Refrigerated Transport

any means of transportation intended for the conveyance of perishable food products—for example, meat, fish, or fresh vegetables and fruits—at temperatures that ensure the preservation of the food products (seeCOOLING OF FOOD PRODUCTS). Refrigerated transport is divided into railroad transport, motor vehicle transport, water transport (shipping and river transport), and air transport.

In order to maintain the appropriate temperature conditions, containers, refrigerator cars, refrigerator ships, and insulated trucks are equipped with refrigerating systems or with containers designed to be filled with ready-made freezing mixtures, water ice, dry ice, or liquefied gases. Refrigeration losses are reduced by using low-temperature insulation. Means of transportation intended for the conveyance of products during the winter may be equipped with heaters. For the conveyance of chilled products over short distances, means of transportation without cooling equipment—that is, vacuum containers—are used.

In the USSR, railroad cars with mechanical refrigeration and electric heating are used in trains, in sections, or as self-contained refrigerator cars. Ice-cooled cars are used only as self-contained refrigerator cars; the required ice and salt mixture is provided by icing stations and ice plants (seeICE-MAKING). Refrigerator ships and barges used in shipping and in river transport are classified as transport ships and commercial fishing vessels. Refrigerated air transport is intended for the rapid conveyance of products. The required temperature level in the cargo hold is maintained by the circulation of ambient air.