Design and implementation of solar assisted energy storage system for refrigerated trailer

This study introduces the design and implementation of a solar-assisted energy storage system for a refrigerated trailer. It is aimed to ensure the continuous operation of the cooling system by designing the hybrid energy storage system to be used together with the trailer, which is a mobile system. The conventional cooling process is accomplished by running the compressor on a trailer only at a fixed time with the grid power. After the cooling process, the trailer can go as far as it can keep the cold, or find a point where it can use energy from a different network, wait for a long time, and perform the cooling process again. Otherwise, there is a possibility of deterioration of the material it carries. In this study, an experimental cooling system was developed, capable of operating independently during driving without requiring a grid connection. The system integrates a 35 kW Li-ion battery, 5 kW PV panels, and an inverter to power a 13-kW compressor. If the grid is available when the trailer is at rest, both the battery can be charged, and the energy required to cool the trailer is drawn by the compressor from the grid. If there is a need for cooling in the absence of the grid, the energy required to run the compressor is supplied from the PV panels and the battery; if there is no need for cooling, the battery will be charged by the solar panel. These scenarios are valid when the vehicle is stationary or in motion, and the hybrid inverter will coordinate the PV panels, battery, and AC grid output with the energy management algorithm it contains. With this study, it will be ensured that the cold air in the trailer is preserved for a longer time.