Vehicle refrigeration system and related methods

Abstract

A vehicle refrigeration system includes a vehicle power device, and a vehicle refrigeration device coupled to the vehicle power device. The vehicle refrigeration device includes an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid, a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and a compressor configured to operate based upon a combined voltage, and transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser.

1 . A vehicle refrigeration system comprising:
 a vehicle power device comprising
 a vehicle power source configured to output a first voltage, 
 a plurality of batteries, each battery configured to provide a second voltage, 
 a plurality of switches coupled between said batteries, and 
 a controller coupled to said plurality of switches and configured to
 place said plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that said plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from said vehicle power source, and 
 place said plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that said plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and 
 
 a vehicle refrigeration device comprising
 an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid, 
 a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from said evaporator, and 
 a compressor configured to
 operate based upon the combined voltage, and 
 transmit the refrigerant fluid from said evaporator to said condenser. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said condenser comprises:
 first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and 
 first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between said first and second condenser units. 
 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by said electrical motor. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said controller has a first input coupled to an output of said vehicle power source; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 4  wherein said controller has a second input coupled to an output of said plurality of batteries; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the second voltage is less than the threshold voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said controller has a third input coupled to said compressor; and wherein said controller is configured to place said plurality of switches in the first and second modes of operation based upon an operational characteristic of said compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said vehicle power device further comprises a power switch coupled between the vehicle power source and each battery of said plurality thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 7  wherein said controller is configured to control said power switch. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 7  wherein said controller is configured to close said power switch after said plurality of switches has entered the first mode of operation. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 7  wherein said controller is configured to open said power switch in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein said vehicle power source comprises a vehicle starter battery, and an alternator coupled thereto. 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a vehicle refrigeration system, the method comprising:
 coupling a vehicle power device comprising
 a vehicle power source configured to output a first voltage, 
 a plurality of batteries, each battery configured to provide a second voltage, 
 a plurality of switches coupled between the batteries, and 
 a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and configured to
 place the plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from the vehicle power source, and 
 place the plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and 
 
   coupling a vehicle refrigeration device to the vehicle power device, the vehicle refrigeration device comprising
 an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid, 
 a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and 
 a compressor configured to
 operate based upon the combined voltage, and 
 transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the condenser comprises:
 first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and 
 first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between the first and second condenser units. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by the electrical motor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the controller has a first input coupled to an output of the vehicle power source; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the controller has a second input coupled to an output of the plurality of batteries; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the second voltage is less than the threshold voltage. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a vehicle refrigeration system, the method comprising:
 operating a vehicle power device by at least
 operating a vehicle power source to output a first voltage, 
 operating a plurality of batteries so that each battery provides a second voltage, 
 operating a plurality of switches coupled between the batteries, and 
 operating a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and to
 place the plurality of switches in a first mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in parallel and receives a charge from the vehicle power source, and 
 place the plurality of switches in a second mode of operation so that the plurality of batteries is coupled in series and provides a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage; and 
 
   operating a vehicle refrigeration device while coupled to the vehicle power device, the vehicle refrigeration device comprising
 an evaporator configured to provide cooling based upon refrigerant fluid, 
 a condenser configured to process the refrigerant fluid downstream from the evaporator, and 
 a compressor configured to
 operate based upon the combined voltage, and 
 transmit the refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the condenser. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the condenser comprises:
 first and second condenser units being spaced apart; and 
 first and second condenser fans being aligned with each other and both being between the first and second condenser units. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the compressor comprises an electrical motor configured to operate based upon the combined voltage, and a compressor unit configured to be driven by the electrical motor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the controller has a first input coupled to an output of the vehicle power source; and wherein the controller is configured to place the plurality of switches in the first mode of operation only when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage.