High engine coolant temperature control

An system and method for monitoring and limiting high power and overheating engine conditions in a transport refrigeration unit is disclosed. The system provides a microprocessor control which monitor the engine coolant temperature to determine whether it exceeds a predetermined limit. If the engine coolant temperature exceeds that limit, the control sends a control signal which restricts or closes the suction modulation valve of the transport refrigeration system, restricting the mass flow rate of the system and thereby reducing the power draw on the engine. The system further provides a continued monitoring process for further restricting or closing the suction modulation valve in the event of continued high engine coolant temperatures, and for gradually opening the suction modulation valve and increasing the maximum current draw on the engine once the engine coolant temperature sinks below its predetermined limit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The field of the present invention relates to control systems for transport 
refrigeration systems. More specifically, the present invention is 
directed towards facilitating the operation of a diesel engine powering a 
transport refrigeration unit in extreme operating conditions. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
A common problem with transporting perishable items is that often such 
items must be maintained within strict temperature limits, regardless of 
potentially extreme operating conditions required by a high ambient 
temperature and/or other factors. These extreme conditions can cause an 
excessive power draw from the diesel engine powering the system, thus 
potentially causing unwanted system shutdowns or even adversely impacting 
the useful life of the engine. In order to prevent this problem, and its 
associated increased costs for maintenance and replacement of the engine, 
others in the field have attempted to control refrigeration transport 
systems by forcing the engine into low speed if the coolant temperature of 
the engine is above a specified limit. However, this kind of control has 
no control algorithm in place to optimize the reduction of the power 
supplied to the refrigeration system, i.e., a system which could maintain 
the maximum refrigeration capability of the system while preventing any 
unnecessary system shut downs. As a result, the severe power reduction 
resulting from the low speed condition in such a "two step" (engine 
control could result in the unnecessary reduction in refrigeration 
capacity and the resulting endangerment of the perishable load. 
In short, prior devices may not provide sufficient protection against 
engine oveheating conditions, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of 
the load and the optimization of refrigeration capacity. There is a need 
for a control system in refrigerated transport systems which prevents 
sustained high engine coolant temperature conditions while permitting a 
more optimal refrigeration capacity of system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The apparatus and control method of this invention provides a refrigeration 
unit for a transport system having a diesel operation mode. The system 
includes a sensor for monitoring the engine coolant temperature. If the 
sensor indicates that the engine coolant temperature has risen above the 
maximum, timed engine coolant temperature for more than a preselected time 
interval (e.g., one minute), then a control signal actuated by the 
microprocessor control of the system reduces the maximum allowable 
generator current setting by one amp. The microprocessor control of the 
present system controls power consumption indirectly, i.e., through the 
limitation of the maximum electrical current drawn by the system. This 
change is enabled by restricting or closing the suction modulation valve, 
thus restricting the mass flow of refrigerant in the system (and thus 
limiting the need or requirement for cooling of the engine). 
The microprocessor controlled system of the present invention further 
includes multiple control steps to prevent sustained high engine coolant 
temperatures. In other words, if one minute after the suction modulation 
valve has been restricted the engine coolant temperature is still above 
the maximum timed engine coolant temperature, the maximum allowable 
generator current setting is further reduced by five amps. Again, this 
control can be actuated through the further restriction of the suction 
modulation valve. This further restricted setting, when actuated, is most 
preferably maintained for a minimum period of time (e.g., ten minutes). If 
after this period of time the engine coolant temperature is still above 
its preselected limit, the microprocessor control triggers a high coolant 
alarm and holds the low current draw conditions until the coolant 
temperature falls below the maximum timed engine coolant temperature. Once 
the engine coolant temperature falls below the maximum timed engine 
coolant setting, the microprocessor control sends control signals 
gradually reopening the suction modulation valve, thus increasing the mass 
flow and current draw, and preferably restoring the original maximum 
allowable generator, current setting at a rate of one amp per minute. 
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a 
microprocessor control for the regulation of engine coolant temperature. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a microprocessor control 
for controlling engine coolant temperature through adjustment of the mass 
flow rate of refrigerant in the transport refrigeration system powered by 
the engine. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multistep 
adjustment of the mass flow rate of the refrigerant of the mass transport 
rate of a refrigeration transport system, thereby, optimizing the power 
draw on the engine in order to minimize system shut-downs and unnecessary 
wear on the engine. 
