The subject matter disclosed herein relates to transportation refrigeration systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to managing and controlling air input into transportation refrigeration systems.
Referring to
The transportation refrigeration unit 104 is contained in a housing, with the housing having a mesh or grated panel 106 on its front face as an intake for air into the condenser section of the transportation refrigeration unit 104. Due to its position at the front face between the tractor 100 and trailer 102, much of the air 108 passing through the panel 106 into the condenser section is actually recirculated air from a transportation refrigeration unit outlet and/or heat from the tractor engine, both of which are of high temperature compared to ambient temperature, and as a result reduce unit performance and efficiency.
The problem is exacerbated in tractor trailer systems that are equipped with fuel saving options. These options include routing tractor engine heat underneath the tractor 100, and also aerodynamic fairings 110 positioned on a roof of the tractor 100 and/or along a side of the tractor 100. The tractor engine heat routing results in an increase in high temperature exhaust air ingested by the transportation refrigeration unit, while the aerodynamic fairings 110 divert flow of lower temperature ambient air around the transportation refrigeration unit, so that the ambient air is much less likely to reach the panel 106.
In one embodiment, a cover for a transportation refrigeration unit includes a substantially solid front panel and one or more airflow inlet openings located at a top of the cover to direct an airflow from outside the cover into the transportation refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments, a top panel is operably connected to the front panel, the one or more airflow inlet openings positioned at the top panel.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more airflow inlet openings include one or more scoops to direct the airflow into the transportation refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more baffles are secured to the cover to direct the airflow from the one or more airflow inlet openings to a selected portion of the transportation refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more baffles are formed integral to the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more airflow outlet openings are positioned below the one or more airflow inlet openings to direct the airflow from inside the transportation refrigeration unit to outside the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more outlet baffles are secured to the cover to direct the airflow from the transportation refrigeration unit to the one or more airflow outlet openings.
In another embodiment, a transportation refrigeration system includes a refrigeration unit operably connectible to a cargo compartment and configured to direct cooling airflow into the cargo compartment thereby cooling the cargo compartment to a selected temperature. A cover is secured to the refrigeration unit including a substantially solid front panel and one or more airflow inlet openings positioned at a top of the cover to direct an inlet airflow from outside the cover into the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a top panel is operably connected to the front panel, the one or more airflow inlet openings positioned at the top panel.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more airflow inlet openings include one or more scoops to direct the inlet airflow into the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more baffles secured to the cover to direct the inlet airflow from the one or more airflow inlet openings to a selected portion of the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more baffles are formed integral to the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more airflow outlet openings are positioned below the one or more airflow inlet openings to direct an outlet airflow from inside the refrigeration unit to outside the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the cover is installed over a condenser air mesh of the refrigeration unit.
In yet another embodiment, a refrigerated container system includes a container having a cargo compartment for transportation of a cargo and a transportation refrigeration unit secured to the container and including a refrigeration unit operably connectible to the cargo compartment and configured to direct cooling airflow into the cargo compartment thereby cooling the cargo compartment to a selected temperature. A cover is secured to the refrigeration unit and includes a substantially solid front panel and one or more airflow inlet openings positioned at a top of the cover to direct an inlet airflow from outside the cover into the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more airflow inlet openings include one or more scoops to direct the inlet airflow into the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more baffles are secured to the cover to direct the inlet airflow from the one or more airflow inlet openings to a selected portion of the refrigeration unit.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more baffles are formed integral to the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more airflow outlet openings are positioned below the one or more airflow inlet openings to direct an outlet airflow from inside the refrigeration unit to outside the cover.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the cover is installed over a condenser air mesh of the refrigeration unit.
The detailed description explains the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of examples with reference to the drawings.
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In some embodiments, as shown in
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Utilizing the front panel 36 of the present disclosure prevents hot air ingestion from the tractor engine or reingestion of TRU outlet airflow into the TRU resulting in performance improvement of the TRU. Further, this improvement is accomplished without redesign of the underlying TRU. Not only is performance improved by preventing ingestion of the high-temperature airflow into the TRU, but with this configuration, condenser performance is improved due to the condenser operation being changed from a front-feed of airflow to a top-feed of airflow.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/012675 | 1/8/2016 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62101635 | Jan 2015 | US |