GERMANY – Carrier Transicold have today announced that they are to unveil a prototype natural refrigerant trailer unit as well as a new generation of engineless transport refrigeration systems at the 2016 IAA Show in Hanover, Germany. Carrier have stated that they hope that this public unveiling of their new technologies will highlight the firm’s commitment to helping fleets meet efficiency and sustainability goals.

The company also disclosed that, following the IAA Show, the prototype natural refrigerant trailer unit will enter service on a three-year technology field trial with the noted German retailer Netto Marken-Discount.

Carrier claim that their prototype unit is unique when compared with conventional transport refrigeration technology, as the refrigeration unit is designed to operate exclusively with carbon dioxide (CO₂) refrigerant in a closed-loop system. Since CO₂ is a safe and non-ozone depleting gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of one, the use of CO₂ as a refrigerant results in a massive reduction in F-Gases. For this reason, CO₂ is considered to be the baseline against which all other refrigerants are measured and Carrier hope that their new prototype trailer will come to be recognised as a reference point for all other refrigeration units.

Carrier Transicold have also revealed that they will showcase the new engineless transport refrigeration units that have now joined their range following the group’s strategic acquisition of the Dutch firm, TRS Transportkoeling b.v. (TRS). To this end, the Carrier stand is set to feature an example of the ground-breaking Eco-Drive power module, which Carrier claim uses the power generated by a truck’s own Euro VI diesel engine to drive a host refrigeration unit, thus removing the need for a secondary engine.

In addition to the new TRS units, Carrier will also display a Supra system which comes equipped with what the company are branding a low emissions pack. This low emissions pack features a low-emission diesel engine, which is said to reduce particulate matter by up to 50 per cent compared to a standard engine, as well as Carrier’s ‘Silent’ option kit for quieter operation and the use of R-452A refrigerant.

The final new product slated for unveiling in Germany is a Vector™ 1950MT trailer unit with R-452A refrigerant. The company claim that the R-452A refrigerant, which Carrier state is suitable for use with all Supra and Vector models, offers the same cooling capacity, fuel efficiency, reliability and charge as the standard R-404A refrigerant, while also offering a 45 per cent reduction in GWP.