System And Method For Cooling A Compartmentalized Refrigeration Enclosure

Abstract

A refrigeration enclosure comprises a cargo box with a partition wall that subdivides the cargo box into compartments. In one embodiment, the refrigeration enclosure includes a refrigeration system with a refrigeration unit for cooling one of the compartments and an air moving device disposed proximate the partition wall to facilitate airflow from the first compartment to the second compartment. The refrigeration system further comprises a control device coupled to each of the air moving device and the refrigeration unit. The control device provides control signals that vary the operation of each of the air moving device and the refrigeration unit in response to variations in the operating conditions (e.g., temperature) inside each of the compartments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cooling a cargo box, said system comprising:
 a refrigeration unit having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator in flow connection with a first compartment of the cargo box;   an air moving device in flow connection with a second compartment of the cargo box;   a sensor responsive to operating conditions in each of the first compartment and the second compartment; and   a control device coupled to each of the refrigeration unit, the air moving device, and the sensors,   wherein the control device is configured to generate control signals that vary operation of the refrigeration unit and the air moving device in response to deviations between the inputs and operating parameters that define the operating conditions.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is responsive to the temperature of each of the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises a first temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the first compartment and a second temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the second compartment. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to prioritize operation of the refrigeration unit and the air moving device. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the input from the first compartment is prioritized over the input from the second compartment. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device implements a PID control scheme that utilizes the temperature of the first compartment and the temperature of the second compartment. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air moving device comprises a fan in flow connection with each of the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigeration enclosure, comprising:
 a cargo box having a partition wall subdividing the volume of the cargo box into a first compartment and a second compartment;   a refrigeration unit having an evaporator in flow connection with the first compartment;   an air moving device disposed proximate the partition wall, the air moving device in flow connection with each of the first compartment and the second compartment; and   a control device coupled to each of the refrigeration unit and the air moving device,   wherein the control device is configured to generate control signals that vary operation of the refrigeration unit and the air moving device in response to deviations in operating conditions of the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         9 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 8 , wherein the partition wall comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the air moving device is disposed in one of the openings and positioned to draw air from the first compartment and disperse the air to the second compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 9 , further comprising an air flap disposed in one of the openings, wherein the air flap permits airflow from the second compartment to the first compartment. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 8 , further comprising sensors disposed in each of the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the sensors are configured to provide inputs respecting the operating conditions. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein the control device is configured to prioritize the operating conditions of the first compartment over the operating conditions of the second compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 8 , wherein the control device is configured to maintain the first compartment at a temperature that is less than the temperature of the second compartment. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigeration enclosure according to  claim 8 , further comprising an access point for each of the first compartment and the second compartment. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cooling compartments in a refrigeration enclosure, said method comprising:
 receiving an input respecting an operating temperature for each of the compartments of the cargo box;   generating a first control signal in response to the inputs to initiate a first pull down of the operating temperature of the first compartment; and   generating a second control signal in response to the inputs to initiate a second pull down of the operating temperature of the second compartment,   wherein the second pull down disperses air from the first compartment into the second compartment.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising prioritizing the first pull-down over the second pull-down. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first control signal indicates that the inputs vary from a set point for the first compartment. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second control signal indicates that the inputs vary from a set point for the second compartment. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the operating temperature of the second compartment is at least about 5° C. greater that the operating temperature of the first compartment.