or TRU 102. The battery 106 of the TRU 102 may be electrically coupled to the one or more components of the TRU 102 via the BMS 108. The BMS 108 may be configured to monitor the battery level of the TRU 102 and further control the charging of the battery 106 as well as the supply of electrical power from the battery 106 to the one or more components of the TRU 102 or vehicle 104. The TRU 102 may further include a controller 110 in communication with the battery 106, the BMS 108, and a vapor compression system/refrigeration circuit of the TRU 102.
In one or more embodiments, the controller 110 may be a control unit of the TRU 102. Further, in some embodiments, the controller 110 may be in communication with a control unit associated with the TRU 102 or the BMS 108. The controller 110 may be configured to control the vapor compression system or the refrigeration circuit and/or fans associated with the TRU 102 to adjust the cooling capacity of the TRU 102, based on products being transported and the real-time environment of the storage space, thereby maintaining a conditioned environment across the storage space.
The bi-directional battery charging system 100 of the first TRU 102 may include a bi-directional charger 112 operatively connected to the controller 110 and the battery) 106 associated with the first TRU 102. The bi-directional charger 112 may be adapted to be electrically connected to an external electrical component selected from a group comprising an electrical grid 114 associated with one or more electrical power entities, a battery 120 associated with second TRU 118 associated with second vehicles 116, and a battery associated with non-TRU vehicles (not shown).
In one or more embodiments, in a first (charging) mode, the bi-directional charger 112 may enable the supply of electrical power from the external electrical component such as the electrical grid 114 associated with electrical power entities, battery 120 associated with the second TRU 118 (associated with the second vehicle 116), a battery associated with non-TRU vehicles or a combination thereof to the battery 106 associated with TRU 102, thereby enabling the charging of the battery 106 associated with TRU 102. Further, in one or more embodiments, in a second (energy reselling) mode, the bi-directional charger 112 may enable the supply of electrical power from the battery 106 associated with TRU 102 to the electrical grid 114, the battery 120 associated with the second TRU 118, the battery associated with non-TRU vehicles, and a combination thereof.
In one or more embodiments, referring to
In one or more embodiments, referring to
In one or more embodiments, referring to
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger 112 may be a power electronic device comprising power electronics semiconductor devices forming one or more of an inverter, a rectifier, a power converter, and the like to create one or more of the ADC converter, DAC converter, AC to AC converter, and DC to DC converter for the bi-directional charger 112. The bi-directional charger 112 may further include connection interfaces such as but not limited to connectors and cables that may physically and electrically connect the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102 to the electrical grid 114, the second battery 120 of second TRUs 118, and battery of other non-TRU vehicles. The bi-directional charger 112 may further include fuses, circuit breakers, and other protective devices. In one or more embodiments, the protective devices may include but are not limited to an over-charging protection module, an over-heating protection module, a surge protection module, an over-current protection module, and an over-voltage protection module.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS 108 may include a DAC converter configured to convert DC electrical power supplied through the bi-directional charger 112 into AC electrical power for one or more components of the TRU 102 and the battery associated with the first TRU 106. Further, in one or more embodiments, the BMS 108 may include an ADC converter to convert AC electrical power supplied through the bi-directional charger 112 into DC electrical power for one or more components of the TRU 102 and the battery associated with the first TRU 106.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS 108 and/or the bi-directional charger 112 may include one or more electrical sensors including a current sensor, voltage sensor, power sensor, and the like, to monitor the battery level of the battery associated with the first TRU 106 and also monitor the battery level of the second battery 120 and/or the third battery of the second TRUs 118 and/or the vehicle, respectively, when electrically connected to the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102.
The BMS 108 or the bi-directional charger 112 may be adapted to be communicatively coupled to a human-machine interface (HMI) device 122 (first HMI device) associated with a user (first user) of the TRU 102. The first HMI device 122 may enable the first user to monitor the battery level of the battery associated with the first TRU 106 and monitor the battery level of the second battery 120, and/or the third battery when electrically connected to the bi-directional charger 112 of the first TRU 102. Further, the first HMI device 122 may allow the first user to switch the bi-directional charger 112 between the first mode and the second mode.
Referring to
The server 202 may be configured to operate the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRUs 102 in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102 may enable the battery 106 of the corresponding TRU 102 to receive electrical power from one or more of the electrical grid 114, the battery 106 associated with any of the remaining TRUs 102, and the external battery. Further, in the second mode, the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102 may enable the battery 106 of the corresponding TRU 102 to supply electrical power to one or more of the electrical grid 114, the battery 106 associated with any of the remaining TRUs 102, and the external battery. For instance, as shown in
In one or more embodiments, the bi-directional charger 112 associated with the TRUs 102 of the system 100 may be adapted to be operatively connected to one or more legacy TRUs that may include only a BMS and/or a unidirectional charger (without any bi-directional charger 112). In such embodiments, the TRUs 102 having the bi-directional charger 112 may be configured to transfer electrical power from the battery 106 of the corresponding TRU 102 to the battery of the legacy TRUs, however, the TRUs 102 having the bi-directional charger 112 may not receive electrical power from the battery of the legacy TRUs.
