Organic rankine cycle augmented power supply system for mobile refrigeration units

Abstract

A mobile refrigeration unit includes a refrigeration system having a plurality of electric motor driven components and an on-board power supply system for generating electric current and supplying the electric current to the plurality of electric motor driven components. The power supply system includes a first generator for generating a first portion of electric power, a second generator for generating a first portion of electric power, a fuel fired engine driving the first generator, and an organic Rankine cycle system driving the second generator. An engine exhaust line connects the fuel-fired engine in exhaust gas flow communication with the organic Rankine system. The unit may also include a storage battery and a power management system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mobile refrigeration unit comprising:
 a refrigeration system having a plurality of electric motor driven components; and   an on-board power supply system for generating electric current and supplying the electric current to the plurality of electric motor driven components, the power supply system having:   a first generator for generating a first portion of electric power for powering the plurality of electric motor driven components;   a second generator for generating a first portion of electric power for powering the plurality of electric motor driven components;   a fuel fired engine driving the first generator; and   an organic Rankine cycle system driving the second generator.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an engine exhaust line connecting the fuel fired engine in exhaust gas flow communication with the organic Rankine system. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fuel fired engine comprises a diesel engine. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a storage battery; and 
 a power management system including a power switching module in electric connection with the first generator, the second generator, and the storage battery. 
 
     
     
         5 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 4  wherein power system management system comprises at least one of an AC power bus and a DC power bus. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 4  wherein the power management system comprises an AC-to-DC converter in electric communication with the storage battery and the power switching module. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 4  wherein the power management system comprises a DC-to-AC converter in electric communication with the storage battery and the power switching module. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system comprises a refrigerant vapor compression system having a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger, and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger disposed in a refrigerant flow circuit in a series refrigerant flow relationship. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile refrigeration unit as recited in  claim 8  wherein the plurality of electric motor driven components includes the refrigerant compressor, at least one air moving device operatively associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger, and at least one air moving device operatively associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger.