Abstract: A refrigerated transport system comprises a body enclosing a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration system (29) comprises first and second vapor compression loops each having: a refrigerant charge; a compressor (36A,B) for driving the refrigerant of the refrigerant charge; a first heat exchanger (38A,B) positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode; and a second heat exchanger (42A,B) positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode.

Abstract: A method and system to control a refrigeration unit (104) in response to a cargo load (108) in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, providing a cargo load temperature range and a cargo load excursion time limit corresponding to the cargo load, receiving a plurality of temperature readings corresponding to the cargo load via the plurality of sensors, operating the refrigeration unit in a power saving mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings within the cargo load temperature range, and operating the refrigeration unit in a standard mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings outside the cargo load temperature range for longer than the cargo load excursion time limit.

Abstract: A cooling unit (506) for a vehicle (200) is provided. The cooling unit includes a compressor (428) electrically connected to a power module (314), a condenser (530) operably connected to the compressor, an evaporator (536) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator configured to cool ambient air (520), and at least one flexible duct (208) configured to fluidly connect the evaporator with a cargo held in a cargo space of the vehicle.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport system (20) comprises a body (22) enclosing a refrigerated compartment (69). A refrigeration system (30) comprises: a vapor compression loop (31) having a first heat exchanger (38) positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode. A heat transfer loop (32) has a second heat exchanger (58) positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode. An inter-loop heat exchanger (44) has a first leg (42) along the vapor compression loop and a second leg (43) along the heat transfer loop in heat exchange relation with the first leg.

Abstract: Systems and methods for checking proper airflow within a container (307) having a refrigeration unit (320) are provided. The system includes one or more sensors (358) located within the container configured to measure at least one airflow characteristic, and a controller (360) in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to store predetermined information related to airflow within the container, wherein the predetermined information includes minimum airflow criteria related to the at least one airflow characteristic, receive data from the one or more sensors, compare the received data with the predetermined information, and provide an indicator when the comparison indicates that the received data does not meet or exceed the minimum airflow criteria.

Abstract: A wireless sensor device for use in a refrigerated container includes a flexible sensor body including at least one sensing element to sense at least one parameter of the refrigerated container, a battery to provide power to the at least one of sensing elements, and a battery housing coupled to an end of the flexible sensor body.

Abstract: A method and system to control a refrigeration unit (104) in response to a cargo load (108) in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, providing a cargo load temperature range and a cargo load excursion time limit corresponding to the cargo load, receiving a plurality of temperature readings corresponding to the cargo load via the plurality of sensors, operating the refrigeration unit in a power saving mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings within the cargo load temperature range, and operating the refrigeration unit in a standard mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings outside the cargo load temperature range for longer than the cargo load excursion time limit.

