CCJ

May 2016

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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28 commercial carrier journal | may 2016 Efficient chilling Today's TRUs, trailers stay cool with less fuel BY JASON CANNON T ransportation refrigeration units are reaching heights of sophistication that rival the modern tractors that pull them across the highway. And like their truck counterparts, TRUs have made many strides to throttle back fuel consumption while also maximizing their efficiency. "There's no debate that refrigeration systems add to a hauler's overall fuel use," says David Kiefer, director of sales, marketing and product management for Carrier Transicold. "However, there are dramatic differences in the way various models operate and how they consume fuel. The savings over the lifetime of the unit can be substantial." Changes in engine design have helped boost efficiencies, says Tom Kampf, product manager for Thermo King. "We've moved away from a technology that used belts exclu- sively to power fans to directly coupling the compressor to the diesel engine," he says. Such a change has allowed condenser fans and evaporator fans to operate at speeds independent of engine speed. "Customers can operate the evaporator based on the type of load without having to adjust engine speeds," Kampf says. "The reduction of mechanical parts from diesel-electric hy- brid units [also have] significantly improved the sound quality," Kiefer adds. Tougher trailers Reefer units themselves aren't the only ones challenging the limits of thermal efficiency. Wabash National recently unveiled a prototype refrigerated van using a new proprietary molded structural composite technology for increased thermal efficiency. Brent Yeagy, group president of commercial trailer products for Wabash National, says the molded structural composite tech- nology in refrigerated van trailer and truck body applications provides up to a 25 percent improvement in thermal perfor- mance and is up to 20 percent lighter compared to conventional designs while improving puncture and damage resistance. Dick Giromini, Wabash chief executive officer, says the com- posite design of the trailer, which is slated to enter production in the next two years, also reduces trailer weight by upwards of one ton. Using the composite for the trailer's floor structure also raises the weight rating to 24,000 pounds – a boost of up to 14,000 pounds, he says. Futuristic controls While TRUs and trailers continue to evolve, Kiefer says so too are their controls, in many cases removing much of the guesswork that goes into climate control and increasing ease of use for the driver and technician. "These software-based devices have made temperature and airflow management far more sophisticated," he says. "Some can even be used to optimize fuel consumptions for any given cargo while still providing the highest degree of product protection." All of the variables that can be selected for specific commodi- ties can be preprogrammed into Carrier Transicold's APX Con- trol system, enabling the driver to simply choose the commodity from a scrolling text list. Similarly, Thermo King's OptiSet program provides control over how the unit will operate with a specific set-point and allows unit operation and product quality decisions to be made in advance. "When a set-point is selected, the unit will always operate the same way," Kampf says. Also, Kampf said customers are trending toward remov- ing the TRU's alternator in favor of a more efficient electric battery charger, which he says "offers more battery life and is less wear on the engine." in focus: TRANSPORTATION REFRIGERATION UNITS Changes in engine design have helped boost efficiencies for transportation refrigeration units. All of the variables that can be selected for specific commodities can be preprogrammed into Carrier Transicold's APX Control system.

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