Patent ID: 8185251

Claim:
A shipping container assembly comprising: a container defining a temperature controlled space; an air-conditioning unit coupled to the container and including: an electric compressor; a condenser receiving a flow of refrigerant from the electric compressor; and an evaporator receiving the flow of refrigerant from the condenser to remove heat from the temperature controlled space; a generator set coupled to at least one of the container and the air-conditioning unit, in electrical communication with the air-conditioning unit, and including a prime mover and a generator coupled to the prime mover; and a controller operating the prime mover in one of a start/stop mode wherein the controller selectively starts and stops operation of the prime mover, and a continuous mode wherein the controller runs the prime mover continuously; wherein when the controller operates the prime mover in the start/stop mode, the controller automatically starts and stops the prime mover based on a cooling demand such that the generator produces and supplies electricity to the air-conditioning unit when the prime mover is operating and the generator does not produce electricity when the prime mover is not operating.