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EP-4741790-A1 - AUTOMATING A PRESSURE DECAY INTEGRITY TEST OF A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE OF A REFRIGERATED CONTAINER

EP4741790A1EP 4741790 A1EP4741790 A1EP 4741790A1EP-4741790-A1

Abstract

A method (400) of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container (10) configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The method (400) includes connecting a controller (70) programmed with an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container (10) to a compressor (26) of the TRU and a pressure transducer (501) installed in the container (10) and executing (406) the automated pressure decay integrity test by the controller (70). The executing (406) includes activating (4061) the compressor (26) to pressurize the container (10), receiving (4062) readings of the pressure transducer (501) and determining (4063), from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed.

Inventors

  • POSTGATE, Farley
  • BRISSON, David
  • VELTMAN, Rob

Assignees

  • Carrier Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251105

Claims (13)

  1. A method (400) of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container (10) configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the method comprising: connecting a controller (70) programmed with an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container to a compressor (26) of the TRU and a pressure transducer (501) installed in the container; and executing (406) the automated pressure decay integrity test by the controller, the executing comprising: activating (4061) the compressor to pressurize the container; receiving (4062) readings of the pressure transducer; and determining (4063), from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed.
  2. A method (400) of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container (10) configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the method comprising: generating (402) an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container; disposing (403) a controller (70) programmed with the automated pressure decay integrity test in signal communication with a compressor (26) of the TRU and a pressure transducer (501) installed in the container; and executing (406) the automated pressure decay integrity test by the controller, the executing comprising: activating (4061) the compressor to pressurize the container; receiving (4062) readings of the pressure transducer; and determining (4063), from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed.
  3. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, further comprising recording (407) an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings.
  4. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the executing (406) further comprises ceasing operation of the TRU.
  5. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the executing (406) is completed following pre-trip inspection (405) of the container (10).
  6. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the executing (406) is completable prior to loading the container (10) and following the loading of the container.
  7. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure transducer (501) is installed in a center of the TRU.
  8. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met (610).
  9. The method (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein: the pressure transducer (501) comprises a digital hybrid sensor package (510), the digital hybrid sensor package comprises a carbon dioxide sensor (511), an oxygen sensor (512), a relative humidity sensor (513) and a pressure sensor (514), and the determining (4063), from the readings, of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed comprises using respective readings of the relative humidity sensor and the pressure sensor to compensate (40631) for relative humidity and pressure effects on respective readings of the carbon dioxide sensor and the oxygen sensor.
  10. A container system (500), comprising: a container (10) configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the TRU comprising a compressor (26); a pressure transducer (501) installed in the container; and a controller (70) programmed with an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container and disposed (403) in signal communication with the compressor and the pressure transducer, the controller being configured to execute (406) the automated pressure decay integrity test by: activating (4061) the compressor to pressurize the container; receiving (4062) readings of the pressure transducer; and determining (4063), from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed.
  11. The container system (500) according to claim 10, wherein the controller (70) is further configured to record (407) an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings.
  12. The container system (500) according to either of claims 10 or 11, wherein the pressure transducer (501) is installed in a center of the TRU.
  13. The container system (500) according to any of claims 10-12, wherein: the pressure transducer (501) comprises a digital hybrid sensor package (510), the digital hybrid sensor package comprises a carbon dioxide sensor (511), an oxygen sensor (512), a relative humidity sensor (513) and a pressure sensor (514), and the determining (4063), from the readings, of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed comprises using respective readings of the relative humidity sensor and the pressure sensor to compensate (40631) for relative humidity and pressure effects on respective readings of the carbon dioxide sensor and the oxygen sensor.

Description

BACKGROUND The present invention relates to refrigerated containers and, more particularly, to automation of a pressure decay integrity test of a controlled atmosphere of a refrigerated container. A typical refrigerated cargo container, such as those utilized to transport cargo via sea, rail or road, is a container modified to include a refrigeration unit located at one end of the container. The refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. A volume of refrigerant circulates throughout the refrigeration unit and one or more evaporator fans of the refrigeration unit blow a flow of supply air across the evaporator thereby cooling the supply air and forcing it out into the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The method includes connecting a controller programmed with an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container to a compressor of the TRU and a pressure transducer installed in the container and executing the automated pressure decay integrity test by the controller. The executing includes activating the compressor to pressurize the container, receiving readings of the pressure transducer and determining, from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed. Optionally, the method further includes recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings. Optionally, the executing further includes ceasing operation of the TRU. Optionally, the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container. Optionally, the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container. Optionally, the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU. Optionally, a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met. Optionally, the pressure transducer includes a digital hybrid sensor package. Optionally, the digital hybrid sensor package includes a carbon dioxide sensor, an oxygen sensor, a relative humidity sensor and a pressure sensor and the determining, from the readings, of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed includes using respective readings of the relative humidity sensor and the pressure sensor to compensate for relative humidity and pressure effects on respective readings of the carbon dioxide sensor and the oxygen sensor. According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The method includes generating an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container, disposing a controller programmed with the automated pressure decay integrity test in signal communication with a compressor of the TRU and a pressure transducer installed in the container and executing the automated pressure decay integrity test by the controller. The executing includes activating the compressor to pressurize the container, receiving readings of the pressure transducer and determining, from the readings, whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed. Optionally, the method further includes recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings. Optionally, the executing further includes ceasing operation of the TRU. Optionally, the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container. Optionally, the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container. Optionally, the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU. Optionally, a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met. Optionally, the pressure transducer includes a digital hybrid sensor package. Optionally, the digital hybrid sensor package includes a carbon dioxide sensor, an oxygen sensor, a relative humidity sensor and a pressure sensor and the determining, from the readings, of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed includes using respective readings of the relative humidity sensor and the pressure sensor to compensate for relative humidity and pressure effects on respective readings of the carbon dioxide sensor and the oxygen sensor. According to a third aspect of the invention, a container system is provided and includes a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the TRU including a compressor, a pressure transducer installed in the container and a controller programmed with an automated pressure decay integrity test of the container and disposed i