Abstract: A refrigeration system for use in transport includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series, an evaporator fan, a supply air temperature sensor, a return air temperature sensor, and a controller. The evaporator fan is configured to discharge supply air from the system to a refrigerated space. The supply air temperature sensor is configured to sense the supply air temperature of the supply air. The return air temperature sensor is configured to sense a return air temperature of return air returning from the refrigerated space to the system. The controller is programmed to determine a requirement for moderate heating and a requirement for increased heating based on the supply air temperature and the return air temperature, to activate the evaporator fan when the requirement for moderate heating is determined, and to increase a speed of the evaporator fan when the requirement for increased heating is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a refrigeration system includes measuring a relative humidity of a container and comparing the measured relative humidity to a humidity set point. The method also includes operating evaporator fans of a refrigeration system when the measured relative humidity is above the humidity set point.

Abstract: In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor and an evaporator fan associated with an evaporator. The method also includes determining the temperature of supply air and the temperature of return air. The method further includes determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The method additionally includes activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The method also includes activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a refrigeration system includes measuring a relative humidity of a container and comparing the measured relative humidity to a humidity set point. The method also includes operating evaporator fans of a refrigeration system when the measured relative humidity is above the humidity set point.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series. The system further includes a heater and sensors configured to sense the temperature of the supply air and the temperature of the return air. A controller is programmed to determine one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperature of the return air and the temperature of the supply air. The controller is programmed to activate the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and to increase the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined. The controller is also programmed to activate the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and to increase the power supplied to the compressor and maintain the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container to pull down the temperature of cargo from ambient to a predetermined set-point temperature, and a system employing the method. The method includes operating a compressor at a first power to compress a refrigerant and direct the refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator of the refrigeration system, initially operating an evaporator fan at a first speed to supply refrigerated supply air from the evaporator to the cargo within the container, sensing the temperature of the supply air, comparing the temperature of the supply air with a predetermined set-point temperature, and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan to a second speed faster than the first when the temperature of the supply air is lower than the predetermined set-point temperature to maintain the temperature of the supply air at the predetermined set-point temperature.

Abstract: In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigeration system with a closed circuit for circulating a refrigerant wherein the closed circuit has a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for receiving and condensing at least part of the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving and evaporating the condensed refrigerant, and a return conduit for returning the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor. The evaporator has several evaporator sections with corresponding conduits that may be individually controlled so as to obtain individual refrigeration effects of corresponding individual evaporator sections.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a refrigeration system having a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant gas and a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor to receive compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor, the condenser configured to condense the refrigerant gas. In addition the refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger having a first section fluidly coupled to the compressor, and a second section fluidly coupled between the condenser and the compressor, wherein the first section receives compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor, and wherein the second section receives condensed refrigerant from the condenser, evaporates the refrigerant, and delivers the evaporated refrigerant to the compressor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerated container for land, road and rail vehicles, the inside of the rear side of said refrigerated container having formed in it a chute extending vertically and largely over the width of the container and featuring a transverse wall above which warmed refrigerated air which is collected beneath the roof area of the container can be supplied to the chute with downward deflection, wherein at least one port with an inserted annular part is formed in the transverse wall, and the warmed refrigerated air can be conducted to heat exchangers surfaces of an evaporator of a refrigerant circuit, said heat exchange surfaces projecting into the chute, via a blower through the flow cross section of said annular part, and wherein the refrigerated air cooled down by heat exchanger surfaces can be conducted back into the floor area of the refrigerated container from the bottom of the chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerated container for ships, the inside of the rear side of said refrigerated container having formed in it a chute extending vertically and largely over the width of the container and featuring a transverse wall above which warmed refrigerated air which is collected beneath the roof area of the container can be supplied to the chute with downward deflection, wherein at least one port with an inserted annular part is formed in the transverse wall, and the warmed refrigerated air can be conducted to heat exchangers surfaces of an evaporator of a refrigerant circuit, said heat exchange surfaces projecting into the chute, via a blower through the flow cross section of said annular part, and wherein the refrigerated air cooled down by heat exchanger surfaces can be conducted back into the floor area of the refrigerated container from the bottom of the chute.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating chilled cargo, and a system employing the method. The method includes providing a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, and a heater. The method also includes determining the temperature of the supply air discharged into the container and the return air from the container, determining one of a requirement for heating and a requirement for cooling based on the temperatures of the return air and the supply air, activating the evaporator fan when a requirement for heating is determined and increasing the speed of the evaporator fan when increased heating is determined, and activating the compressor and the evaporator fan when a requirement for cooling is determined and increasing the power supplied to the compressor and maintaining the evaporator fan at a first speed when increased cooling is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a container for refrigerating frozen cargo, and a system employing the method. The method includes providing a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in series, and providing an evaporator fan. The method also includes alternating operation of the compressor and the evaporator fan, in combination, between an active mode where the compressor compresses a refrigerant and directs the refrigerant through the condenser and the evaporator, and where the evaporator fan rotates to supply refrigerated supply air from the evaporator to the cargo within the container, and a sleep mode in which the compressor and the evaporator fan are deactivated, and operating the compressor and the evaporator fan in the sleep mode for a duration that is based on a measured duration of a prior sleep mode.