what's new in: Refrigeration units

Whether aimed at saving fuel — and cutting emissions as well — and/or boosting cooling capacity, the latest innovations rolled out by the two leading manufacturers of transport refrigeration units warrant more than a passing look by fleet owners running reefer trucks and trailers.

Thermo King's latest offering is the all-new T-Series unit for straight trucks — the T-1000 Spectrum. The company said the self-powered multi-temp unit benefits from the latest in scroll compressor technology for quiet operation and fewer moving parts. It is aimed at customers who need more than one temperature zone in their truck.

According to Thermo King, key features of the T-1000 include greater fuel economy in all ambient conditions, whether hauling fresh or frozen; SmartPower electric standby operation, which cuts engine running hours; and a new TSR-2 control system that increases fuel savings.

The T-1000 is covered by the manufacturer's longest truck-unit warranty and its Tier 4 engine emits 38% less particulate matter and 54% less carbon monoxide than previous engine offerings, Thermo King said.

“The T-1000 Spectrum is available in a variety of two- and three-compartment configurations to suit a fleet's particular needs,” said Scott Bates, truck product manager. “It has unmatched flexibility to accommodate the most demanding loads and delivery routes.”

The T-1000 Spectrum is part of the T-Series line of units, which includes the T-600, T-800 and T-1000 units with scroll compressors and the T-500R, T-600R, T-800R and T-1000R units with reciprocating compressors.

Thermo King has also added a high-output version of its SmartPower electric standby option, which is available on select reefer units. The new addition is called the SmartPower HO, which allows the reefer to run on electricity when not being powered by a diesel engine. Customers can now choose from the 24-hp. high-output or the existing 14-hp. version.

Power to the unit is supplied by an electric motor connected to a high-voltage power source. According to Thermo King, environmental and cost-saving benefits of SmartPower include increased efficiency (up to four times that of diesel operation); reduced diesel emissions; reduced noise; reduced maintenance costs; reduced waste generation; reduced life-cycle cost; and extended reefer lifespan.

“We are offering our customers the capability to further configure their unit to exactly match the requirements of their business,” stated Tom Kampf, trailer product manager. He said the SmartPower HO option is available on SB-210+ and Spectrum SB trailer units.

Thermo King has also enhanced its PrimAir line of air management systems and said the following products have joined the lineup of PrimAir standard return air bulkheads:

Heavy-duty return bulkheads
“Offer industry-leading material strength and thickness for maximum durability for the most demanding applications, such as dairy product transportation.”
Chute systems
“With industry-leading tear resistance and material tensile strength for increased durability.”
Insulated bulkheads
“Durable and lightweight bulkheads for creating multiple temperature zones within a trailer.”
Two-piece return air bulkheads
“These easy-to-use bulkheads help reduce short cycling and maintain uniform product temperatures. Can be removed, cleaned and reattached in under a minute.”
Split-air chute system
“Designed to provide uniform temperature throughout the entire trailer. The unique diverter evenly distributes air to each side chute, which then guides the air to the rear of the trailer.”

“The PrimAir product portfolio is designed to make Thermo King dealers a ‘one-stop shop’ for their customers' air management needs,” said Anup Shetty, aftermarket marketing manager.

Carrier Transicold is continuing to place a lot of emphasis on its hybrid-power line of refrigeration units. Its new hybrid Vector 6600MT is said to provide the highest refrigeration capacity of any multi-temperature reefer unit on the market yet delivers up to 20% greater fuel efficiency than its predecessor.

The Vector 6600MT enters alongside its single-temperature sibling, the Vector 6500 unit, which was introduced last year. According to the company, both Vector units “take advantage of Carrier's exclusive Deltek diesel-electric technology, which features high-operating efficiencies, significantly reduced maintenance requirements vs. conventional belt-drive systems, and an electric standby option for stationary units.”

Carrier also said technological enhancements to Vector system components and operating software as well as a more efficient design amount to higher performance and greater efficiencies than were possible with its first-generation hybrid power systems.

“These two next-generation units are a dynamic duo, improving on Carrier's proprietary Deltek technology with enhancements that result in a no-compromise hybrid solution for virtually any trailer application,” said David Kiefer, director of marketing & product management. “Whether the need is for single-temperature long hauls or multi-temperature distribution for the grocery and food service industries, Carrier hybrid technology now offers capacities that are comparable to, or exceed, our industry-leading conventional refrigeration units.”

At 100 deg. F ambient and a setpoint of 35 deg. F, the Vector units deliver 59,000 Btu/hr. of cooling capacity. For the Vector 6600MT, Kiefer noted, that's 15% more capacity than the nearest multi-temperature competitor and 9% better than Carrier's original multi-temperature hybrid and conventional multi-temperature unit under the same conditions. At a setpoint of -20 deg. F, capacity is as much as 15% better than for a conventional unit.

According to Carrier Transicold, customers committed to green strategies to cut fuel consumption and emissions are warming to hybrid technology as well as to the advantage of electric standby capabilities. Thanks to an “all-electric architecture,” the company stated that Vector units provide about the same performance on electric standby as they do under diesel power.

Kiefer said that due to the less efficient “add-on nature” of standby components in a conventional unit, Vector units can deliver up to 85% more cooling capacity in standby mode than a conventional unit. “By taking advantage of AC power, fuel is conserved, emissions are eliminated, noise is reduced and operating savings of 40 to 70% can be realized,” he said.