Temperature Recorder Placement

Welcome to the third installment on our series on the Interactions between Refrigerated Trailers and Products.

Temperature recorders are also commonly referred to as TempTales or Ryan recorders. Their proper use (placement, position, and performance) is critical to ensure that the temperature recorder provides an accurate reading of the ambient temperature inside the trailer during transport.


So, after the temperature recorder has been confirmed to be working in good order, where does it go?


According to Sensitech, the correct location of the TempTale is on the back right pallet facing the doors. If the TempTale is placed before the last pickup, the Temptale should still be placed on the last pallet for that pickup.

Below, a couple of images of correct vs. incorrect TempTale placement:

Temperature recorders should not be placed on trailer walls because this permits heat that is conducted through the walls to affect the reading produced by the recorder.

Correct handling of the temperature recorder is critical to it's success in producing an accurate reading!!! To learn more regarding this topic and other important notes on the interactions between refrigerated trailers and products, please visit our website at http://www.unitedworldcargo.com/, and download the full PDF file available on the Customer and Carrier sections!!!


Do you have anything to add to this post? Please let us know!!!


Reference:

4 Steps to a Successful Shipment. Sensitech Cold Chain Visibility. PowerPoint Presentation. Received on 11/08/2009. Accessed for document on 01/06/2010.

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Loading Guidelines: Spotlight On.... Pre-Cooling Trailers

Why is pre-cooling so important?

Pre-cooling is one of the most important steps in the pre-loading stage of produce. It is absolutely essential for a refrigerated trailer to be pre-cooled. This becomes especially important during the summer months when temperatures, especially in the southern United States, can reach in the 100s °F. Failing to pre-cool a trailer will result in residual heat in the trailer, walls, ceiling, doors, and floor, which can affect the temperature of the product that is loaded in the trailer, and essentially heat the load.

How it works

Trailers must be pre-cooled to their correct requested product running temperature. It takes up to 1 to 2 hours to pre-cool a trailer with the thermostat pre-set and the doors closed. This is critical to remember as pre-cooling trailers prior to arrival at pickup sheds will result in quicker loading times.

When preparing to pick up a load, the doors of the trailer must not be opened until the loading crews are ready to load it. Also, remember that just before the doors are opened to begin loading, the refrigeration unit must be turned off.

So remember, keep cool to ensure success at loading docks!

Do you have anything to add? Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments!

Pallet Configuration in Reefer Units

Proper trailer loading and pallet configuration is critical to successful deliveries. Trailer pallet configuration and loading specification can affect the temperature of the product inside the reefer, and subsequently, can affect temptale recorder readings. Trailer loading and pallet configuration becomes even more critical when the outside air temperature rises.

Centerline vs. Wall Loading

A trailer can be either centerline loaded, or wall loaded. Centerline loading prevents heat conduction between the trailer wall and the product as it creates a gap between the wall and the product where air can flow to remove heat that penetrates the wall.

Below, an example of a trailer that has been centerline loaded and the recorder reading this produces:

A trailer that is wall loaded will permit heat to be conducted through the walls and into the product.

Below is an example of a wall loaded trailer and the recorder reading this produces:

Produce loads should not be wall loaded, as this will affect pulp temperatures and recorder readings. To ensure success in deliveries, all produce loads should be centerline loaded.


Any thoughts or comments? Please feel free to share with us!!

Reference:
4 Steps to a Successful Shipment. Sensitech Cold Chain Visibility. PowerPoint Presentation. Received on 11/08/2009. Accessed for document on 01/06/2010.

Continuous vs. Cycle Sentry

Refrigerated trailer temperature settings are one of the most critical aspects that can influence fruit and vegetables products upon delivery. Below is a description of both settings and further information on their functions:

Continuous:

Continuous setting must be used for produce loads, as they need continuous air flow to handle the heat of product respiration. Continuous air flow allows for more consistent temperature throughout the trailer for the duration of transport. All reefer units have a ‘Set Point’. For example, if you have a set point of 33°F, the temperature reading displayed by the set-point will stay constant on a smart reefer download. On continuous setting, the reefer has a set defrost cycle (definition: Defrost cycle – the process of removing ice or frost buildup from a coil). The intervals are factory set for every 6 hours, but the unit will auto defrost based on a temperature difference across the coil. The defrost cycle can be changed to compensate for produce that has higher heat respiration, for higher ambient temperature (definition: Ambient temperature - the certain temperature within an enclosed space), and for door openings. For example, if it is a humid day and the driver is doing a lot of door openings, you may need to have a more frequent number of defrost cycles. Although the reefer has this defrost cycle on continuous setting, it does not change the product temperature due to the fact that most reefers have a very high heating capacity (definition: Heating capacity – The amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of a given mass of a substance by one degree Celsius). The temperature in the air of the reefer will heat at a faster rate than the temperature of the product that is in the trailer. The time of a defrost cycle is not is significant enough to affect the product temperature.

Below is an example of a temperature recorder printout for a reefer in continuous mode (note spike at end of 41°F is at unloading point:

Cycle Sentry:

Cycle-Sentry setting should only be used for frozen loads, i.e. loads that are intended to ship colder than 24°F. Frozen loads can handle more significant temperature variances without causing damage to the product. On cycle-sentry, the load also has a ‘Set Point.’ For example, if you have a set point of 22°F, the set-point will also stay constant on the download, as it does on continuous setting. However, when the ambient temperature in the reefer drops to between .5 to 1 °F lower than the ‘Set Point’ (in this case that would be 21.5°F), it turns off. It then waits until temperature warms up 5°F past the set point (in this case, 27°F), and then turns itself back on.

Below is an example of a temperature recorder printout for a reefer in cycle-sentry mode:




Conclusion:

Produce loads should not be set on cycle-sentry, and the only benefit of operating on this setting is significant fuel savings. Because the temperature of a load on cycle-sentry can vary dramatically during the time of transport, this can cause freezing on top boxes or condensation in packaging.

Reference:

4 Steps to a Successful Shipment. Sensitech Cold Chain Visibility. Powerpoint Presentation. Received on 11/08/2009, Accessed for document on 01/06/2010.