Code of Practice to eliminate halocarbon emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems: chapter 5

Part 2 - Mobile Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems (Mobile Cooling Systems)

Mobile systems include air conditioning and refrigeration systems (mobile cooling systems) in:

• refrigerated transport trucks and transport trailers (“reefers”),
• rail cars, intermodal containers, ships, aircraft,
• automotive vehicles,
• trains, buses, trucks, agricultural equipment, cranes and other.

The basic principles that apply to stationary cooling systems as described in this code of practice can also be applied to mobile cooling systems. This section covers aspects that are specific to mobile systems.

Mobile cooling systems have become more reliable and efficient in recent years; however, they are subjected to greater and more frequent vibration forces than stationary cooling systems. They normally operate in a more aggressive environment due to rain, dust, debris and road or marine salt. Therefore, these systems may be more prone to refrigerant leakage.

5.0 Design

The design of mobile cooling systems should:

• take into account the severe physical environment in which they operate,
• incorporate a high degree of physical protection without compromising accessibility, and
• include operator-friendly control panels with self-diagnostic abilities and alarms.

The vehicle operator should:

• understand the basic principles of how the air conditioning and/or refrigeration systems work,
• know the normal operating parameters of the systems,
• know how to start and stop the cooling systems,
• know how to pump down and isolate the refrigerant charge, and
• understand the functions and alerts set on the monitoring control.