Temperature Uniformity And Air Flow Distribution In A 40ft Reefer Container

What is the typical temperature distribution in a 40ft reefer stowed with 21 block pallets of 120 x 100 cm? How is that temperature distribution affected by stowage pattern, T-bar height, or an air flow enhancing floor cover? This paper answers the preceding questions by means of a series of climate chamber tests. As a dummy load 21 block pallets were used, stacked with empty airtight cartons till a height of 233 cm. In all tested cases the observed difference between the warmest and the coldest cargo temperature is between 4 and 7 °C, with the worst temperature deviations occurring at the door-end. The most important conclusion is that a floor plan with 21 pallets of 120 x 100 cm in a 40ft reefer leaves too little space for air circulation between the last pallet and the door, when carrying highly temperature-sensitive goods