Product integrity is the key issue for fleets hauling temperature-sensitive cargo. To satisfy their customers' demands, they need reliable refrigeration equipment that gives them the ability to precisely control the temperature inside their trucks or trailers. Units that are easy to use, have low maintenance requirements and provide low life-cycle costs are also important qualities.
Thermo King ensures that its products are designed the way fleets want them rather than how the company thinks they want them by conducting “Voice of the Customer” studies. A new series of controllers designed for truck multi-temp — the Spectrum controller — is the direct result of customer input.
The Spectrum TS multi-temperature refrigeration system for trucks uses remote evaporators, a scroll compressor and Thermo King's new Spectrum controller to provide tighter temperature control, higher capacities, faster temperature pull-down and recovery, and better fuel efficiency, as well as less maintenance and costs, the company says.
The scroll compressor has 85% fewer moving parts compared to a traditional reciprocating compressor, resulting in greater reliability and longer life. Also, because of the compressor's higher efficiency, the system burns less fuel, which in turn helps lower emissions.
Last year, Thermo King introduced the Spectrum series of multi-temperature transport refrigeration systems for trailers and raised the maintenance intervals from 1,500 to 3,000 hours. In Spectrum TS truck applications, maintenance intervals are extended from 750 to 2,000 hours.
Also in the past year, Thermo King's work with cryogenics technology has expanded to include truck units. Cryogenics transport refrigeration systems use carbon dioxide (CO-2) for temperature management, eliminating the need for ozone-depleting commercial refrigerants such as CFC or HCFC.
Thermo King's cryogenic units for trucks include a pure cryogenic ST-CR 300 system as well as a CO-2 hybrid unit. The ST-CR 300 runs totally on the cryogenic system, using liquid CO-2 as a substitute for diesel fuel and thus producing zero emissions. The closed-loop cryogenic system is said to provide large capacities and allow for fast pull-down. It's especially designed for use in urban markets with multi-stop deliveries.
The company notes that headway is also being made in building an infrastructure to support cryogenics. The initial focus is on over-the-road trucking and putting up fill stations in areas where there is a heavy distribution of trucks.
Carrier Transicold is also focusing on reduced maintenance and increased ease of use of its refrigeration units. Improved durability, reliability, low-cost operation, and cargo protection and quality, the manufacturer states, are being built into new product designs.
A new trailer refrigeration line — the X Series — builds on Carrier's Extra and Ultra reefer platforms. X Series products are designed to be simple and durable, yet provide exceptional performance, including maximum cooling capacity and faster pull-down and recovery times, according to Carrier.
XT trailer refrigeration units operate at 23% lower rpm, which Carrier says increases engine and compressor longevity. Additional benefits include improved fuel economy and extended maintenance intervals. Reduced maintenance costs are achieved through a design that uses 18% fewer parts as well as a 6-lb. decrease in refrigerant charge.
XT models have removable doors and wear components are placed within easy reach to assist technicians in servicing them. The fan clutch assembly, condenser/radiator coil, muffler, evaporator pod, fan shaft and alternator mounting are all designed to reduce noise as well.
Carrier says that another way fleets are increasing their profitability is by cutting costs from the distribution chain. A new value-added product called the SmartAir System is designed to pre-cool and ripen fruit like bananas in-transit, eliminating the need for using land-based facilities.
The SmartAir system integrates trailer, refrigeration and air-handling equipment, ensuring that pressurized air gets distributed to every square inch of the load. Product temperature and respiration are precisely controlled. When the SmartAir system is not being used to process perishable cargo, the manufacturer says, its versatility allows fleets to ship everything from ice cream to lettuce.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CIRCLE NUMBER ON REPLY CARD:
Carrier Transicold 310
www.trucktrailer.carrier.com
Thermo King 311
www.thermoking.com
