Carrier Transicold presented the world's first natural refrigerant technology for container refrigeration on November 30, at Intermodal Europe 2010. Carrier's newest container refrigeration unit design, to be known as NaturaLINE™, incorporates the technology that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.

Carrier Transicold is a unit of Carrier Corp. Carrier's natural refrigerant technology has been used to create a container refrigeration system incorporating carbon dioxide (CO2) in place of conventional synthetic hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, which have higher global warming potential (GWP). The system is being engineered to deliver efficiencies currently only achieved by Carrier's best-in-class performer, the PrimeLINE® unit.

Carrier has already placed demonstration units in service for around-the-world tests with Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd. 

"NaturaLINE technology is a revolutionary breakthrough for the marine container refrigeration market and advances Carrier's natural leadership in environmental technologies," says John Mandyck, Carrier vice president, Sustainability & Environmental Strategies. "NaturaLINE technology also demonstrates how technological innovation can reduce the impact on climate change, continuing Carrier's long-standing commitment to providing sustainable solutions."

Carrier's natural refrigerant container technology incorporates numerous innovations, some of which are new to container refrigeration applications. For example, the system includes a new gas cooler/condenser coil that wraps around the fan and has enhanced surfaces to maximize heat transfer. It also takes advantage of a new marine-duty multi-stage compressor. New power electronics and an advanced software control system combine to efficiently optimize fan speeds and compressor capacity to match cooling loads and temperature control.

NaturaLINE technology demonstrates that Carrier will have the right refrigerant solution for every application, but not every application will have the same refrigerant solution. For more information about Carrier Transicold's natural refrigerant container technology, visit container.carrier.com.