Study and Development of Photovoltaic Power Generation System for Hybrid Refrigeration Units Applied in Refrigerated Semi-Trailers

This article presents the development of a solution that uses solar energy to power refrigerated semi-trailers. The solution employs photovoltaic cells on the surfaces of the semi-trailer, combined with a battery pack, which take advantage of a significant area with solar exposure and generate sufficient electric power to supply the refrigeration unit responsible for controlling the temperature inside the climate-controlled chamber. In addition to providing energy for the refrigeration unit, the solar system can be integrated with the auxiliary traction system used in some semi-trailers, functioning as a range extender for the battery. To achieve the main objectives of this development, studies were conducted to evaluate solar radiation through simulations considering different regions of Brazil. A hardware system was also developed for energy management and to drive the refrigeration unit, combining a high-power drive system composed of filters, DC/DC converters, and transformers to match the voltage levels of the systems, with a microprocessed circuit for functional logic control. As a result, a system capable of operating the refrigeration unit using solar energy was obtained, which can reduce diesel consumption by up to 1800 liters per year.