Abstract: A system is provided and includes refrigerated storage containers (20), local controllers (30) respectively coupled with corresponding refrigerated storage containers (20) to control operations thereof in accordance with controller parameters and a supervisory controller (40). The supervisory controller (40) is configured to issue control commands to the local controllers (30) based on respective responses of the refrigerated storage containers (20) to local controller control.

Abstract: A supervisory-level control system is provided and includes a summation unit receptive of first and second signals, an HVAC system to generate the second signal according to first set-point signals and to a second set-point signal and a supervisory controller. The supervisory controller includes a control unit, a set-point scheduler and a zone level set-point distribution unit. The control unit is receptive of an error signal representing a difference between the first and second signals from the summation unit. The set-point scheduler is receptive of a demand signal generated by the control unit according to the error signal. The set-point scheduler generates a set-point command signal and the second set-point signal according to the demand signal. The zone level set-point distribution unit is configured to generate the first set-point signals in accordance with the set-point command signal.

Abstract: A novel manufacturing method for functionally graded component includes a cold sprayed additive manufactured core material and a cold sprayed additive manufactured set of teeth around said core made from another material.

Abstract: A refrigerated storage container is provided and includes a container housing defining an interior, an air conditioner operable to maintain control of temperatures within the interior and a local controller configured to cycle the air conditioner on and off within a time window based on waste heat ingestion from neighboring refrigerated storage containers.

Abstract: This document describes techniques, apparatuses, and systems for a blockchain-based transactive energy system. A blockchain-based transactive energy system receives a bid associated with a supply/demand curve of a utility from a transactive node through a smart contract. A universal identifier associated with the bid may be verified by consensus nodes of the blockchain-based transactive energy system to determine a verified set of bids. The universal identifier or other data associated with the bid may be stored in an immutable database provided by a blockchain. Based on the verified set of bids, a market-clearing price of the utility may be determined and used to satisfy the bid of the transactive node according to an actual production or consumption of the utility by the transactive node. The actual production or consumption of the utility may be stored in the immutable database for future audits or verification.

Abstract: A supervisory-level control system is provided and includes a summation unit receptive of first and second signals, an HVAC system to generate the second signal according to first set-point signals and to a second set-point signal and a supervisory controller. The supervisory controller includes a control unit, a set-point scheduler and a zone level set-point distribution unit. The control unit is receptive of an error signal representing a difference between the first and second signals from the summation unit. The set-point scheduler is receptive of a demand signal generated by the control unit according to the error signal. The set-point scheduler generates a set-point command signal and the second set-point signal according to the demand signal. The zone level set-point distribution unit is configured to generate the first set-point signals in accordance with the set-point command signal.

Abstract: A method of conditioning an environment includes generating, by a group feedback analysis system, a first comfort limit based on a first plurality of data points corresponding to user feedback of a group of users in an environment conditioned by an environmental conditioning system, and each associated with temperature and humidity environmental criterions. The method further includes generating a second comfort limit based on a second plurality of data points corresponding to user feedback of the group of users, and associated with the temperature and humidity environmental criterions. The method identifies a constrained comfort zone defined by the first comfort limit, the second comfort limit, predefined lower and upper bounds for the temperature environmental criterion, and predefined lower and upper bounds for the humidity environmental criterion. The environmental system is controlled to maintain the temperature and humidity environmental criterions within the constrained comfort zone.

Abstract: A refrigerated storage container is provided and includes a container housing defining an interior, an air conditioner operable to maintain control of temperatures within the interior and a local controller configured to cycle the air conditioner on and off within a time window based on waste heat ingestion from neighboring refrigerated storage containers.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes first (62) and second (64) electrocaloric module with aligned first and second sides. First and second prime movers (80,82) are arranged to direct a working fluid in opposite directions along flow paths through the electrocaloric modules. A rotary fluid control device (92,98) including a plurality of openings (94,96,100,102) is disposed around the electrocaloric modules, and is configured to rotate between positions relative to the modules. In a first position, the first module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the first prime mover, and the second module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the second prime mover. In a second position, the first module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the second prime mover, and the second module is in operative fluid communication through the openings with the first prime mover.

