Thermo King is engineering its newest trailer units, including the SBseries single- and multi-temp units, to offer a low life cycle costwhile delivering maximum performance with less impact on theenvironment.
According to the company, because Thermo King’s engines drive the compressor directly, they are able to maximize fuel efficiency, using less energy to generate the same BTU output compared to electric compressors, which lose energy and carry a 20 percent fuel penalty-converting diesel to electricity. Thermo King is not convinced that a design that utilizes electric fans instead of belt-driven fans, which could suffer an additional 20 percent penalty converting electricity to mechanical energy to drive the cooling fan shafts, is the correct path to an environmentally friendly solution. For the same reasons, when heating a load, Thermo King uses advanced heat pump technology, which provides efficiency gains when compared to electric heat, the company said.
Thermo King also offers electric standby as an option on all of its trailer units, allowing the units to run on electric power rather than diesel. The result is less fuel burned and reduced emissions while the trailer is stationary in a loading dock or yard. All of Thermo King’s trailer refrigeration units meet the EPA’s Interim Tier 4 emission requirements, the company said.
Many municipalities now enforce anti-noise ordinances, and excess noise can reduce driver comfort and performance. All Thermo King trailer units include proprietary low-noise technology as a standard feature, the company said. This technology includes sound-deadening components, an acoustical grill design, tuned intake resonator, exhaust and muffler components, and a quiet engine, the company said. To reduce noise even further, additional soundproofing material, special door gaskets and sound-absorbing foam can be added as part of the optional Whisper package available on all trailer units.
The EMI-3000 Extended Maintenance Interval is an integral part of all Thermo King trailer units. According to the company, by extending the time between maintenance services, not only are maintenance costs reduced by up to 45 percent over competitive models, but waste associated with the service also is reduced. Fewer oil and filter changes means less dirty oil to dispose of, less spillage and fewer dirty filters in the landfill. Utilizing Thermo King’s network of factory-trained technicians makes maintenance easier and more predictable, the company said.
Thermo King believes that current alternative technologies, which use fuel less efficiently than direct-drive engines, do not represent the future direction of the industry and are researching other alternative solutions to deliver long-term, sustainable results. Thermo King said its cryogenic units deliver high performance with zero emissions, low noise and minimal moving parts to maintain, and the soon-to-be launched Spectrum SB multi-temp trailer unit will feature the SR-2 controller, the latest advancement in controller technology.
For more information, visit www.thermoking.com.
