) |
| Click on the table to enlarge. Table 11: Manufacturer specifications regarding the refrigeration capacity and the power consumption of a Thermo King Smart Reefer with different compressor types and refrigerants. |
All values given in table 11 are maximum values for full refrigeration capacity and an external temperature of 37.8°C. This occurs, for example, when cooling the cargo. One should also bear in mind the fact that the permitted ambient temperature for a refrigerated container is usually 50°C which may result in increased power consumption.
Usually, once the cargo has been cooled, the average power consumption falls. In low-temperature mode (below -10°C) the refrigeration unit is run in on/off mode, whereas in chilled mode (above -10°C) the output of the refrigeration circuit is regulated constantly (e.g. using the suction modulation valve as shown in figure 14). With a 40' container and an ambient temperature of 45°C, average power consumption values of approximately 4.2 kW can be expected for low-temperature operation (-21°C) and 7 - 8 kW for transporting bananas (+16°C).
For a very broad average value for all container types, ambient conditions and cargo types, the value 3.6 kW/TEU can be used. A 20' container tends to be closer to 4 kW and a 40' container tends towards 7 kW. As a result of new developments and the associated improvements in the efficiency of the containers, this value is dropping.