System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation

We studied a shipping container integrated with phase change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage (TES) units for cold chain transportation applications. A 40 ft container was used, which was installed with ten plate-like TES units containing PCM and a charging loop. An appropriate PCM was se...

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Main Authors: Jianwu Zhang, Zixiao Li, Shanhu Tong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6836686
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author Jianwu Zhang
Zixiao Li
Shanhu Tong
author_facet Jianwu Zhang
Zixiao Li
Shanhu Tong
author_sort Jianwu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description We studied a shipping container integrated with phase change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage (TES) units for cold chain transportation applications. A 40 ft container was used, which was installed with ten plate-like TES units containing PCM and a charging loop. An appropriate PCM was selected for meeting the requirement of the transportation of fresh vegetables (7-12°C). The charging loop was linked to a separate charging facility via quick coupling valves. The discharging performance of the container under dynamic conditions was investigated. The COP of the system was estimated to be 1.73. Economic analyses showed that energy and operation costs of the PCM-based container were, respectively, 71.3% and 85.6% lower than the same container but powered by a diesel engine (called reefer container). The results also showed that the PCM-based container was able to maintain not only the temperature range (7-12°C) but also the humidity range (85-95%), leading to better quality and longer shelf-life of the goods.
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issn 1687-529X
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publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-1e23cbbaee64429592bdfdc16f388bbd2025-08-20T02:03:46ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1687-529X2022-01-01202210.1155/2022/6836686System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain TransportationJianwu Zhang0Zixiao Li1Shanhu Tong2CRRC Shijiazhuang Co.CRRC Shijiazhuang Co.CRRC Shijiazhuang Co.We studied a shipping container integrated with phase change material (PCM) based thermal energy storage (TES) units for cold chain transportation applications. A 40 ft container was used, which was installed with ten plate-like TES units containing PCM and a charging loop. An appropriate PCM was selected for meeting the requirement of the transportation of fresh vegetables (7-12°C). The charging loop was linked to a separate charging facility via quick coupling valves. The discharging performance of the container under dynamic conditions was investigated. The COP of the system was estimated to be 1.73. Economic analyses showed that energy and operation costs of the PCM-based container were, respectively, 71.3% and 85.6% lower than the same container but powered by a diesel engine (called reefer container). The results also showed that the PCM-based container was able to maintain not only the temperature range (7-12°C) but also the humidity range (85-95%), leading to better quality and longer shelf-life of the goods.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6836686
spellingShingle Jianwu Zhang
Zixiao Li
Shanhu Tong
System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
International Journal of Photoenergy
title System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
title_full System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
title_fullStr System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
title_full_unstemmed System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
title_short System Performance and Economic Analysis of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Energy Storage Container for Cold Chain Transportation
title_sort system performance and economic analysis of a phase change material based cold energy storage container for cold chain transportation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6836686
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AT zixiaoli systemperformanceandeconomicanalysisofaphasechangematerialbasedcoldenergystoragecontainerforcoldchaintransportation
AT shanhutong systemperformanceandeconomicanalysisofaphasechangematerialbasedcoldenergystoragecontainerforcoldchaintransportation