Types of Refrigerated Van and Their Uses

Have you ever wondered how people transport products around without having to compromise on the quality? Or how florists keep their daises fresh, ice-cream truck keeps moving around, and caterers keep their food warm and cold according to the requirement. All of this is made possible with the invention of refrigerated vans. These vans are exactly how they sound, vans installed with a refrigerator in them. The temperature ranges from 0C – 8C. 

How does a refrigerated van work?

To ensure that the inside product stays cold, an insulated, airtight compartment is used to assimilate heat and dissolve the heat outside the compartment. Like any other refrigerator found at home, this van contains a condenser that condenses the hot air into a fluid, dissolving the rest of the heat into the atmosphere. The fluid is cooled, and it then travels to the evaporator through a valve and afterward is dissipated at a low temperature as all heat is consumed. In order to control the temperature and keep it cool, fans circulate inside the space where the product is kept. The compressor, in return, turns the low-pressure gas from the evaporator and packs it into hot, high pressing factor gas. This gas is then sent out of the condenser to continue the process all over again. 

Types of refrigerated vans 

There are different types of refrigerated vans which cater to the needs of different businesses. So the main task involves choosing what best sets your interest and proves to be more cost-efficient for your business. Failing to do so can become a costly mistake. Therefore, one should look into few questions like what temperature is required for the product while delivering it, whether a freezer or chiller van is needed, will the product be stored overnight? 

So following are the types of refrigerated vans that you need to review before making the decision. 

Insulation-only van

These vans do not have a refrigeration system installed in them, but they tend to keep the products cool for as long as possible. The storage area is lined with a thick 50-millimeter Styrofoam or polystyrene insulation that blocks the thermal bridge and isolating any potential heat airways when the cargo is sealed. These vans are more suitable for transferring non-perishable products or the ones that need to be kept at a consistent temperature inside the van. Insulation-only van can prove to be a good choice for businesses like florists who don’t have to stress over cooling their things and require a steady temperature. 

Chiller conversion van

A chiller conversion van is just another type of insulation van with the thick lining of 50-millimeter Styrofoam. However, it comes with a refrigeration system that can withhold temperatures as low as 0C-8C. It is the most wanted van amongst others as it can cater to many different businesses, including flower specialists, drug organizations, and those moving chilled food to be put away at 0°C or above. This type of van is ideal for chilled meat and dairy items. The flexibility of these vans makes it simple to ship a load of products, with the satisfaction that they will be kept at a similar, ideal temperature all through the excursion. 

Semi-freezer chiller van 

The storage area of these vans is lined by 75-millimeter insulation, making it possible to contain frozen goods.  It is suitable for businesses that want to deliver frozen products around. Temperature as low as -10C up to -15C can be achieved within the freezer units of these vans. It also comes with a feature to reverse cycle defrost that reverses the action of evaporator and condenser and helps defrost the item within seconds. This eliminates the need for a defrost heater, and this van can prove to be less time-consuming and cost-effective as a defrosting measure is already installed in this van. 

Full freezer conversion van 

Like a Semi-freezer chiller van, this van also contains a lining of 75-millimeter insulation in the cargo area with special features that include reverse cycle defrost or hot gas defrost. However, it also has supported side and back entryways or doors and can keep items frozen as low as – 20°C. Other full-cooler change vans can get temperatures as low as – 25°C. However, those full-cooler vans will have 100-millimeter protection and an uncommonly made section type entryway rather than the industrial facility sliding doors on different vans.

What to look for in a refrigerated van?

It is necessary to look into several aspects while choosing from the types of refrigerated van mentioned above. The following are the key factors:

Temperature: In case you’re moving flowers, you probably don’t need them frozen during shipment. Then again, you can’t undercool food sources like milk or vegetables as this can ruin the item. Also, pharmaceutical companies need to ensure that few medications should be at a lower temperature to guarantee adequacy, like tranquilizers or temperature-sensitive drugs, which have precise measures for the capacity temperature. Ensure your van meets the temperature requirements for refrigeration and protection.

Fuel efficiency: The cooling system burdens the truck’s mileage, so refrigerated trucks have lower proficiency than standard trucks. Pick a van that resolves this issue, as each mile per gallon higher means you get a good deal on gas. One fuel-saving technique is increasing the insulation in the truck to try not to lose cold air. Another approach to further develop effectiveness is to keep the truck’s general weight low by utilizing lightweight parts. Particularly in summer, assuming the requirement for enormous amounts of transport, the demand for refrigerated vans also increases.

Body size: It is just another feature to search for in a refrigerated truck. The refrigerated van size will vary depending upon the operation scale and product size. Think about purchasing a more modest truck to get a good deal on buy and gas costs or put resources into a bigger truck if you see your delivery needs developing soon.

Conclusion 

There are four main types of refrigerated vans, and each comes with different properties and features that distinguish it from the others. Selecting the right type of refrigerated van can prove to be more cost-effective and less time-consuming. It would help if you initially thought about the usage and purpose of buying a refrigerated van for yourself or your business. Doing so will allow you to select an ideal van with varying temperatures based on the requirements of your task.  

The automobile industry is massive, and the need for different types of automobiles is increasing by the day. New and more futuristic models of automobiles that come with numerous features are hitting the automobile market. Learn about more of the types of automobiles by going through different articles on our site. Why don’t you start with what are the different types of pickup trucks? There are several other automobile-related guides and blogs on our site to go through.