Energy use of refrigerated containers further reduced with Quest II, container refrigeration with 65% less CO2 emission Project

Each year hundreds of thousands of reefer containers are shipped around the globe, carrying perishable commodities such as fruit, flower bulbs and meat. The new QuestTM II control methodology for container refrigeration units, developed by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research, shipping line Maersk Line and refrigerated container unit manufacturer Carrier Transicold, can reduce the energy consumption of refrigerated containers by 65 per cent. Moreover, this savings comes without creating any adverse effect on cargo quality. Quest, which stands for ?QUality and Energy in Storage and Transport?, is a methodology that controls the refrigerated container unit based on the real climate control requirements of the cargo. Quest II is easy to implement in containers, because only the refrigeration unit?s software needs to be updated. Energy savingsFirst Quest I was launched. Quest I reduces refrigerated container energy consumption by about 50 per cent. After that, Food & Biobased Research developed a new version, Quest II (patent pending), in collaboration with Maersk Line and Carrier Transicold. Maersk Line is now introducing Quest II in its fleet. It is estimated that Quest II will reduce Maersk Line?s yearly CO2 emissions by 350.000 tonnes. This savings is comparable to the CO2 emission of cars driving two billion kilometers. Quest II saves energy by improving control of two important components: internal air circulation and the compressor. Internal air circulation is adjusted to heat load. Air circulation will run at full capacity when necessary, but at lower heat load the air circulation rate may reduce to about 10% of its maximum capacity. Apart from that, Quest II reduces energy consumption by controlling the operation of the compressor, depending on the required refrigeration capacity to maintain cargo at the precise temperature.Produce qualityThe effect of Quest II on produce quality was thoroughly researched and tested for a range of products, both in labscale tests and in hundreds of field trial shipments, with no adverse results. Labscale testing was performed in the post-harvest research facilities of Food & Biobased Research with bananas, pineapple, kiwifruit, grapes, iceberg lettuce, lily bulbs and lamb meat. The shipments included more than 15 different commodities, including apples, bananas, garlic and potted plants. More information ? ? ? ?