FIELD

The technologies disclosed and recited herein pertain generally to delivering power to primary and accessory electrical components associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, as well as to a power source of the vehicle itself.

BACKGROUND

A transport climate-controlled system is generally used to control environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature, humidity, air quality, and the like) within a climate-controlled space of a transport unit (e.g., a truck, a container (such as a container on a flat car, an intermodal container, etc.), a box car, a semi-tractor, a bus, or other similar transport unit). The transport climate-controlled system may include, for example, a transport refrigeration system (TRS) and/or a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The TRS may control environmental condition(s) within the climate-controlled space to maintain cargo (e.g., produce, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, etc.). The HVAC system may control environmental conditions(s) within the climate-controlled space to provide passenger comfort for passengers travelling in the transport unit. In some transport units, the transport climate-controlled system may be installed externally (e.g., on a rooftop or under mount of the transport unit, on a front wall of the transport unit, etc.).

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein are directed to the prioritized delivery of energy to primary and accessory electrical components associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, as well as to a power source of the vehicle itself.

To operate one or more of accessory electrical components in parallel to delivering power to a vehicle battery, via a power distribution unit, the embodiments described, recited, and suggested herein facilitate understanding dynamic energy available to the accessory electrical components as well as the vehicle battery, and then distributing energy in a prioritized manner to optimize the system for a more efficient energy delivery process, with regards to user preference, energy availability, and energy needs.

As defined herein, an accessory electrical component is an electrically powered accessory configured to be used with at least one of a vehicle, trailer, and a transport container.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a computer-readable medium stores executable instructions that may cause an energy distribution controller, which is electrically connected to both an energy source and an electrical system, to render efficient energy allocation for the electrical system. The instructions cause the controller to perform functions that include: receiving energy requirements for the electrical system under various conditions; receiving information indicating energy available from the energy source; and determining modes of operation for the electrical system for each of the various conditions that correspond the information indicating energy available and the energy requirements for the electrical system under each of the various conditions.

In accordance with at least one other embodiment, a computer-readable medium stores executable components that, upon execution, cause an energy distribution controller, which is electrically connected to both an energy source and an electrical system, to render efficient energy allocation for the electrical system. The executable components include a source meter that determines amounts of energy that is available from the energy source; a system cache that stores energy requirements for the electrical system under various conditions; a mode control unit that determines modes of operation for the electrical system under each of the various conditions; and an activation unit that activates one of the determined modes of operation for the electrical system.

In accordance with at least one other embodiment, an energy distribution controller is connected to both an energy source and an electrical system that includes a battery of a vehicle that is at least partially re-chargeable and a climate control unit that is used in a transport climate-controlled system that provides climate control to at least one of an internal space of the vehicle. The controller performs a method that includes: receiving energy requirements for the battery and the climate control unit under various conditions; receiving information indicating energy available from the energy source; and determining modes of operation for the battery and the climate-controlled system under each of the various conditions. The modes of operation include, at least, one that prioritizes allocation of energy to the battery over allocation of energy to the climate-controlled system unit at least some of the various conditions, and another that prioritizes allocation of energy to the climate-controlled system over allocation of energy to the battery.