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention 
will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description 
of a best mode embodiment thereof, and as illustrated in the accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention that is the subject of the present application is one of a 
series of applications dealing with transport refrigeration system design 
and control, the other copending applications including: "Voltage Control 
Using Engine Speed"(U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/277,507); "Economy 
Mode For Transport Refrigeration Units" (U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,651); 
"Compressor Operating Envelope Management" (U.S. patent application Ser. 
No. 09/277,473); "High Engine Coolant Temperature Control"(U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 09/277,472); "Generator Power Management" (U.S. 
patent application Ser. No. 09/277,509);and "Electronic Expansion Valve 
Control Without Pressure Sensor Reading" (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
09/277,333) all of which are assigned to the assignees of the present 
invention and which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These 
inventions are most preferably designed for use in transportation 
refrigeration systems of the type described in copending applications 
entitled: "Transport Refrigeration Unit With Non-Synchronous Generator 
Power System;" Electrically Powered Trailer Refrigeration Unit With 
Integrally Mounted Diesel Driven Permanent Magnet Generator;" and 
"Transport Refrigeration Unit With Synchronous Generator Power System," 
each of which were invented by Robert Chopko, Kenneth Barrett, and James 
Wilson, and each of which were likewise assigned to the assignees of the 
present invention. The teachings and disclosures of these applications are 
likewise incorporated herein by reference. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of the transport 
refrigeration system 100 of the present invention. The refrigerant (which, 
in its most preferred embodiment is R404A) is used to cool the box air 
(i.e., the air within the container or trailer or truck) of the 
refrigeration transport system 100. is first compressed by a compressor 
116, which is driven by a motor 118, which is most preferably an 
integrated electric drive motor driven by a synchronous generator (not 
shown) operating at low speed (most preferably 45 Hz) or high speed (most 
preferably 65 Hz). Another preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
however, provides for motor 118 to be a diesel engine, most preferably a 
four cylinder, 2200 cc displacement diesel engine which preferably 
operates at a high speed (about 1950 RPM) or at low speed (about 1350 
RPM). The motor or engine 118 most preferably drives a 6 cylinder 
compressor 116 having a displacement pf 600 cc, the compressor 116 further 
having two unloaders, each for selectively unloading a pair of cylinders 
under selective operating conditions. In the compressor, the (preferably 
vapor state) refrigerant is compressed to a higher temperature and 
pressure. The refrigerant then moves to the air-cooled condenser 114, 
which includes a plurality of condenser coil fins and tubes 122, which 
receiver air, typically blown by a condenser fan (not shown). By removing 
latent heat through this step, the refrigerant condenses to a high 
pressure/high temperature liquid and flow to a receiver 132 that provides 
storage for excess liquid refrigerant during low temperature operation. 
From the receiver 132, the refrigerant flows through subcooler unit 140, 
then to a filter-drier 124 which keeps the refrigerant clean and dry, and 
then to a heat exchanger 142, which increases the refrigerant subcooling. 
Finally, the refrigerant flows to an electronic expansion valve 144 (the 
"EXV"). As the liquid refrigerant passes through the orifice of the EXV, 
at least some of it vaporizes. The refrigerant then flows through the 
tubes or coils 126 of the evaporator 112, which absorbs heat from the 
return air (i.e., air returning from the box) and in so doing, vaporizes 
the remaining liquid refrigerant. The return air is preferably drawn or 
pushed across the tubes or coils 126 by at least one evaporator fan (not 
shown). The refrigerant vapor is then drawn from the exchanger 112 through 
a suction modulation valve (or "SMV") back into the compressor. 
