Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of operating a refrigeration system. The apparatus and method includes providing a fuel pressure monitoring device that is disposed along a fuel line, automatically shutting down the engine if the fuel pressure meets a first condition, restarting the engine, and operating the engine in an unrestricted mode if the fuel pressure monitoring device records a second condition and shutting down the engine if the fuel pressure monitoring device does not record the second condition. An apparatus and method of operating a diesel engine of a refrigeration system that is coupled to an inline fuel injection system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of monitoring operation of a temperature control apparatus. The apparatus includes a controller, a refrigeration circuit extending between a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, and a drive unit operably connected to the compressor. The drive unit has a fuel supply, a plurality of cylinders, a fuel line extending between the fuel supply and the plurality of cylinders, and a sensor positioned between the fuel supply and the cylinders to record fuel flow. The method includes directing air across the evaporator, recording a fuel flow rate with the sensor, calculating an actual output power of the drive unit using the fuel flow rate, calculating an expected output power of the drive unit, and comparing the actual output power of the drive unit and the expected output power of the drive unit to predict malfunctions of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigeration system having a discharge port that guides conditioned air from the system to a conditioned space and a return port that guides air from the conditioned space back to the system. The method comprises providing a first control algorithm and second control algorithm for controlling the system. The first control algorithm is a function of the air temperature at the discharge port, and the second control algorithm is a function of the air temperature at the return port. The method further comprises operating the system using the first control algorithm when a first condition is met, operating the system using the second control algorithm when a second condition is met, and automatically switching between the first control algorithm and the second control algorithm depending on the status of the first and second conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of operating a refrigeration system. The apparatus and method includes providing a fuel pressure monitoring device that is disposed along a fuel line, automatically shutting down the engine if the fuel pressure meets a first condition, restarting the engine, and operating the engine in an unrestricted mode if the fuel pressure monitoring device records a second condition and shutting down the engine if the fuel pressure monitoring device does not record the second condition. An apparatus and method of operating a diesel engine of a refrigeration system that is coupled to an inline fuel injection system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigeration system having a discharge port that guides conditioned air from the system to a conditioned space and a return port that guides air from the conditioned space back to the system. The method comprises providing a first control algorithm and second control algorithm for controlling the system. The first control algorithm is a function of the air temperature at the discharge port, and the second control algorithm is a function of the air temperature at the return port. The method further comprises operating the system using the first control algorithm when a first condition is met, operating the system using the second control algorithm when a second condition is met, and automatically switching between the first control algorithm and the second control algorithm depending on the status of the first and second conditions.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an electronic throttling valve in a temperature control unit having first and second pressure measurement devices. The method includes determining whether the first pressure measurement device is functioning, determining whether the second pressure measurement device is functioning, controlling the electronic throttling valve using data measured by both the first and second pressure measurement devices when both the first and second pressure measurement devices functioning, controlling the electronic throttling valve using data measured by only one of the first and second pressure measurement devices when the other of the first and second pressure measurement devices is determined to be non-functional, and controlling the electronic throttling valve using temperature data measured by the temperature control unit when both the first and second pressure measurement devices are determined to be non-functional.

Abstract: A method for determining the oil change interval for an internal combustion engine for driving a refrigerant compressor. The method includes the steps of sensing if the engine is being operated at high speed; incrementing the high speed counter during hours of high speed operation; sensing if the engine has been stopped; incrementing the counter for number of stops during the oil change interval; calculating the new oil change interval based on the current values in the high speed counter and the number of stops counter; and comparing the calculated new oil interval with the number of hours of service, and if the number of hours of service exceeds the new oil change interval, displaying a message indicating an oil change is needed.

Abstract: A method for continuously operating a multi-temp refrigeration system at a high compressor speed is provided. Such refrigeration systems include a compressor for compressing a refrigerant at a high speed and a low speed, a condenser coil for receiving and liquefying gaseous refrigerant, first and second evaporator coils for heating or cooling two different conditioned spaces, a hot gas valve for admitting hot gaseous refrigerant to one of the evaporator coils in order to heat its associated conditioned space, and a condenser inlet valve for rerouting a flow of hot gaseous refrigerant from the condenser coil to the evaporator coils. In the method of the invention, the evaporator hot gas valve is first opened to heat one of the conditioned spaces, and the condenser inlet valve is then closed to direct a flow of hot gaseous refrigerant to the opened hot gas valve.