For a long time, diesel-powered refrigerated units were the only game in town for transporting and storing perishable items. They were a crucial link in the cold supply chain depended on by supermarkets, pharmacies, florists and more, but they came with a lot of disadvantages. In addition to needing to be topped off with expensive diesel fuel, they also generate a significant amount of emissions that can contribute to pollution. As the price of diesel continues to rise, more and more businesses are choosing electric reefers. Transitioning to these units offers greater flexibility and cost savings compared to diesel-powered reefers. If you’re on the fence about what electric reefers can do for your business, read on to learn about what makes them a better alternative.
How Does Cold Storage Work?
First, what is cold storage, and what is cold storage used for? The short answer is that many items found in stores need to be kept refrigerated to prevent spoilage or to ensure the highest levels of quality. This means they must be transported and stored in special vehicles or units that are equipped with refrigeration. Diesel- and electric-powered reefer units are examples of these.
What Makes Electric Reefers Different?
Electric reefer units work in much the same way as the refrigerator in your kitchen at home, albeit on a much larger scale. Like your kitchen fridge, these units draw electric power to run a compressor that circulates coolant through a series of pipes built into their walls. By compressing the coolant, its temperature is raised before it makes its way into the condenser. Here, the heat from the coolant is removed and dispersed into the atmosphere outside the unit. The coolant is then pumped to the receiver, where the high-pressure liquid coolant is collected and released to the separator. There, the flow rate of the coolant is regulated before it reaches the evaporator, where the now-cold refrigerant liquid passes through a series of tubes, absorbing any heat inside the reefer. A fan helps circulate the cold air created throughout the interior of the unit.
The Benefits of Going Electric
There are a number of reasons why electric reefers are a superior choice to diesel-powered units. Not only do they save you money in terms of fuel costs, but they’re also more sustainable. That’s because they don’t generate as many emissions, but also use a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant.
Electric cold storage units also rely on simpler technology to operate, since they use electric motors rather than complicated internal combustion engines. That means far fewer breakdowns where your fragile inventory could be exposed to warmer temps. Fewer breakdowns also means fewer service calls, which keeps operations flowing smoothly and allows you and your team to focus on business, rather than maintenance.
Portabull Storage Has What You Need
Portabull Storage has been at the forefront of the cold storage industry’s shift toward electric power, offering a wide range of energy-efficient reefer units. Portabull electric reefers are a cost-effective, reliable solution for your cold supply storage needs no matter what industry you serve. To learn more, reach out and speak with a member of our team today.