Multi-temperature transport refrigeration system

Abstract

A multi-temperature transport refrigeration system (TRS) for a refrigerated transport unit having an interior space divided into a plurality of zones is disclosed. The multi-temperature TRS includes a thermal accumulator in a first of the plurality of zones. The thermal accumulator includes a phase change material in a first state to absorb thermal energy from the first of the plurality of zones of the interior space during transformation to a second state. The first of the plurality of zones is maintained at a first temperature and a second of the plurality of zones is maintained at a second temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-temperature transport refrigeration system (TRS) for a refrigerated transport unit having an interior space divided into a plurality of zones, comprising:
 a thermal accumulator in a first of the plurality of zones, wherein the thermal accumulator includes a phase change material in a first state to absorb thermal energy from the first of the plurality of zones of the interior space during transformation to a second state; and   wherein the first of the plurality of zones is maintained at a first temperature and a second of the plurality of zones is maintained at a second temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The TRS according to  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are the same. 
     
     
         3 . The TRS according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan configured to draw air from the first of the plurality of zones into a second of the plurality of zones.   
     
     
         4 . The TRS according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit;   an evaporator unit disposed in one of the first of the plurality of zones and the second of the plurality of zones; and   a heat transfer fluid circuit connecting the transport refrigeration unit and the evaporator unit, the heat transfer fluid circuit configured to direct a heat transfer fluid from the transport refrigeration unit to the evaporator unit.   
     
     
         5 . The TRS according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second thermal accumulator in the second of the plurality of zones, wherein the second thermal accumulator includes a phase change material in a first state to absorb thermal energy from the second of the plurality of zones of the interior space during transformation to a second state.   
     
     
         6 . The TRS according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit;   a heat exchanger disposed within the thermal accumulator; and   a heat transfer fluid circuit connecting the transport refrigeration unit and the heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid circuit configured to direct a heat transfer fluid from the transport refrigeration unit to the heat exchanger for charging the phase change material.   
     
     
         7 . A refrigerated transport unit, comprising:
 a transport unit including:
 an interior space and a partition dividing the interior space into a first and a second zone, the first zone configured to be maintained at a first set point temperature and the second zone configured to be maintained at a second set point temperature; 
   a transport refrigeration system, including:
 a thermal accumulator in the first zone, wherein the thermal accumulator includes a phase change material in a first state to absorb thermal energy from the first zone of the interior space during transformation to a second state; and 
 wherein the first zone is maintained at a first temperature and the second zone is maintained at a second temperature. 
   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated transport unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are the same. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated transport unit according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a fan configured to draw air from the first zone into the second zone.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated transport unit according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit;   an evaporator unit disposed in one of the first of the plurality of zones and the second of the plurality of zones; and   a heat transfer fluid circuit connecting the transport refrigeration unit and the evaporator unit, the heat transfer fluid circuit configured to direct a heat transfer fluid from the transport refrigeration unit to the evaporator unit.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated transport unit according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second thermal accumulator in the second zone, wherein the second thermal accumulator includes a phase change material in a first state to absorb thermal energy from the second zone of the interior space during transformation to a second state.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated transport unit according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit; and   a heat exchanger disposed within the thermal accumulator;   a heat transfer fluid circuit connecting the transport refrigeration unit and the heat exchanger, the heat transfer fluid circuit configured to direct a heat transfer fluid from the transport refrigeration unit to the heat exchanger for charging the phase change material.   
     
     
         13 . A method of providing controlling temperature within a multi-zone transport unit using a multi-temperature transport refrigeration system (TRS), comprising:
 providing a thermal accumulator including a phase change material in a first state in a first of a plurality of zones of the multi-zone transport unit;   heating or cooling the first of a plurality of zones of the multi-zone transport unit with the thermal accumulator to a first temperature;   transferring thermal energy from the first of the plurality of zones of the multi-zone transport unit to the thermal accumulator;   absorbing, by the thermal accumulator, thermal energy as the phase change material changes to a second state; and   heating or cooling a second of the plurality of zones of the multi-zone transport unit to a second temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 drawing air from the first of the plurality of zones into the second of the plurality of zones.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing an evaporator unit for heating or cooling one of the first of the plurality of zones and the second of the plurality of zones.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 heating or cooling the second of the plurality of zones with a second thermal accumulator to the second temperature.