Many of the points in the transport refrigeration system are monitored and 
controlled by a controller 150. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A Controller 150 
preferably includes a microprocessor 154 and is associated memory 156. The 
memory 156 of controller 150 can contain operator or owner preselected, 
desired values for various operating parameters within the system, 
including, but not limited to temperature set point for various locations 
within the system 100 or the box, pressure limits, current limits, engine 
speed limits, and any variety of other desired operating parameters or 
limits with the system 100. Controller 150 most preferably includes a 
microprocessor board 160 that contains microprocessor 154 and memory 156, 
an input/output (I/O) board 162, which contains an analog to digital 
converter 156 which receives temperature inputs and pressure inputs from 
various points in the system, AC current inputs, DC current inputs, 
voltage inputs and humidity level inputs. In addition, I/O board 162 
includes drive circuits or field effect transistors ("FETs") and relays 
which receive signals or current from the controller 150 and in turn 
control various external or peripheral devices in the system 100, such as 
SMV 130, EXV 144 and the speed of engine 118 through a solenoid (not 
shown). 
Among the specific sensors and transducers most preferably monitored by 
controller 150 includes: the return air temperature (RAT) sensor which 
inputs into the processor 154 a variable resistor value according to the 
evaporator return air temperature; the ambient air temperature (AAT) which 
inputs into microprocessor 154 a variable resistor value according to the 
ambient air temperature read in front of the condenser 114; the compressor 
suction temperature (CST) sensor; which inputs to the microprocessor a 
variable resistor value according to the compressor suction temperature; 
the compressor discharge temperature (CDT) sensor, which inputs to 
microprocessor 154 a resistor value according to the compressor discharge 
temperature inside the cylinder head of compressor 116; the evaporator 
outlet temperature (EVOT) sensor, which inputs to microprocessor 154 a 
variable resistor value according to the outlet temperature of, evaporator 
112; the generator temperature (GENT) sensor, which inputs to 
microprocessor 154 a resistor value according to the generator 
temperature; the engine coolant temperature (ENCT) sensor, which inputs to 
microprocessor 154 a variable resistor value according to the engine 
coolant temperature of engine 118; the compressor suction pressure (CSP) 
transducer, which inputs to microprocessor 154 a variable voltage 
according to the compressor suction value of compressor 116; the 
compressor discharge pressure (CDP) transducer, which inputs to 
microprocessor 154 a variable voltage according to the compressor 
discharge value of compressor 116; the evaporator outlet pressure (EVOP) 
transducer which inputs to microprocessor 154 a variable voltage according 
to the evaporator outlet pressure or evaporator, 112; the engine oil 
pressure switch (ENOPS), which inputs to microprocessor 154 an engine oil 
pressure value from engine 118; direct current and aLternating current 
sensors (CT1 and CT2, respectively), which input to microprocessor 154 a 
variable voltage values corresponding to the current drawn by the system 
100 and an engine RPM (ENRPM) transducer, which inputs to microprocessor 
154 a variable frequency according to the engine RPM of engine 118. 
In the present invention, the ENCT value received into controller 150 
through I/O board 162 is compared to a maximum timed engine coolant 
temperature value (stored in memory 156) for more than a preselected 
period of time (e.g., one minute), then processor 154 reduces the maximum 
allowable generator current setting (again, stored in memory 156) by a 
predetermined amount (e.g., one amp). Since the system 100 controls power 
consumption indirectly, through the limitation of the maximum current 
limit drawn by the system, this step by the processor 154 of controller 
150 causes SMV 130 to close, thus restricting the mass flow of refrigerant 
and limiting power consumption. If, after a preselected period of time, 
(e.g., one minute), the ENCT value received into controller 150 is still 
greater than the value stored in memory 156, then controller 150 reduces 
the maximum allowable generator current value (as stored in memory 156) by 
a preselected amount (e.g., by a further five amps), thus causing further 
closure of SMV 130. This reduced setting is preferably maintained for a 
minimum longer time period (e.g., 10 minutes). 
If after this period the ENCT value received by controller 150 is still 
above the limit stored in memory 156, the controller 150 triggers a high 
engine coolant alarm temperature and displays that alarm to the operator 
through display 164. The controller further holds the low current setting 
until the engine coolant temperature falls below the maximum timed engine 
coolant temperature value stored in memory 156. If the ENCT value input 
into controller falls below the maximum timed engine coolant temperature 
stored in memory 156, then the processor of controller 150 operates to 
restore the original maximum allowable current setting at a rate of one 
amp per minute, thus maximizing the refrigeration capacity once more 
without recreating the undesirable engine coolant temperature conditions 
again. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, 
additions, omissions, and modifications can be made to the illustrated 
embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the 
following claims.