IceBox – Proudly engineered by ContainerCo
Refrigerated shipping containers (or ‘reefers’) have been in use since the late 1970s and have changed how the world looks at cold freighting. As one of the key reasons why we’re able to ship frozen goods across the globe, there are several reasons why refrigerated shipping containers are integral to the commercial world.
As an ode to the fantastic benefits of reefers, this blog will outline how refrigerated shipping containers operate. We will also explore their presence in the world and why a person or company would require one. After this article, you’ll understand what makes these robust chilly boxes so important.
How Does A Refrigerated Shipping Container Work?
The refrigeration system on the front end of the container removes the heat energy from inside the container, this is through a heat transfer between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil
Our Icebox units work under the same concept as this, with one big difference, the power supply to operate one of our Icebox’s is single phase opposed to standard reefers which use three phase power. This can save on almost 2/3rds of the power consumption
How Do You Optimally Pack A Refrigerated Shipping Container
The most important thing when it comes to loading any refrigerated space is air flow.
On the standard reefers, the air travels through the T floor and flows back through the refrigeration unit at the top, just below the ceiling. It is important not to obstruct the air flow through the T floor or return path by stacking too high, this will result in the air short cycling and not being able to remove all the heat energy within the container.
For our Icebox units, the air flow is a little different, the evaporator is at the top and blows the cool air below ceiling and the air returns from the bottom of the container. We have maximum load height stickers on the inside of the containers, if you stack above the maximum load height, you run the risk of short cycling the air flow.
What Are Refrigerated Shipping Containers Made From?
As one would imagine, refrigerated containers are not a simple metal box like the conventional shipping container. Some of the components of the reefer even include heating elements as a means of maintaining the cool temperature within. Some of these integral parts include:
- Insulation – this creates a thermal barrier between inside and outside of the unit.
- Evaporator fans – for circulating the air inside the container through the evaporator.
- Evaporator – this is the coil that removes the heat energy from the air – cooling it down as it passes through and circulates the container.
- Controller/thermostat – this is what controls the temperature. Our Icebox’s can range between -20°C to +10°C where as our three phase units can range from -35°C to +30°C.
Why Would A Company Need A Refrigerated Shipping Container?
As briefly mentioned above, refrigerated containers are reserved for contents that require a cool environment. There are endless items throughout the world that require a specifically cooler climate for transport. Some of these include:
- Fruit & Vegetables
- Meat
- Dairy
- Medicine
- Plants
- General perishables
The above products are integral exports for a country like New Zealand. They contribute millions of dollars to the economy and require flawless shipment to ensure safe delivery. As a result, refrigerated shipping containers are functional structures that have become an integral part of the country’s strength.
ContainerCo
At ContainerCo, we pride ourselves on providing an extensive range of shipping containers for hire or purchase. Our range of 10ft, 20ft and 40ft containers can be used for various purposes, including shipment, storage or construction, to name a few. Featuring more than just containers in our product range, we also sell accessories and parts for shipping containers to ensure your container can be maintained and repaired after prolonged use.
Offering specialised containers along with dry standard variations, ContainerCo’s containers include refrigerated, dangerous goods, high-ball, open-top and side-opening options. As a fully-established shipping container company, we also have the facilities to modify purchased shipping containers. Our specialised team can assist you with altering containers into workspaces, cafes, tiny homes or construction site offices.
We can serve Kiwis across the country with facilities operating in Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Wellington and Waikato. So next time you require a shipping container, make sure to hire or buy yours at ContainerCo today!
Contact us on 0508 732 873 or request a free online quote today!