A refrigerated container, also known as a “reefer container,” is a type of container that is designed to transport goods at a controlled temperature. It is a special insulated container that is equipped with a refrigeration system to maintain a specific temperature range inside the container.

Refrigerated containers are commonly used to transport perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, and seafood. The temperature inside the container can be set to a specific range, depending on the type of product being transported, and can be monitored and controlled throughout the journey.

Refrigerated containers are used in the shipping industry to transport goods across long distances, such as by sea or rail. They are also used in the trucking industry to transport goods over shorter distances.

What is the size of the reefer container?

A reefer container is most often available in three different sizes: 10ft, 20ft and 40ft. A 40ft reefer container offers the largest storage space, but a high cube model offers slightly more.

The characteristics of a refrigerated container are as follows:

They are made to keep the container’s temperature, humidity, and atmosphere constant throughout the entire transit time.
When shipping reefer cargo, there are four settings to consider: humidity, drainage, temperature, and ventilation
Temperature: For chilled and frozen cargo, all standard reefer containers are designed to maintain temperatures between +25° C and -25° C. A certain proportion of the reefer fleet worldwide is also capable of maintaining temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius. Ventilation: Special containers known as super freezers are capable of maintaining temperatures as low as -70° C. For a chilled temperature, air should move through the freight consistently to eliminate intensity and gases. As a result, the used transport boxes ought to have ventilation. Fruits and vegetables require fresh air ventilation. Air must circulate around the frozen goods. Between the cargo, the walls, and the cargo itself, there should not be a lot of space. Blocks should be used to store the cargo.

Humidity: A lower humidity level in the air is beneficial to some products. A dope unit has a dehumidification capability which can bring down the degree of dampness in the air. The standard range for relative humidity (RH) is between 60% and 85%, although some more recent models can reach 50%.
Drains: These are used to get rid of any extra water that might have built up in the containers. Additionally, their design prevents insects and water from entering the container.
Reefer machinery cannot operate on its own and must be connected to an electrical supply. This source can be at a station, terminal, or onboard vessel.
The electronic temperature recorder is a microprocessor housed within the container. All data, including the temperatures of the supply and return air, remote cargo probe temperatures, defrost activity, adjustments to the setpoint, and power on and off times, are stored by this device. Cargo probes can be used to record the temperature of specific shipments’ cargo. One end of these probes is a cable with a temperature-sensitive component. In addition to our tracking and tracing systems, Kuehne+Nagel offers a portable data logger, a carrier-independent monitoring device. You can look at your goods’ temperature data at any time thanks to this.

The purpose of a refrigeration unit is not to bring the load to the desired temperature but rather to maintain that temperature. Prior to loading, the cargo must be precooled to the set point temperature. To guarantee good quality and the longest possible shelf life, it is especially important to reduce the temperature after harvest to the optimal transport temperature for fresh fruits and vegetables.