Rape oil fuel in reefer test
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• Thermo King is testing rape seed oil as an alternative fuel to diesel for its refrigeration equipment.
Product manager Norman Spear says: "It's just one of the realistic alternatives, along with natural gas and propane. The technology looks promising but it's not trouble-free; one drawback is that rape seed oil has to be heated to avoid coagulation at low temperatures."
Spear also reveals that Thermo King is developing an "electronic muffler" noise suppression system in conjunction with Donaldson, the US exhaust system manufacturer. A mirror image of the sound wave emanating from the problem area can reduce noise levels by up to 70%. "The tests look very promising," says Spear. "You will see it first in our designs in two or three years.'
Encapsulation, a more conventional means of noise suppression, could cut noise emission by up to 40%; and compressor, fan and engine designs could contribute up to 20%.
On the subject of refrigerants, Spear believes large fleets should embrace the 69L standard now. He says that while 134a is available, it is not suitable for frozen systems.
The CFC-free refrigerant R502 will not be available before the end of 1993.