When perishable food items or harvest produce need to be transported from one point to the other, the conditions in which they are transported make a lot of difference. If the transport conditions are not favourable, the safety and quality of the foodstuffs are compromised. Thus, transport vehicles that can provide refrigeration to manage optimum temperature and offer humidity control are required.
How does transport refrigeration work?
Below are some of the components that go in building a foolproof system for protecting temperature-sensitive cargo during transit.
Refrigerated Containers: These are shipping containers that come in various sizes for transporting perishable food items. Usually, these containers are built for seamless intermodal transport and can be used in transit via roads, railways, as well as in ships.
Reefers: Reefers refer to cargo ships built exclusively for transporting foodstuffs in a temperature-controlled environment. They have integrated units which maintain temperature and humidity as required.
Trucks & trailers for food transport: For transporting food by land, trucks and trailers are built with refrigeration units. The shocks and vibrations that these transport vehicles are exposed to are also taken into consideration to build efficient vehicles.
The need for robust transport refrigeration.
Transport refrigeration is challenging because a lot is at stake. Usually, large quantities of foodstuffs are transported and reliable refrigeration becomes critical to avoid losses and to ensure the quality of the foodstuffs is maintained. The following points need to be taken into consideration for ensuring that the transport refrigeration is reliable:
- Customizable temperature and humidity control
- Corrosion-resistant components
- A robust system that will withstand harsh outside climatic conditions during transit
- High stability to withstand shocks and vibrations during transit
- Compact components to ensure space optimization
- Lightweight components to improve fuel efficiency as well as the overall efficiency of the transport system
- Reasonable operational and maintenance costs
- The durability of the components
- Proper insulation of the units designed to carry foodstuffs
- Cooling capacity based on the distance being targeted for transport
The components needed for an efficient transport refrigeration system.
All the components needed in the transport refrigeration system need to be of the highest quality to complement the refrigeration units being used. Uninterrupted power and data supply to the units are required. The response times for temperature and humidity control need to be quick.
Reliable power connectors, data connectors and switches that can sustain in harsh environmental conditions during transport are needed. Exposure to dust and dirt make these components susceptible to damage. Hence, having ruggedly designed components that are durable and reliable is necessary. The integrity of the entire refrigeration system leans heavily on the quality and reliability of the connectors being used.
Bulgin provides reliable solutions for connectivity for both power and data signals. Below are the products that Bulgin has for transport systems:
Circular Power Connectors Features:
- High Ingress Protection
- Secure quick mating and release
- Shielded systems
Some of the products available:
Circular Data Connectors Features:
- Data rates up to 100MHz
- Shielded systems
- Noise immunity and EMI protection
- Durable mechanical mating
- Variable cable ranges
- Flame retardant moulding material
Some of the products available:
Toggle Switches Features:
- Nylon or metal lever options
- Ingress protection rating of IP67
- Quick connect options
Products available:
Temperature-sensitive transport is an industry which is already growing and is expected to grow further owing to the demand in the food industry. How fresh the foodstuffs are, does not entirely depend on when they were produced. They also depend on transport conditions. Hence, investing in reliable components is essential to preserve the quality of the foodstuffs.
To view the full catalogue of connectors and all other products please visit the Bulgin Website.