A refrigerated container or reefer is an intermodal container (shipping container) used in intermodal freight transport that is capable of refrigeration for the transportation of temperature-sensitive, perishable cargo such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and other similar items.
While a reefer will have an integral refrigeration unit, they rely on external power, from electrical power points (“reefer points”) at a land-based site, a container ship or on quay. When being transported over the road on a trailer or over rail wagon, they can be powered from diesel poweredgenerators ("gen sets") which attach to the container whilst on road journeys. Refrigerated containers are capable of controlling temperature ranging from −65 °C (−85 °F) up to 40 °C (104 °F).[1]
Some reefers are equipped with a water cooling system, which can be used if the reefer is stored below deck on a vessel without adequate ventilation to remove the heat generated.[2]
Water cooling systems are more expensive than air current ventilation to remove heat from cargo holds, and the use of water cooling systems is declining.[1] Air cooling and water cooling are usually combined.
The impact on society of reefer containers is vast, allowing consumers all over the world to enjoy fresh produce at any time of year and experience previously unavailable fresh produce from many other parts of the world.
Another refrigeration system sometimes used where the journey time is short is total loss refrigeration, in which frozen carbon dioxide ice (or sometimes liquid nitrogen) is used for cooling.[3] The cryogenically frozen gas slowly evaporates, and thus cools the container and is vented from it. The container is cooled for as long as there is frozen gas available in the system. These have been used in railcars for many years, providing up to 17 days temperature regulation.[4] Whilst refrigerated containers are not common for air transport, total loss dry ice systems are usually used.[3] These containers have a chamber which is loaded with solid carbon dioxide and the temperature is regulated by a thermostatically controlled electric fan, and the air freight versions are intended to maintain temperature for up to around 100 hours.[5]
Full-size intermodal containers equipped with these "cryogenic" systems can maintain their temperature for the 30 days needed for sea transport.[4] Since they do not require an external power supply, cryogenically refrigerated containers can be stored anywhere on any vessel that can accommodate "dry" (un-refrigerated) ocean freight containers.
Redundant refrigerationedit
A container fitted with two refrigeration units and a single diesel generator
Valuable, temperature-sensitive, or hazardous cargo often require the utmost in system reliability. This type of reliability can only be achieved through the installation of a redundant refrigeration system.
A redundant refrigeration system consists of integrated primary and back-up refrigeration units. If the primary unit malfunctions, the secondary unit automatically starts. To provide reliable power to the refrigeration units, these containers are often fitted with one or more diesel generator sets.
^ ab"Bewaking temperatuur tijdens transport van levensmiddelen over grote afstanden. (NL)". Innotact Consulting B.V. October 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-30.[permanent dead link]
^"Reefer container meaning and definition". Alconet Containers. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
^ ab(PDF). International Institute of Refrigeration. August 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
^ ab. Cryo-Power Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009.
^(PDF). Envirotainer Engineering. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
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February 16, 2024
refrigerated, container, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, de. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Refrigerated container news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message A refrigerated container or reefer is an intermodal container shipping container used in intermodal freight transport that is capable of refrigeration for the transportation of temperature sensitive perishable cargo such as fruits vegetables meat and other similar items A Maersk Line reefer container on a semi trailer truckContainers loaded on a container ship with the refrigeration units visibleInterior of a refrigerated containerReefer containers of Maersk Line and Hamburg SudReefer sockets used to power reefer containersWhile a reefer will have an integral refrigeration unit they rely on external power from electrical power points reefer points at a land based site a container ship or on quay When being transported over the road on a trailer or over rail wagon they can be powered from diesel powered generators gen sets which attach to the container whilst on road journeys Refrigerated containers are capable of controlling temperature ranging from 65 C 85 F up to 40 C 104 F 1 Some reefers are equipped with a water cooling system which can be used if the reefer is stored below deck on a vessel without adequate ventilation to remove the heat generated 2 Water cooling systems are more expensive than air current ventilation to remove heat from cargo holds and the use of water cooling systems is declining 1 Air cooling and water cooling are usually combined The impact on society of reefer containers is vast allowing consumers all over the world to enjoy fresh produce at any time of year and experience previously unavailable fresh produce from many other parts of the world Contents 1 Cryogenic cooling 2 Redundant refrigeration 3 Reefer types and dimensions 4 See also 5 ReferencesCryogenic cooling editAnother refrigeration system sometimes used where the journey time is short is total loss refrigeration in which frozen carbon dioxide ice or sometimes liquid nitrogen is used for cooling 3 The cryogenically frozen gas slowly evaporates and thus cools the container and is vented from it The container is cooled for as long as there is frozen gas available in the system These have been used in railcars for many years providing up to 17 days temperature regulation 4 Whilst refrigerated containers are not common for air transport total loss dry ice systems are usually used 3 These containers have a chamber which is loaded with solid carbon dioxide and the temperature is regulated by a thermostatically controlled electric fan and the air freight versions are intended to maintain temperature for up to around 100 hours 5 Full size intermodal containers equipped with these cryogenic systems can maintain their temperature for the 30 days needed for sea transport 4 Since they do not require an external power supply cryogenically refrigerated containers can be stored anywhere on any vessel that can accommodate dry un refrigerated ocean freight containers Redundant refrigeration edit nbsp A container fitted with two refrigeration units and a single diesel generatorValuable temperature sensitive or hazardous cargo often require the utmost in system reliability This type of reliability can only be achieved through the installation of a redundant refrigeration system A redundant refrigeration system consists of integrated primary and back up refrigeration units If the primary unit malfunctions the secondary unit automatically starts To provide reliable power to the refrigeration units these containers are often fitted with one or more diesel generator sets Containers fitted with these systems may be required for transporting certain dangerous goods in order to comply with the International Maritime Organization s regulations Reefer types and dimensions editThe reefers have the same dimensions as intermodal containers and thus cannot be loaded in double stack on rail flatcar See also editCold chain Reefer ship Refrigerator car Refrigerator truck Thermal insulation Reefer container housing unitsReferences edit a b Bewaking temperatuur tijdens transport van levensmiddelen over grote afstanden NL Innotact Consulting B V October 2008 Retrieved 2015 06 30 permanent dead link Reefer container meaning and definition Alconet Containers Retrieved 23 April 2018 a b Refrigerated transport Progress achieved and challenges to be met PDF International Institute of Refrigeration August 2003 Archived from the original PDF on 2010 08 20 Retrieved 2010 05 01 a b History Cryo Power Enterprises LLC Archived from the original on June 27 2009 Refrigerated container with temperature control RKN series and RAP series Operation manual PDF Envirotainer Engineering August 2001 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 10 08 Retrieved 2010 05 01 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Refrigerated containers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Refrigerated container amp oldid 1170196917, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
