How Refrigerated Trucks Work (Power Sources)

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Do you want to keep your ice cream cold on a hot day? Need your medicine safe during a long trip? You need a 23. camión refrigerado. Let’s learn how they work!

What Is a Refrigerated Truck?

A 23. camión refrigerado, o reefer truck, is like a big moving fridge on wheels. It keeps food, medicine, and other things cool and fresh. These trucks are heroes in the cadena de frío. The cold chain is how your ice cream, milk, or medicine stays cold from the factory to your home.

How Does a Truck Keep Things Cold?

These trucks use a transport refrigeration system. It works a lot like the air conditioner in your car or your home fridge. Here’s the simple way it works:

There is a compressor. It pumps a cold special liquid called refrigerant.
The refrigerant goes through the condenser coil. Here, it lets out heat and cools down.
Next, it moves to the expansion valve. This makes the refrigerant very, very cold.
Then, the refrigerant goes through the evaporator coil. Here, it takes in the heat from the inside of the trailer.
Warm air leaves, cold air stays, and your cargo stays just right!

But all these parts need power. So, where does this power come from?

How Do Reefers Get Power? Let’s See Their Power Sources

Los camiones reefer need energy to keep running. There are many ways to give these systems power:

Self-Powered (Independent Diesel Engine)

Uses a small diesel engine only for the fridge.
Best for big trailers and long trips.
Ventajas: Works anywhere, strong, easy to refuel.
Desventajas: It uses fuel, makes noise, and makes smoke.

Vehicle-Powered (Direct Drive)

Uses the truck’s engine to make the fridge work.
Best for smaller trucks and city trips.
Ventajas: Lighter, fewer moving parts.
Desventajas: Only works when the truck is on.

Electric Standby

The reefer can plug into the wall for electric power when parked.
Useful at docks or warehouses.
Ventajas: Quiet, no smoke when using electric, saves fuel.
Desventajas: Needs special plugs, doesn't work while driving.

Battery-Electric

Uses a big battery pack.
Charged from a wall plug or when the truck slows down (regenerative braking).
Great for cities or places with many charging stations.
Ventajas: No noise, no smoke, saves money in the long run.
Desventajas: The battery is heavy and costs more, needs places to charge.

Hybrid

Uses both a diesel engine and a battery.
Can switch between them as needed.
Ventajas: Saves fuel, makes less smoke, flexible.
Desventajas: More parts, may cost more at first.

Emerging Power (Future Ways)

Solar Power: Solar panels can help charge the system.
Cryogenic: Uses cold liquid, like liquid nitrogen, instead of a fridge motor.

Table: Power Source Comparison

Fuente de energía	Ventajas	Desventajas	Best Used For
Diesel Engine	Works anywhere, strong	Fuel cost, makes smoke	Long trips, big trailers
Direct Drive	Light, less upkeep	Needs engine on, limited	City, small trucks
Electric Standby	Quiet, clean	Needs plug, can't drive	Docks, night parking
Battery-Electric	Silent, no smoke	Heavy, needs charging	Urban, short trips
Hybrid	Flexible, fuel saver	More parts, higher cost	Mixed trips, eco areas

See How Reefers Save the Day!

Let’s look at some fun facts:

En global transport refrigeration market was worth about $12 billion in 2022.
Diesel engine reefers make up 90% of trailers today.
Using electric standby removes 100% of tailpipe emissions when plugged in!
Battery reefers are very quiet, which is nice for city deliveries at night.
By using hybrid power, fuel use can drop by 30%.
Rules in places like California (CARB TRU regulations) mean more electric reefers are coming.
Batteries can be heavy, so trucks may carry 500-1,500 less pounds of cargo.

How Smart are Today’s Reefers?

Today, reefer units have brains. They use temperature control systems, registradores de datos, e incluso seguimiento GPS to keep food cold and send you updates. Some use monitorización remota over the internet. They can even predict when they need a fix (mantenimiento predictivo).

Picking the Best Power for Your Needs

Let’s say you have a job to do. How do you pick the best refrigerator power?

Long Haul? Use diesel, hybrid, or plug in at stops.
Short City Trips? Try battery-electric or direct drive.
Carrying Frozen Food? Get the biggest, coldest unit.
Worried About Rules? Electric or hybrid helps meet emissions rules.
Need To Save Money? Compare fuel, battery, and maintenance costs.

CLW GROUP Is Here To Help!

Somos GRUPO CLW, a leader in truck making. Want a custom reefer? We build trucks of all sizes with any power you want: diesel, electric, hybrid, you name it!

Nuestra team gives you:

Producción a medida for your exact need
Entrega rápida
Great after-sales service
Smart technical support

You can even check out our other trucks like our camiones de tanque de agua, camiones mezcladores de cemento, or see our fábrica de camiones especiales page for more information.

Want to move cars? See our page on transporte de automóviles solutions. Need strong trucks for heavy hauls? Check out our aluminum flatbed trucks y 9. para vehículos averiados. trabajas duro. Te ayudamos a trabajar inteligente. with all the best power options.

Want to learn more? See our fábrica de camiones especiales, or get details on eco-friendly camión cisterna, check out camión hormigonera, and our reliable transporte de automóviles camiones.

Wrap Up

Los camiones reefer keep your food fresh and your medicine safe. They use cool science: compressors, condensers, and batteries or engines. At GRUPO CLW, we know every cargo needs the right truck and the best transport refrigeration system. You can trust us to help you pick the best power source, keep your goods cold, and run your business smoothly.

Ready for cold, smart, and strong? Let GRUPO CLW build your next great refrigerated truck!

Referencias

California Air Resources Board, CARB TRU regulations.
Market research, Global Transport Refrigeration Market.
Major brands: Thermo King, Carrier Transicold.
Industry news, company press releases, and technical standards.