VEHICLE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS
A vehicle refrigeration system includes a vehicle power device, and a vehicle refrigeration device coupled to the vehicle power device. The vehicle refrigeration device includes an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid, a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and a compressor configured to operate based upon a combined voltage, and transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser.
1 . A vehicle refrigeration system comprising:
a vehicle power device comprising
a vehicle power source configured to output a first voltage,
a plurality of batteries, each battery configured to provide a second voltage,
a plurality of switches coupled between said batteries, and
a controller coupled to said plurality of switches and configured to
place said plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that said plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from said vehicle power source, and
place said plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that said plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and
a vehicle refrigeration device comprising
an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid,
a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from said evaporator, and
a compressor configured to
operate based upon the combined voltage, and
transmit the refrigerant fluid from said evaporator to said condenser.
2 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said condenser comprises:
first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and
first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between said first and second condenser units.
3 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by said electrical motor.
4 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said controller has a first input coupled to an output of said vehicle power source; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage.
5 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 4 wherein said controller has a second input coupled to an output of said plurality of batteries; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the second voltage is less than the threshold voltage.
6 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said controller has a third input coupled to said compressor; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first and second modes of operation based upon an operational characteristic of said compressor.
7 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle power device further comprises a power switch coupled between the vehicle power source and each battery of said plurality thereof.
8 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 7 wherein said controller is configured to control said power switch.
9 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 7 wherein said controller is configured to close said power switch after said plurality of switches has entered the first mode of operation.
10 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 7 wherein said controller is configured to open said power switch in the second mode of operation.
11 . The vehicle refrigeration system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle power source comprises a vehicle starter battery, and an alternator coupled thereto.
12 . A method for making a vehicle refrigeration system, the method comprising:
coupling a vehicle power device comprising
a vehicle power source configured to output a first voltage,
a plurality of batteries, each battery configured to provide a second voltage,
a plurality of switches coupled between the batteries, and
a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and configured to
place the plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from the vehicle power source, and
place the plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and
coupling a vehicle refrigeration device to the vehicle power device, the vehicle refrigeration device comprising
an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid,
a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and
a compressor configured to
operate based upon the combined voltage, and
transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condenser comprises:
first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and
first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between the first and second condenser units.
14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by the electrical motor.
15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the controller has a first input coupled to an output of the vehicle power source; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the controller has a second input coupled to an output of the plurality of batteries; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the second voltage is less than the threshold voltage.
17 . A method for operating a vehicle refrigeration system, the method comprising:
operating a vehicle power device by at least
operating a vehicle power source to output a first voltage,
operating a plurality of batteries so that each battery provides a second voltage,
operating a plurality of switches coupled between the batteries, and
operating a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and to
place the plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from the vehicle power source, and
place the plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and
operating a vehicle refrigeration device while coupled to the vehicle power device, the vehicle refrigeration device comprising
an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid,
a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and
a compressor configured to
operate based upon the combined voltage, and
transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the condenser comprises:
first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and
first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between the first and second condenser units.
19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by the electrical motor.
20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the controller has a first input coupled to an output of the vehicle power source; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage.