The ability to transport perishable items without allowing them to spoil has always been a delicate issue. Storage options must be set up to protect the goods they hold. In a refrigerated storage unit with internal mechanism, air moves from the bottom to the top of the container as the warm air draw from the interior of the container is cooled in the cooling units of the reefer. Once sufficiently cooled, it’s blown back through the interior of the storage unit to keep everything regulated at the appropriate temperature.
There are gratings on the floor of the storage unit to make sure there is proper circulation of cold air throughout the container. Pallets maintain a layer of space between the cargo and the container, forming a perfect channel for air flow to keep the cool temperature maintained.
The refrigerated storage unit comes with corrugated side walls, which is meant to ensure that air flows properly. Enough space is allowed at the sides and at the top of the container to maintain proper air flow, which keeps everything functional. It also means that refrigerated units can’t be packed completely full, since this wouldn’t allow the cool air to move. About 12 cm of space should be allowed above the cargo. You’ll find a mark on the side walls to indicate the maximum height of goods in any refrigerated storage unit. It’s important that the goods are neatly packed in the unit without overfilling it to ensure that there is vertical airflow from the bottom to the upper portion of the storage unit.
While a refrigerated storage unit’s defining characteristic is its ability to properly regulate temperature for the storage of perishable goods, the unit is also able to allow the exchange of controlled fresh air. This helps to remove metabolic elements like ethylene and carbon dioxide from fruits and vegetables if needed. Depending on the operating mode of the unit, there may also be a measurement for the supply and return of air temperature.
Refrigerated storage units normally come with a temperature display feature, which helps a lot with monitoring them in their storage facility. Typically, these displays are located on the outside of the unit so operators can easily monitor the operation of the unit without interrupting the system. The displays can come in either analog or digital, depending on the company and container.
Another type of refrigerated storage container is known as a porthole container, though it’s typically considered an insulated container rather than a refrigerated one. The container has no internal refrigerated unit. The benefit this offers when compared to an actual refrigerated unit is that you can pack it more full, since air flow isn’t a concern. If shipped overseas via boat, the central cooling plant provides cold air to the container if needed. If it is used elsewhere, there is often a terminal refrigerator available that helps in controlling the temperature