Carrier Transicold now offers the QUEST II power-saving mode for its container refrigeration units, giving container shipping lines a means to reduce energy required for refrigeration by up to 65% while reducing emissions related to power generation. Carrier Transicold helps improve global transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated trucks, trailers and containers, and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
Short for Quality and Energy in Storage and Transport, QUEST II mode is a special control software designed for use with perishable cargoes, helping improve refrigerated container shipping by reducing costs associated with onboard energy production and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. As with the original QUEST mode, which was introduced in 2007 and capable of providing energy savings of up to 50% for certain commodities, QUEST II was developed jointly by Carrier Transicold, Maersk Line, the world’s largest ocean carrier, and Netherlands-based Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research.
By implementing QUEST II throughout its refrigerated container operations, Maersk Line anticipates a 350,000 metric ton reduction in its annual CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions, an amount comparable to the CO2e emissions of cars driving two billion kilometers (1.2 billion miles). The reduced power loads enabled by QUEST technology also allow Maersk vessels to accommodate more refrigerated containers than possible before. Savings and efficiencies are achieved while also maintaining strict adherence to product quality and customer satisfaction.
“Shipping lines, such as Maersk Line, that commit to QUEST technology are helping to raise the environmental profile of the refrigerated shipping industry,” said Kartik Kumar, Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold. “With worldwide use of the QUEST mode surpassing a quarter-million refrigerated containers, it’s clear that the technology appeals to shipping lines as well as growers and exporters who want to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and products.”
Like the original QUEST mode, QUEST II uses scientifically proven formulas to selectively manage refrigeration system component operation to conserve energy, allowing air temperature variations without compromising the pulp temperatures of produce in transit. The more highly refined software algorithms in QUEST II provide a 30 percent boost over the energy savings provided by the original QUEST mode, resulting in even lower operating costs and reduced environmental impact.
Wageningen UR, Maersk Line and Carrier Transicold extensively tested QUEST II on various commodities, including apples, bananas, pineapples, kiwifruit, grapes, garlic, iceberg lettuce, chilled lamb meat, lily bulbs and potted plants. These items were selected because of their known temperature sensitivity and the large volumes in which they are regularly transported.
QUEST II power-saving mode can be installed on new or existing Carrier Transicold refrigeration units equipped with ML3 and ML2i controls. The greatest energy savings will be realized with ThinLINE units, and significant savings are also possible with the higher efficiency Carrier PrimeLINE and EliteLINE units.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 40 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with the most advanced, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.
