T-bar floor protection in intermodal refrigerated containers.

Intermodal refrigerated containers have extruded aluminium T-bar floors to facilitate air circulation required for maintaining cargo temperature. Whilst the primary design of such containers is to maintain temperature typically over periods of a few weeks, as a cargo is taken from the point of origin to the seller, it is found that many alternative uses are employed by companies across the globe. In some regions containers are used as short-term storage which sees them subjected to loading and unloading many more times than an average container. Under these conditions, T-bar floor failure is not uncommon and is prohibitively expensive to repair. Adding a cheap protecting material which can be replaced quickly, cost effectively and which doesn’t impair temperature management when stowed is regarded as the best solution. Data is presented on plywood protection fitted to two standard ISO 1AAA (12.2m insulated) container refrigeration systems. Comparison is made with two standard systems showing how the modification affects the operation of the refrigeration system and its ability to cool a warm-loaded cargo and then maintain temperature.