The idea of nitrogen refrigeration systems in trucks is not new. The Polarstream refrigerated truck was put on the market in 1961 by the Linde Division of Union Carbide and was also used by the British Oxygen Company.
Air Liquide used it under the name of Cryogal. Although some 500 trailers were fitted with this system, certain operational drawbacks led to its being phased out, and manufacturers lost interest.
Today, with the world searching for ways to reduce pollution, conditions may be ripe for the reintroduction of nitrogen-refrigeration systems in trucks.
At last September’s International Auto Show (IAA) at Hannover, Germany, a new nitrogen cooled truck, the ecoFridge, was on display. Liam Oliff, ecoFridge’s Director of Marketing and Sales, commented: “We are looking forward to introducing the ecoFridge concept to a wider audience through the IAA show. The economic and environmental benefits of the unit are becoming of increasing importance to transport companies around the world, and ecoFridge units are emission free, silent running, and cost a fraction of the running costs of conventional units.”
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