American Freedom, one of the world’s largest reefer ships, uses a cascade ammonia and CO2 refrigeration system, helping to generate a cooling output of 4,500kW. The cascade system is able to process around 400 tons of fish per day, storing catch in the hull of the ship where there are 36 vertical plate freezers in operation.
Refrigerant GWP: 1
Refrigerant safety class: A1
Rated cooling capacity range (in kW): 4 kW Cooling Capacity for Chill and 2 kW Cooling capacity for Freeze application
Dimensions: Depth (in mm): 350Height (in mm): 930, Width (in mm): 800, Weight (in kg): 67
Unit cost: Weekend hire from GBP 275, Day hire from GBP 150, Weekly hire from GBP 350
Training: Trailer is for hire, will be delivered to site, positioned and set up by refrigeration engineer
Company Headquarters: UK
Statement by Greencold: “We would be prepared to hire the trailer outside the UK for ‘price on application’ (POA) however it must be stated the trailer does not refrigerate whilst in transit but only when parked in static configuration.”, “From our facility in the UK we would be able to supply CO2 refrigerated trailers for sale built to the customers requirements, size, shelving or dual compartment function for example.”
Refrigerant GWP: 0
Refrigerant safety class: A1
Dimensions: Height (in mm): 624- 700, Diameter: 600-650 , Depth (in mm): 1580 – 2720, Weight (in kg): 140-380 (empty)
Company Headquarters: Germany
Refrigerant GWP: 1
Refrigerant safety class: A1
Company Headquarters: USA
Refrigerant GWP: 0
Refrigerant safety class: A1
Refrigerant GWP: 1
Refrigerant safety class: A1
Rated cooling capacity range (in kW) 12 – 83 kW (varies depending on model)
Dimensions: Weight (in kg): 145-242kg depending on model
Training: GEA Bock offers special user training for interested experts. Trainings are also offered virtually as webinars now.
Company Headquarters: Germany
Awards: Compressors are admitted to strict requirements of ASERCOM (Association of European Refrigeration Compressors and Controls Manufacturers) performance certification programme.
Johnson Controls Marine technology uses CO2‚ on the low-temperature side and ammonia on the high-temperature side to preserve perishable goods at sea. Freezing capacity is increased through the use of energy efficient compressors and frequency converters.
The UK retailer Lidl uses eutectic plates to cool food at distribution centres to -24°C. The brine-filled plates may then be placed in insulated containers to preserve perishable foods during transportation without the need for additional refrigerants.
Under the name ‘NaturaLINE’, Carrier Transicold (a division of Carrier) has developed the world’s first container refrigeration system using CO2 as the refrigerant. Working with the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd Carrier has been testing its new system since 2010. Carrier aims for improved refrigeration performance and reduced power consumption.
The CO2 refrigeration system is one of the world’s first entirely naturally refrigerated trailers and is being trialled by Sainsbury’s since 2013. If rolled-out across it’s transportation fleet, Sainsbury’s estimates the Carrier NaturaLine system will reduce the company’s CO2e emissions by 70,000 tonnes each year.
The new NaturaLINE design has been engineered to deliver efficiencies equal to Carrier Transicold’s best-in-class performer, the PrimeLINE unit. By using CO2 as a natural refrigerant, the NaturaLINE design improves upon the PrimeLINE unit’s ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 28% compared to previous units.
The CO2 system is in use by shipping companies worldwide.
In 2010, Shoprite became the first South African retailer to use nitrogen-based refrigeration in its transport fleet. The natureFridge systems use liquid nitrogen cooled to -196°C, before being dispersed evenly inside the trailer. One trailer can reportedly save up to 38 tonnes-CO2e tonnes per year.
As of 2014, Woolworths Holdings Ltd. had 4 of these vehicles in operation, with another one in the process of being built. The company reports savings of 3000 tonnes of CO2 per annum as a result of this transition.
