US-20260126241-A1 - AUTOMATING A PRESSURE DECAY INTEGRITY TEST OF A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE OF A REFRIGERATED CONTAINER

US20260126241A1US 20260126241 A1US20260126241 A1US 20260126241A1US-20260126241-A1

Abstract

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.

Inventors

Farley Postgate
David Brisson
Rob Veltman

Assignees

CARRIER CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251106

Claims (20)

1 . A method of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the method comprising: 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 comprising: 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.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the executing further comprises ceasing operation of the TRU.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the pressure transducer comprises a digital hybrid sensor package, the digital hybrid sensor package comprises 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 comprises 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.
9 . A method of automating a pressure decay integrity test of a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the method comprising: 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 comprising: 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.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings.
11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the executing further comprises ceasing operation of the TRU.
12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container.
14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU.
15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met.
16 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein: the pressure transducer comprises a digital hybrid sensor package, the digital hybrid sensor package comprises 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 comprises 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.
17 . A container system, comprising: a container configured for refrigeration by a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU), the TRU comprising 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 in signal communication with the compressor and the pressure transducer, the controller being configured to execute the automated pressure decay integrity test by: 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.
18 . The container system according to claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to record an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings.
19 . The container system according to claim 17 , wherein the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU.
20 . The container system according to claim 17 , wherein: the pressure transducer comprises a digital hybrid sensor package, the digital hybrid sensor package comprises 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 comprises 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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/717,520, filed Nov. 7, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference BACKGROUND The present disclosure 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 an aspect of the disclosure, 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. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the method further includes recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing further includes ceasing operation of the TRU. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, a precondition of the automated pressure decay integrity test being passed is that gas conditions inside the container are met. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the pressure transducer includes a digital hybrid sensor package. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, 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 an aspect of the disclosure, 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. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the method further includes recording an indication of whether the automated pressure decay integrity test is passed along with the readings. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing further includes ceasing operation of the TRU. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing is completed following pre-trip inspection of the container. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the executing is completable prior to loading the container and following the loading of the container. In accordance with one or more additional and/or alternative embodiments, the pressure transducer is installed in a center of the TRU. In accordance with one or more additio