Abstract: A method and system to determine a hot cargo load condition of a cargo load in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, operating the refrigeration unit with a set of desired operational parameters corresponding to the cargo load, analyzing a plurality of sensor readings corresponding to the plurality of sensors via a processor, creating a temperature distribution profile of the refrigerated container corresponding to the plurality of sensor readings via the processor, retrieving a historical temperature distribution profile corresponding to the cargo load via a historical database, comparing the temperature distribution profile to the historical temperature distribution profile via the processor, and identifying the hot cargo load condition in response to the temperature distribution profile exceeding the historical temperature distribution profile via the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for checking proper airflow within a container (307) having a refrigeration unit (320) are provided. The system includes one or more sensors (358) located within the container configured to measure at least one airflow characteristic, and a controller (360) in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to store predetermined information related to airflow within the container, wherein the predetermined information includes minimum airflow criteria related to the at least one airflow characteristic, receive data from the one or more sensors, compare the received data with the predetermined information, and provide an indicator when the comparison indicates that the received data does not meet or exceed the minimum airflow criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring power supply of refrigeration units including cargo sensors (358) located within a container (307), a power connector (346) configured to receive power, the power connector operably connected to the refrigeration unit, a power supply sensor connected to the power connector configured to detect a lack of power supplied through the power connector and a controller in communication with the cargo sensors and the power supply sensor, the controller configured to store predetermined information related to power requirements including a maximum time period of a powered-off state, receive data from the cargo sensors, receive data from the power supply sensor, and, when the data from the cargo sensors indicates the presence of cargo within the container and data from the power supply sensor indicates a lack of power for a duration that exceeds the maximum time period, the controller is configured to provide an indicator.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport system comprises a body enclosing a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration system (29) comprises first and second vapor compression loops each having: a refrigerant charge; a compressor (36A,B) for driving the refrigerant of the refrigerant charge; a first heat exchanger (38A,B) positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode; and a second heat exchanger (42A,B) positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport system (20) comprises: a body (22) enclosing a refrigerated compartment. A refrigeration system (30) comprises: a charge of refrigerant; a compressor (36) for driving the refrigerant along a refrigerant flowpath (34); a first heat exchanger (38) along the refrigerant flowpath and positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode; and a second heat exchanger (42) along the refrigerant flowpath and positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode. The refrigerated transport system has a detector (232) for detecting leakage of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A refrigerated transport system (20) comprises a body (22) enclosing a refrigerated compartment (69). A refrigeration system (30) comprises: a vapor compression loop (31) having a first heat exchanger (38) positioned to reject heat to an external environment in a cooling mode. A heat transfer loop (32) has a second heat exchanger (58) positioned to absorb heat from the refrigerated compartment in the cooling mode. An inter-loop heat exchanger (44) has a first leg (42) along the vapor compression loop and a second leg (43) along the heat transfer loop in heat exchange relation with the first leg.

Abstract: A cooling unit (506) for a vehicle (200) is provided. The cooling unit includes a compressor (428) electrically connected to a power module (314), a condenser (530) operably connected to the compressor, an evaporator (536) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator configured to cool ambient air (520), and at least one flexible duct (208) configured to fluidly connect the evaporator with a cargo held in a cargo space of the vehicle.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having one or more compressors forming part of a refrigeration circuit for cooling an interior compartment of a container or refrigerated trailer; and one or more fans powered by direct current (DC) power, the one or more fans being at least one of an evaporator fan, a condenser fan and a ventilation fan.

Abstract: A refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit (22) for providing temperature conditioned air to a temperature controlled space, an engine (26) and an electric generation device (24) driven by the engine, is provided with a battery system (28) for supplying electric power. A method of operating the transport refrigeration includes, during a high cooling demand mode, operating the engine (26) to drive the electric generation device (24) for supplying electric power and simultaneously employing the battery system (28) for supplying electric power to jointly power the plurality of power demand loads (50, 42, 46, 48) of the refrigerant unit.

Abstract: A method and system for use with a volume containing a cargo having a thermal mass includes, at least one temperature sensor associated with the cargo to provide at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass, a refrigeration unit associated with the volume, and a controller to control the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass and a temperature set point, wherein the controller models a temperature characteristic of the thermal mass.

Abstract: A power supply system for a transport refrigeration system includes an engine coupled to a compressor of a refrigeration unit for direct drive powering the compressor and a generator arranged to also be direct driven by the engine for generating electric power. The generator and the compressor are mounted to a common drive shaft driven by the engine, and the generator may be integrated with the compressor. The power supply system may further include an alternator arranged to be belt driven by the engine for generating DC electric power. A battery pack may be provided for storing and supplying additional DC power. During peak load demand on the refrigeration unit, the engine may be operated with the generator switched off to directly drive the compressor and direct current may be drawn from the battery pack to drive the condenser/gas cooler and evaporator fans.

Abstract: A method and system for use with a volume containing a cargo having a thermal mass includes, at least one temperature sensor associated with the cargo to provide at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass, a refrigeration unit associated with the volume, and a controller to control the refrigeration unit in response to the at least one temperature associated with the thermal mass and a temperature set point, wherein the controller models a temperature characteristic of the thermal mass.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having one or more compressors forming part of a refrigeration circuit for cooling an interior compartment of a container or refrigerated trailer; and one or more fans powered by direct current (DC) power, the one or more fans being at least one of an evaporator fan, a condenser fan and a ventilation fan.