ADVANCED VACUUM INSULATION FOR REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINERS

A RESEARCH PROGRAM IS PROPOSED TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING ADVANCED VACUUM INSULATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINERS WHILE AVOIDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFC'S) IN FOAM INSULATION CURRENTLY BEING USED. ADVANCED VACUUM INSULATIONS, CURRENTLY UNDER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, DO NOT CONTAIN CFC'S AND HAVE VERYHIGH THERMAL RESISTANCES, UP TO R-100 PER INCH, VERSUS R-7 PER INCH FOR CFC BLOWN FOAM. THE ADVANCED INSULATION CAN BEMANUFACTURED IN MODULAR PANEL SHAPES FOR EASY ASSEMBLY IN THE FACTORY OR FOR REPAIRS IN THE FIELD. THE RESEARCH WOULDDETERMINE PRELIMINARY STRUCTURAL AND THERMAL DESIGN OF MODULAR PANELS, LIFE CYCLE COSTS, AND OVERALL CONCEPT FEASIBILITY. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL LEAD TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE REFRIGERATED SHIPPING CONTAINER THROUGH THE USE OF SUPERIOR INSULATION OF REDUCED THICKNESS, AND THROUGHDEVELOPMENT OF MODULAR INSULATION PANELS THAT ARE EASILY ASSEMBLED IN THE FACTORY OR REPAIRED IN THE FIELD. THIS SHIPPING CONTAINER WOULD ALSO LEAD TO REDUCED REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT SIZE AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION, AND INCREASE U.S. COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING CONTAINER MANUFACTURING MARKET.