In one or more embodiments, the non-TRU vehicles (having the external/third battery) may include a unidirectional charger. In such embodiments, the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102 may be able to supply electrical power to the unidirectional charger or the external/third battery of the non-TRU vehicles, however, the unidirectional charger of the non-TRU vehicles may not be able to supply electrical power to the battery 106 of the TRUs 102. However, in one or more embodiments, the non-TRU vehicles (having the external/third battery) may also include a bi-directional charger. In such embodiments, the bi-directional charger 112 of the TRU 102 may be configured to supply electrical power to the external/third battery of the non-TRU vehicles and the bi-directional charger of the non-TRU vehicles may also be configured to supply electrical power to the battery 106 of the TRUs 102.
In one or more embodiments, the BMS 108 of the TRUs 102 may be configured to monitor the battery level of the corresponding TRU 102 and transmit the monitored data to the server 202 in real-time. Further, in one or more embodiments, when the TRU 102 or containers 104 equipped with the TRU 102 are at a docking station with their battery 106 or the bi-directional charger 112 connected to a common charging station 204, the server 202 and the charging station 204 may enable the transfer of electrical power between the batteries of the TRUs 102, based on the battery level associated with each of the TRU 102, thereby creating a balance between the battery level of the TRUs 102 as shown in
The system 100 may further include one or more human-machine interface (HMI) devices 122 associated with users of the TRUs 102, the non-TRU vehicles, and the electrical power entities. In one or more embodiments, the HMI device 122 may be a mobile phone, a handheld device comprising an input device and a display device, a computing device comprising an input device and a display device, and a touchscreen-enabled computing device, but is not limited to the like. The HMI device 122, the controller 110 of the TRUs 102, the non-TRU vehicles, and the server 202 may include a communication module to communicatively couple the HMI device 122 to the controller 110 and BMS 108 of the TRU 102 and further communicatively couple the HMI device 122 to the server 202 via the network.
In one or more embodiments, the first HMI device 122 associated with the first users of the TRUs 102 may enable the first users to monitor the battery level of the battery associated with the first TRU 106 of their TRU 102 (first TRU 102) and further monitor the battery level of the second battery 120 associated with other TRUs 118 (second TRU 118) and/or the third battery of the vehicles when the second battery 120 or the third battery are electrically connected to the bi-directional charger 112 of the first TRU 102. Further, the first HMI device 122 may allow the first users to switch the bi-directional charger 112 of their first TRU 102 between the first mode and the second mode. In the subject disclosure, the TRUs 102 having a battery level below a first level or operating in the first mode may be designated as a first set of TRUs 102. Further, the TRUs 102 having a battery level above the first level operating in the second mode may be designated as the second set of TRUs 102, herein. As illustrated in
In one or more embodiments, the server 202 may enable the first users associated with the first set of TRUs 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to transmit, using the first HMI device 122, a first set of signals to a second HMI device of second users associated with the second set of TRU 102-2 to 102-8. The first set of signals may be indicative of the location of the corresponding first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N and a request for supplying the electrical power from the battery 106-1, 106-9, 106-N of the corresponding first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to the battery 106-2 to 106-8 of the corresponding second TRU 102-2 to 102-8. The server 202 may further enable the second users to transmit, using the second HMI device, a second set of signals to the first HMI device 122. The second set of signals may be indicative of the location of the corresponding second TRU 102-2 to 102-8 and confirmation for supplying the electrical power in response to the request. Accordingly, either the first user may bring the first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to the location of any of the second users/second TRUs 102-2 to 102-8 to get the battery associated with the first TRU 106 charged, or the first user may request the second user to reach the location of the first users/first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to charge the battery associated with the first TRU 106-1, 106-9, and 106-N.
In one or more embodiments, the server 202 may enable the first users associated with the first set of TRUs 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to transmit, using the first HMI device 122, a third set of signals to one or more third HMI devices associated with the one or more electrical power entities and a third user associated with the one or more non-TRU vehicles. The third set of signals may be indicative of a request for supplying electrical power from the electrical grid 114 and/or the external battery of the non-TRU vehicles to the battery associated with the first TRU 106-1, 106-9, and 106-N of the TRUs 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N. The server 202 may further enable the electrical power entities and/or the third users associated with the vehicles to transmit, using third HMI devices, a fourth set of signals to the first HMI device 122 of the first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N. The third set of signals may be indicative of the location of the electrical grid 114 and/or the vehicle, and confirmation for supplying the electrical power in response to the request. Accordingly, either the first user may bring the first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to the electric grid 114 or the location of any of the third user/non-TRU vehicle to get the battery associated with the first TRU 106-1, 106-9, and 106-N charged, or the first user may request the third user to reach the location of the first user/first TRU 102-1, 102-9, and 102-N to charge the battery associated with the first TRU 106-1, 106-9, and 106-N
Thus, this invention overcomes the drawbacks, and limitations associated with the existing battery-powered TRUs, by providing an improved, cost-effective, and efficient battery charging system for battery-powered TRUs, which enables the TRU to receive electrical power from an electrical grid as well as the battery associated with other TRUs and non-TRU vehicles. The invention further allows the TRU to resell or supply the electrical power (stored in the battery) to the electric grid and/or the battery associated with other TRUs and non-TRU vehicles.
While the subject disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the subject disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the subject disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the subject disclosure includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
In interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/508,689, filed on Jun. 16, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . . . .
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63508689 | Jun 2023 | US |
