Carrier Transicold’s Vector 1550 domestic intermodal refrigeration system features a thin...

Carrier Transicold’s Vector 1550 domestic intermodal refrigeration system features a thin profile that allows for more cargo capacity within a standard 53-foot North American intermodal container.

Photo: Carrier Transicold

Carrier Transicold’s Vector 1550 domestic intermodal refrigeration system features a thin profile that allows for more cargo capacity within a standard 53-foot North American intermodal container.

The unit allows for up to 7% more cargo can be carried for greater shipping efficiency over rail and highway, according to Carrier Transicold.

The Vector 1550 unit allows a domestic intermodal refrigerated container to accommodate an extra row of pallets, resulting in cube loads similar to 53-foot over-the road trailers. The thin-profile Vector 1550 unit also reduces total weight by as much as 570 pounds compared to competitive standard-size refrigeration systems and by 200 pounds compared to competitive slim-profile designs, according to the company.

As part of Carrier Transicold’s Vector family, the Vector 1550 unit takes advantage of E-Drive technology. Unlike conventional mechanical transport refrigeration units, those with E-Drive technology use a high-output generator direct coupled to a diesel engine to power an all-electric refrigeration system.

Using intelligent controls, the system can automatically turn on and off individual components, such as the compressor and fans, running only what it needs, precisely when needed. As a result, components run fewer hours and last longer than traditional counterparts.

The simplified, clean refrigeration architecture eliminates most of the serviceable items found in conventional mechanical transport refrigeration systems – traditional parts, such as vibrasorbers, clutches, shaft seals, alternators, drive belts and pulleys that require routine maintenance.

The Vector 1550 unit offers integrated electric standby, enabling the unit to be plugged into a power source when parked. This eliminates emissions and noise from the refrigeration unit engine, conserves fuel and reduces operating costs. The Vector system provides the unit’s full rated refrigeration capacity when on standby, unlike some add-on standby systems that add weight and complexity, without delivering full capacity.

The Vector 1550 system also can be coupled with Carrier Transicold’s eSolutions telematics system for remote monitoring of system operation and container temperatures, generation of automatic proof of temperature compliance reports to maintain food safety standards, and providing enhanced control features, such as remote software updates and data downloads.