Exportation is a process surrounded by various kinds of risk. One that is particularly frustrating is delay. Whether it’s caused by a bad weather at sea or port congestion, delay can lead to a wide range of issues, especially if the products being transported are perishable. A few days of delay can cause goods, such as fruits and meat, to start rotting. Even if they arrive intact at their destination, they will no longer have the quality the recipient is hoping to get.
Thanks to the invention of reefers, delay is no longer as damaging to the export industry as it was in the past. It also allows consumers all over the world to enjoy fresh produce at any time of year and experience previously unavailable fresh produce from other parts of the world. A reefer is a type of shipping container that has a refrigeration system, which cools or freezes its content. It works exactly like a fridge expect it’s designed to be larger and more resistant to pressure and vibrations.
Types of Cooling System
Refrigerated shipping containers come with a range of cooling system types, each of which has its fair share of benefits and drawbacks. Arguably the most common are the air current ventilation system, which strips the inside of the container of heat generated by the heater, and the water cooling system, which reduces the heat produced by the reefer. Although both are effective in cooling and preserving goods, the latter is actually more expensive, and its use is now rapidly declining as new solutions emerge. Here are the newly emerged cooling system types used in today’s shipping containers.
Redundant refrigeration. This type of refrigeration system is similar to any large refrigeration system. The only difference is that it consists of more than a single unit, hence the name. The other units serve as back-up when the main unit acts up or breaks down, much like a generator. Since there’s more than one refrigeration unit, it requires ample amount of power, which is why it is often fitted with a diesel generator set.
Cryogenic cooling. For short-journey exportation, total loss refrigeration is often the preferred option. This technique involves the use of cryogenically frozen gas, such as carbon dioxide ice or liquid nitrogen. The container is cooled as the gas evaporates and is vented from it. The amount of the gas needed is predetermined by measuring the rate of evaporation and the distance between the point of origin and the destination. Obviously, this isn’t a preferred cooling method when transporting goods to distant locations unless there’s plenty of liquid nitrogen provided.
If you are just starting up your export business, and it involves transporting perishable products, you might want to consider investing in a reefer. Just make sure to get it from a trusted supplier, such as Equipment Management Services, so that you can get the most value for your money. If there are specific needs you have to meet, you can simply ask them for custom shipping containers.
Sources:
9 POSSIBLE REASONS WHY YOUR SHIPMENT IS LATE, morethanshipping.com
5 MOST COMMON SHIPPING PROBLEMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM, nindelivers.com
