Fuel savings by using better-quality insulation in refrigerated vans

Abstract

An additional attention must be payed to the energy efficiency of refrigerated vans transporting perishable foodstuffs, because inefficient operation of refrigeration units installed on these vehicles increases fuel consumption and exhaust gases emissions. The amount of fuel consumed by mechanical refrigeration unit drive can be reduced in many ways. This paper is analysing the impact of thermal insulation quality on the fuel consumed by mechanical refrigeration unit installed on a typical van. The results of the research show that by choosing better-quality thermal insulation around € 420 can be saved annually on fuel consumed by mechanical refrigeration unit driven by vehicle's engine while transporting deeply frozen fish at -20 °C (or other foodstuffs at given temperature). If the van is transporting raw meat (for example) at 0 °C annual savings can be around € 110. When the van is used for transport of deeply frozen fish the investment will pay off after 3.5 years of vehicle exploitation, while if the raw meat is transported the investment will pay off after approximately 14 years. The analysis includes the price of insulating the van, current fuel price in Serbia, as well as the average monthly temperatures in the territory of Belgrade, Serbia.