2016 ASHRAE Annual Conference

The transport refrigeration systems used in trucks and trailers are an integral component of the cold chain for perishable foods, pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products. The technology used in these systems is continually evolving to meet food quality standards, as well as current and future regulatory requirements for greenhouse gas emissions. Additional technologies have enabled greater fleet management and control, as well as reductions in customer operating costs. The present talk provides a summary of transport refrigeration requirements, along with an overview of available technologies used to address them and a discussion of the related technical challenges and design tradeoffs.

Advances in transport refrigeration and air-conditioning systems used in ships have evolved over many years. Today’s systems must incorporate the latest available technologies, taking into consideration current and future regulatory requirements for refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, food quality standards and customer expectations around total operating costs. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies generally, along with marine air-conditioning systems, is presented and includes associated technical challenges, trade-offs and potential design impacts.

Air cycle is the traditional refrigeration technology in the aerospace industry. Moving toward “more-electric” and “all-electric” aircraft concepts calls on high efficiency refrigeration technologies. Vapor cycle technologies are more efficient than the air cycle technologies and, therefore, the number of vapor cycle systems installed in aircrafts will increase in “more-electric” vehicles. At the same time advances in transport refrigeration systems used in airplanes have evolved over many years. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies for aerospace applications is presented, focusing on vapor cycle systems integrated with environmental control systems (ECS).

Advances in transport refrigeration systems used in “Trailers” have evolved over many years. Today’s systems must incorporate the latest available technologies, taking into consideration  current and future regulatory requirements for refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential, energy efficiency, food quality standards and customer expectations around total operating costs. A summary of transport refrigeration system technologies generally, along with marine air conditioning systems, are presented and includes associated technical challenges, trade-offs, and potential design impacts.