Project
SMP24023 Zero emission transport refrigeration
Zero emission of refrigerated road transport requires the transition from diesel to electricity. Direct replacement of a diesel engine by an electromotor and a battery is possible due to weight and dimensions. Innovation is needed to reduce the required quantity of cooling and increase the efficiency.
The project zero emission of refrigerated road transport is applied R&D focused. The aim is to initiate a holistic approach on the development of zero emission transport refrigeration solutions, and to build an international consortium for a project on this theme.
Goal is to use available and proven technologies and knowledge from other applications. Over the last decades lots of scientific papers have been published, and lots of innovations have been field-tested. We have seen solar panels on refrigerated trailers, vacuum insulated bodies, generators mounted on semi-trailer axles, air curtains in door openings, green refrigerants, variable speed fans and compressors, intelligent expansion valves, many telemetrics applications, etc. What is missing is the holistic approach: which combination of innovations is needed in which application, and how they might best work together in a commercial setting?
A full 3D CFD temperature model of a refrigerated semi-trailer is readily available at WUR. It will be used to predict how temperature uniformity is affected by design and control modifications. Together with energy balance models, this may be a powerfull tool to predict the performance of certain combinations of technologies in specific target applications.