Battery system for refrigerated transport container

1. A method of operating a transport refrigeration system, the method comprising:

controlling, using a controller, a plurality of components of the transport refrigeration system, the transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated trailer and a refrigeration unit configured to provide refrigerated air to the refrigerated trailer, wherein the controlling comprises operating at least one of the refrigeration unit and a battery system;

powering, using an external power source, the refrigeration unit when the transport refrigeration system is connected to the external power source;

detecting, using the controller, when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

detecting, using the controller, a connection to the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

activating the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system; and

powering, using the battery system, a select group of components of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

monitoring, using a location tracking device, a location of the transport refrigeration system;

determining, using the controller, a time of travel for the transport refrigeration system; and

rationing, using the controller, a power draw from the battery system to the transport refrigeration system in response to the time of travel.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing, using the refrigeration unit, refrigerant from a refrigerant compression device of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a drop deck configured to carry a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system, the drop deck being releasably connected to the refrigerated transport container.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the location tracking device is a global positioning system configured to monitor the location of the transport refrigeration system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the battery system is composed of at least one of a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, an alkaline battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a lead-acid battery.

7. A controller for a refrigeration unit of a transport refrigeration system comprising:

a processor;

a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

controlling, using the controller, a plurality of components of the transport refrigeration system, the transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated trailer and a refrigeration unit configured to provide refrigerated air to the refrigerated trailer, wherein the controlling comprises operating at least one of the refrigeration unit and a battery system;

powering, using an external power source, the refrigeration unit when the transport refrigeration system is connected to the external power source;

detecting, using the controller, when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

detecting, using the controller, a connection to the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

activating the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system; and powering, using the battery system, a select group of components of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

monitoring, using a location tracking device, a location of the transport refrigeration system;

determining, using the controller, a time of travel for the transport refrigeration system; and

rationing, using the controller, a power draw from the battery system to the transport refrigeration system in response to the time of travel.

8. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:

removing, using the refrigeration unit, refrigerant from a refrigerant compression device of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system.

9. The controller of claim 7 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system.

10. The controller of claim 7 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a drop deck configured to carry a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system, the drop deck being releasably connected to the refrigerated transport container.

11. The controller of claim 7 , wherein:

the location tracking device is a global positioning system configured to monitor the location of the transport refrigeration system.

12. The controller of claim 7 , wherein:

the battery system is composed of at least one of a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, an alkaline battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a lead-acid battery.

13. A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

controlling, using a controller, a plurality of components of a transport refrigeration system, the transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated trailer and a refrigeration unit configured to provide refrigerated air to the refrigerated trailer, wherein the controlling comprises operating at least one of the refrigeration unit and a battery system;

powering, using an external power source, the refrigeration unit when the transport refrigeration system is connected to the external power source;

detecting, using the controller, when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

detecting, using the controller, a connection to the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

activating the battery system when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system; and

powering, using the battery system, a select group of components of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system;

monitoring, using a location tracking device, a location of the transport refrigeration system;

determining, using the controller, a time of travel for the transport refrigeration system; and

rationing, using the controller, a power draw from the battery system to the transport refrigeration system in response to the time of travel.

14. The computer program of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

removing, using the refrigeration unit, refrigerant from a refrigerant compression device of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system.

15. The computer program of claim 13 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system.

16. The computer program of claim 13 , wherein:

the battery system is integrally attached to a drop deck configured to carry a refrigerated transport container of the transport refrigeration system, the drop deck being releasably connected to the refrigerated transport container.

17. The computer program of claim 13 , wherein:

the location tracking device is a global positioning system configured to monitor the location of the transport refrigeration system.