OTFLOW – Improving Air Distribution in Refrigerated Containers
Temperature control is essential in refrigerated transport, but temperature alone does not guarantee product protection.
Without proper air distribution, temperature variations can develop throughout a refrigerated container, resulting in localised hotspots, inconsistent product temperatures and reduced shelf life.
OTFLOW was developed to support airflow management within refrigerated containers and help improve temperature uniformity throughout the cargo space.
Why Air Distribution Matters
Modern refrigerated containers depend on controlled airflow to distribute cooling capacity throughout the cargo.
The refrigeration unit may generate sufficient cooling, but that cooling must reach all product locations equally. When airflow pathways become restricted, temperature differences can develop between locations inside the container.
For temperature-sensitive products such as fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and other perishables, these temperature variations may influence quality, shelf life and compliance performance.
How Reefer Containers Were Originally Designed
- Traditional refrigerated container loading patterns were designed around floor-level airflow channels.
- Boxes were positioned directly above these channels, allowing cooled air to move underneath, through and around the cargo before returning to the refrigeration unit.
What changed?
- Over time, faster loading and unloading became increasingly important.
- As palletised transport became the industry standard, pallets were frequently positioned over airflow channels without fully considering the impact on air circulation inside the container.
While palletisation improved operational efficiency, it sometimes reduced the effectiveness of the original airflow design.
Understanding Airflow Turbulence in Refrigerated Containers
When palletised cargo is placed above airflow channels, the original airflow characteristics inside the container may change significantly.
Rather than creating the intended pressure distribution throughout the load, airflow may become turbulent and less predictable, affecting temperature uniformity within the container.
This can contribute to:
– Temperature variation
– Uneven cooling
– Hotspots within the load
– Reduced cooling efficiency
– Potential quality loss
Temperature mapping studies frequently demonstrate that airflow behaviour plays a significant role in temperature uniformity throughout refrigerated transport equipment.
Understanding Temperature Distribution
Airflow and temperature distribution are closely connected.
Even when the refrigeration unit operates correctly, changes in airflow behaviour can influence how cooling capacity is distributed throughout the container.
Understanding these airflow patterns helps operators make better loading decisions and improve cold chain performance.
How OTFLOW Works
OTFLOW is designed to support airflow movement underneath palletised cargo.
By creating additional airflow pathways beneath pallets, the system helps cold air travel more effectively through the container and reach a larger portion of the cargo.
The objective is improved temperature consistency rather than lower set-point temperatures.
Potential Benefits
Depending on product type, loading configuration and operational conditions, improved airflow management may contribute to:
– Better temperature uniformity
– Improved product protection
– Enhanced cold chain performance
– Reduced risk of hotspots
– Improved shelf life management
– Better utilisation of refrigeration capacity
Visualising Airflow Performance
Airflow behaviour can be analysed using simulation models and visualisation tools.
These models help illustrate airflow patterns, identify potential problem areas and evaluate the impact of different loading configurations before implementation.
Supporting Better Cold Chain Performance
Airflow management remains one of the most overlooked aspects of refrigerated logistics.
As supply chains become increasingly focused on quality, sustainability and waste reduction, understanding airflow behaviour becomes more important for maintaining product integrity throughout transportation.
OTFLOW represents one example of how practical engineering solutions can support more effective cold chain operations.
What Are Your Options and What Could Be the Potential Benefits?
Every refrigerated logistics operation is different.
Product type, packaging design, pallet configuration and transport duration all influence airflow behaviour inside a refrigerated container.
Understanding how air moves through a load is often the first step towards improving temperature consistency, reducing quality losses and enhancing cold chain performance.
What are your options and what could the potential benefits be?
Let us demonstrate the principles and discuss the opportunities for your operation.