Maersk's Star Cool refrigeration unit software to halve energy consumption
MAERSK Container Industry's (MCI) StarConomy reefer control software designed in conjunction with fruit multinational Dole, aims to lower costs of shippers of refrigerated cargo.
If a container line with 500 reefers in four vessels adopted MCI software, it would save US$2 million a year on the Ecuador-UK run. Another line running 500 plugs from Ecuador to St Petersburg would save $3.2 million year on the same basis, said MCI.
StarConomy can be installed on all new Star Cool units while a simple software update can make it available on all of these existing units installed by 40 operators.
"The StarConomy software begins by rapidly cooling the produce with the fans at full speed. When the temperature set point is reached, fan speed is reduced and energy optimisation can begin," said MCI reefer tech chief Morten Nylykke. Even higher energy reductions are achieved if the produce is pre-cooled prior to loading.
MAERSK Container Industry's (MCI) StarConomy reefer control software designed in conjunction with fruit multinational Dole, aims to lower costs of shippers of refrigerated cargo.
If a container line with 500 reefers in four vessels adopted MCI software, it would save US$2 million a year on the Ecuador-UK run. Another line running 500 plugs from Ecuador to St Petersburg would save $3.2 million year on the same basis, said MCI.
StarConomy can be installed on all new Star Cool units while a simple software update can make it available on all of these existing units installed by 40 operators.
"The StarConomy software begins by rapidly cooling the produce with the fans at full speed. When the temperature set point is reached, fan speed is reduced and energy optimisation can begin," said MCI reefer tech chief Morten Nylykke. Even higher energy reductions are achieved if the produce is pre-cooled prior to loading.