Comparative efficiency of wire-basket bunkers in refrigerator cars /

Abstract

Refrigerator cars in the fruit and vegetable service today are provided with compartments for ice at each end of the car. These compartments are filled through hatches fitted with insulated plugs located at each corner of the roof, and partitions, or bulkheads, separating them from the loading space. Although the designers of this type of car differ in opinion as to the kind of ice bunker to be installed, all recognize the fact that the cooling of a refrigerator car is entirely dependent upon gravity for the circulation of air within it. This circulation is brought about by the cooling of the air as it comes in contact with the ice. The cooled air slowly drops to the floor of the bunker and issues therefrom into the loading space, where it is brought in contact with the load and again slowly rises as it becomes warmer and passes through and over the load back into the bunker.

Air circulation and temperature conditions in refrigerated carloads of fruit / by H.M. Newell and J.W. Lloyd.

“…The size and character of the lading, as well as its temperature, undoubtedly will influence the extent to which the ice supply can be depleted without causing temperature increases in the load. 9. Forced air circulation in a carload of peaches materially increased the rate of cooling of the fruit and decreased temperature gradients thruout the load.…”