Abstract: Method of stacking refrigerated shipping containers (10) including categorizing a plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) as a low temperature container (L) or a high temperature container (H), each of the refrigerated shipping containers (10) having a condenser (16). The method also includes disposing the plurality of refrigerated shipping containers (10) relative to each other based on the temperature categorization of the refrigerated shipping containers (10).

Abstract: A method of evaluating performance of a chiller is provided. The method includes detecting a plurality of operating parameters of the chiller with a plurality of sensors. The method also includes individually determining a first coefficient of performance degradation due to condenser fouling. The method further includes individually determining a second coefficient of performance degradation due to condenser water flow reduction. The method yet further includes individually determining a third coefficient of performance degradation due to evaporator fouling. The method also includes determining a total coefficient of performance degradation of the chiller with a summation of the first, second and third coefficient of performance degradations.

Abstract: A refrigerated storage container is provided and includes a container housing defining an interior in which cargo is storable, a condenser configured to receive air to remove heat from a refrigerant passing through the condenser, a condenser air inlet receptive of the air, a condenser air outlet configured to direct air exhausted from the condenser away from the condenser air inlet and a reefer air outlet configured to direct conditioned air exhausted from the interior toward the condenser air inlet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) analytics system is provided. The method comprising: obtaining HVAC data for an HVAC unit in electronic communication with the HVAC analytics system; obtaining an HVAC unit characteristic of the HVAC unit; obtaining weather data for a geographical area where the HVAC unit is located; and determining an HVAC capacity available ratio (CAR) in response to the weather data, the HVAC unit characteristics, and the HVAC data.

Abstract: A novel manufacturing method for functionally graded component includes a cold sprayed additive manufactured core material and a cold sprayed additive manufactured set of teeth around said core made from another material.

Abstract: A novel manufacturing method for functionally graded component includes a cold sprayed additive manufactured core material and a cold sprayed additive manufactured set of teeth around said core made from another material.

Abstract: A method of conditioning an environment includes generating, by a group feedback analysis system, a first comfort limit based on a first plurality of data points corresponding to user feedback of a group of users in an environment conditioned by an environmental conditioning system, and each associated with temperature and humidity environmental criterions. The method further includes generating a second comfort limit based on a second plurality of data points corresponding to user feedback of the group of users, and associated with the temperature and humidity environmental criterions. The method identifies a constrained comfort zone defined by the first comfort limit, the second comfort limit, predefined lower and upper bounds for the temperature environmental criterion, and predefined lower and upper bounds for the humidity environmental criterion. The environmental system is controlled to maintain the temperature and humidity environmental criterions within the constrained comfort zone.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to selecting, by a computing device comprising a processor, the size of at least one prime mover associated with an aircraft to satisfy a baseline power requirement for operation of the aircraft during a steady state load condition, selecting at least one power source configuration to supplement power provided by the at least one prime mover during a transient load condition associated with the operation of the aircraft, and selecting, by the computing device, a parameter of the at least one power source configuration to provide a total power in an amount that is greater than a threshold during the transient condition.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) analytics system is provided. The method comprising: obtaining HVAC data for an HVAC unit in electronic communication with the HVAC analytics system; obtaining an HVAC unit characteristic of the HVAC unit; obtaining weather data for a geographical area where the HVAC unit is located; and determining an HVAC capacity available ratio (CAR) in response to the weather data, the HVAC unit characteristics, and the HVAC data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) analytics system is provided. The method comprising: obtaining HVAC data for an HVAC unit in electronic communication with the HVAC analytics system; obtaining an HVAC unit characteristic of the HVAC unit; determining an HVAC comfort performance index (CPI) in response to the HVAC data and the HVAC unit characteristic; determining an HVAC CPI degradation trend line in response to the HVAC comfort performance index; obtaining weather data for a geographical area where the HVAC system is located, the weather data including a predicted outside air temperature (OAT); and determining a point in time where the predicted OAT is equivalent to the HVAC CPI degradation trend line.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) analytics system is provided. The method comprising: obtaining HVAC data for an HVAC unit; obtaining an HVAC unit characteristic of the HVAC unit; determining performance parameters of the HVAC unit in response to the HVAC data and the HVAC unit characteristic; identifying one or more system models for the HVAC unit in response to the performance parameters; determining one or more HVAC performance indices in response to the one or more system models, HVAC data, and the HVAC unit characteristic; generating an HVAC performance report in response to the one or more performance indices; and transmitting the HVAC performance report to a user device.