Tesco Selects Carrier Transicold’s Ultra-Low GWP Trailer Refrigeration Technology

Carrier Transicold has delivered five Vector HE 19 Low CO2 Emissions Multi-Temperature (MT) trailer refrigeration units to Tesco to assist in lowering emissions across refrigerated transport and cold-chain operations. Mounted on 13.6-metre Gray & Adams trailers, the refrigeration systems operate throughout Tesco’s nationwide network of over 2,900 UK stores, handling the multi-temperature transport of ambient, chilled, and frozen goods on a continuous seven-day operational cycle.

Refrigerant Performance and Emission Reductions
The refrigeration systems utilize R454A refrigerant, which has a certified Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 239. Compared to R452A—a conventional trailer refrigeration fluid possessing a GWP of 2,140—R454A lowers the GWP metric by nearly 90% while providing equivalent cooling capacity.

System Redesign and Safety Architecture
The Vector HE 19 platform underwent internal mechanical modifications to safely operate with the ultra-low GWP refrigerant while maintaining the interface and operational procedures of the standard Vector architecture. Environmental containment is supported by onboard leak-detection sensors and an automated pump-down evacuation cycle that recovers the refrigerant charge inside the system when a breach is detected, mitigating the release of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases).

Technician Training and Full-Service Support
Rollout support from Carrier Transicold and its network partners includes specialized tooling and dedicated technician training centered on low-GWP refrigerant handling. Operational servicing is covered by the BluEdge fixed-cost maintenance framework, incorporating annual temperature-control verification and certification, statutory inspections, continuous technical guidance, and 24/7 oneCALL incident management.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications not included in the original news release.

R454A is a mildly flammable hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blend composed of 65% R1234yf and 35% R32, classified under the ASHRAE A2L safety standard. Replacing legacy A1 refrigerants like R404A and R452A with A2L alternatives in enclosed transport refrigeration units requires upgraded mechanical safety mechanisms, such as ATEX-rated brushless evaporator fan motors, spark-proof electrical relays, and intrinsically safe pressure relief assemblies to prevent combustible vapor buildup during leakage events. Multi-temperature trailer units operate with multi-zone digital pulse-width modulated (PWM) expansion valves and auxiliary evaporator evaporators running variable-speed fans to maintain separate temperature setpoints ranging from −25°C in frozen bulkheads to +4°C in fresh food compartments. To optimize diesel-electric efficiency, all-electric hermetic refrigeration architectures deploy variable-speed semi-hermetic scroll compressors driven by an onboard high-efficiency permanent-magnet generator directly coupled to a low-emission Stage V diesel engine, reducing mechanical friction and thermodynamic throttling losses compared to open-drive reciprocating belt systems.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.