A compressor system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle internal combustion engine and a vehicle heating and cooling system. The compressor system comprising a compressor/motor generator defining a compressor motor/generator shaft, a compressor mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft; and a engine clutch mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft and to the vehicle internal combustion engine.

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (3) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (4) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

Systems and methods for heating and cooling a vehicle using a heat pump are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for heating and cooling the vehicle includes a heat pump having: a compressor located in an engine compartment of the vehicle, and an evaporator located in a sleeper or a cab of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller for selecting a cooling mode or a heating mode for the heat pump. In one embodiment, the system includes a clutch for engaging the compressor with a transmission of the vehicle.

A vehicle air-conditioning system, including: a DC-to-AC inverter, for supplying alternating current to the alternator of the vehicle from a battery, for rotating the wheel of the alternator; mechanical connection between the alternator wheel and a wheel of the air-conditioner of the vehicle; and an operating element, for user-operating the DC-to-AC inverter and the clutch of the mechanical connection, thereby operating the air-conditioner without power of the engine wheel.

An assembly, having a generator and electric motors, for a vehicle air-conditioning or cooling system, having: a compressor intended to be driven by a heat engine, a top-up electric motor for driving the compressor when the latter is not or cannot be driven by the heat engine, a generator with permanent magnets having a shaft which can be driven in rotation by the heat engine, the generator and the top-up electric motor being disposed on this shaft, one or more condenser and/or evaporator electric motors of a vehicle air-conditioning or cooling system, said electric motors being configured to be powered by a direct current, the generator powering the electric motor or motors through a converter configured to supply a direct current, notably a low-voltage controller.

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (3) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (4) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

Hybrid-power transport refrigeration system (200) having a fixed-speed generator (202), a refrigeration compressor (204), a power bus (208) electrically connecting the fixed-speed generator (202) to the refrigeration compressor (204), an energy storage device (220) electrically connected to the power bus (208) and arranged to receive power from the fixed-speed generator (202) in an engine-operation mode and to supply power to the refrigeration compressor (204) in a battery-operation mode, and a DC/AC variable frequency drive electrically connected between the energy storage device (220) and the refrigeration compressor (204) to convert a DC power supply from the energy storage device (220) to a variable frequency power to drive the refrigeration compressor (204) when in the battery-operation mode.

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature from a user; (3) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (4) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (5) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

A power management method used for power distribution in a transportation refrigeration unit. The power management method includes calculating engine power according to engine operating parameters; calculating power generator real-time input power according to power generator excitation current; calculating available power based on the power generator real-time input power and the engine power; and managing power distributed to a compressor based on the available power. The present invention further relates to a power management system. The power management method and system have the advantages of simplicity, reliability, stable operation and the like, the power generator real-time input power can be calculated according to the power generator excitation current, thus more power can be provided to the compressor on the premise that the power supply to power generator loads is guaranteed, and the operating efficiency of the transportation refrigeration unit is improved.

Systems and methods for heating and cooling a vehicle using a heat pump are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for heating and cooling the vehicle includes a heat pump having: a compressor located in an engine compartment of the vehicle, and an evaporator located in a sleeper or a cab of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller for selecting a cooling mode or a heating mode for the heat pump. In one embodiment, the system includes a clutch for engaging the compressor with a transmission of the vehicle.