Reefer
In trucking, a “reefer” is a refrigerated trailer that gets attached to a semi-truck in order to transport perishables and other temperature-sensitive goods. It was originally the ice cream industry that gave birth to the reefer around 1925. Reefers may also be used for heated goods.
“Reefer” is slang for refrigerated. The truck is your standard semi-cab. However, the reefer really is just the trailer. A “reefer truck,” then, is a semi pulling a refrigerated trailer, designed to haul perishable goods. These trailers differ from cooling vans, which are just insulated and vented. What makes a reefer trailer different? Reefers include an active cooling system. Thus, you can transport frozen as well as refrigerated freight.
A reefer could also be temperature adjusted to haul heated goods as well. However, this is much less common.
Why Do People Use Reefer Trucks?
Reefer trucks are essential for the long-distance transport of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods. Frozen meats and fresh produce are the most common examples of these.
Companies use reefer units to maintain temperature. That means you can set a reefer unit to a specific temperature setting to maintain a product’s temperature but not to actually change the temperature of the product. In the example of frozen meat, the required degree may vary.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s suggest that a package of ground beef must be shipped and kept at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The reefer trailer can maintain this temperature if the product has been loaded onto the trailer already frozen. You should not under any circumstances count on the trailer to take unfrozen meat and set your temperature below freezing in an effort to freeze the product. The reefer unit’s cycle is not capable of this. The meat will spoil.
There are many items you need to ship in refrigerated trailers to maintain overall quality and freshness. Of course, perishable items are the first thing to come to mind, but there are many other goods that you might not think about right away that require a refrigerated trailer to be shipped.
1. Food
The most obvious item on our list, perishable food items need to be stored at the correct temperature to ensure they don’t spoil and make it to their destination in perfect condition for consumers.
2. Beverages
Certain beverages will also need shipping in reefer trailers, especially if they contain anything that could sour or spoil. Dairy products, beer, wine, and other items sensitive to temperature will all need to be shipped in a refrigerated truck.
3. Pharmaceuticals
Many pharmaceuticals, like the vaccines being developed for the coronavirus, will need to be shipped in reefers so that they remain chilled at a specific temperature. There’s no question that many pharmaceuticals will need to be shipped in refrigerated trailers by reputable delivery companies.
4. Candles
An item you may not think about as often as food, beverages, and medicine, but candles too will need to be shipped in a reefer in order to preserve their quality and structure. After all – they’re built to melt.
5. Bulk Liquids
There’s no room for error with bulk liquids, especially when you’re shipping chemicals, pulp, or other solvents. You’ll need to ship all of these in a refrigerated trailer.
6. Chewing Gum
Don’t believe us? You might find yourself in a bit of a sticky situation. Chewing gum has the capacity to turn a shipment into a nightmare. Always ship it in a reefer.
7. Flowers
If you want your flowers to show up at their destination looking as they’re supposed to, you’re going to need to make sure they’re shipped in a temperature-controlled trailer. Flowers will wilt in the wrong conditions, so there’s no room for mother nature once they’ve been picked and shipped.
8. Hazardous Materials
When you’re shipping something acidic, flammable, or toxic, you’re going to need to do everything 100% by the book. Typically hazardous materials will need to be shipped at an exact temperature.
9. Paint
Another type of bulk liquid, paint should always be shipped in reefers in order to maintain it’s integrity.
10. Tobacco Products
Tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars do not hold up to extreme humidity or heat. They should always be shipped in temperature-controlled reefers in order to make sure they don’t spoil.
How Reefer Units Work?
Reefer units operate on a closed system. Removing heat and maintaining a steady temperature is what a refrigerated trailer system is all about. They operate by collecting and pumping heat throughout the system. Now I’ll address the core components in making this work.
Components of Reefer Units and the Cooling Cycle
The Compressor: There’s a small engine within the reefer unit that drives the compressor. The compressor draws in gaseous refrigerant and, as you’d expect, compresses it. The pressure from this liquefies the gas. This then gives off heat to the body of the compressor and the air itself. From here, the temperature is still fairly warm, and the refrigerant goes through to the condenser.
The Condenser: The condenser receives the liquid from the compressor. Then a heat exchange process begins. The warmth of the liquid flows to the walls of the tubing, then outside to the attached fins. The fins provide more surface area with which to cool outside air that comes in through the condenser fan. The process is very similar to how a radiator cools an engine.
The Evaporator: The evaporator is inside the trailer. At this point, the refrigerant has given up most of its heat to the condenser and become a cool liquid. Then it goes into the evaporator through a metering valve. This valve controls the amount of cooling. Inside the evaporator, the now cool liquid refrigerant expands, turning back into a gas. It absorbs a great deal of heat from the surrounding finned coils during this process. The air from inside the trailer then blows over the evaporator. The air then goes back into the compressor, and the cycle begins all over again.
Watch video below to get more info on Reefer
We suggest you watch the video. Where you will be told in more detail about the Reefer. The video will help you understand how it works and why you
need it.
