Carrier Transicold, which last year celebrated production of its one millionth container refrigeration system, reports that total global sales of its PrimeLINE unit, introduced in 2007, has topped 250,000 units.
Compared to prior models, the PrimeLINE unit is significantly more efficient, which reduces shipboard electricity demand and emissions related to power generation.
This results in a 28% reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions compared to previous units.
“Over their projected life, our PrimeLINE systems account for a savings of more than 12 million tons of carbon dioxide – the same as removing 200,000 cars from the road,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems.
“Our environmentally sustainable portfolio of container refrigeration equipment can help shipping lines reduce their carbon emissions.”
To this end, Carrier Transicold’s recently introduced NaturaLINE unit has a similar energy profile to the PrimeLINE unit, but uses the natural refrigerant CO2 instead of a synthetic refrigerant.
CO2 has a global warming potential (GWP) of one compared to R-134a, which is used in most other container refrigeration systems and has a GWP of 1,430, and R-404A, which has a GWP of 3,922 and is used in a smaller share of container systems.
“By offering an energy-efficient system using a natural refrigerant that delivers high refrigeration capacities, we provide the shipping industry with a viable hedge against procurement challenges or cost increases related to phase-outs of higher GWP synthetic refrigerants, which have been targeted by multiple governments and environmental agencies for a variety of applications,” said Appel.
“Just as Carrier Transicold led the shipping industry away from ozone-depleting refrigerants in the past, today we lead the industry in our commitment to CO2, the only natural refrigerant that is neither flammable nor toxic, is available worldwide, is cost-effective and requires no special disposal.”
“Carrier has extensive experience with CO2, applying the natural refrigerant safely and reliably in CO2OLtec commercial refrigeration systems, which are now used in nearly 1,400 European supermarkets and successfully trialed in road transport refrigeration systems as well.”
The PrimeLINE and NaturaLINE units are the container refrigeration systems that have achieved validation by UL Environment for recyclability – 93% for the PrimeLINE unit and 95% for the NaturaLINE unit.
