Genset innovation: 7 factors driving marine refrigeration

Marine gensets have evolved significantly over the years. Changes that have predominantly been driven by the ‘big 3’ forces of customer expectations, environmental regulations, and technology innovation:

·         Customer expectations: which increasingly put the emphasis on issues such as power output and reliability, as well as flexible installation and ease of maintenance

·         Environmental regulations: where stricter controls have pushed manufacturers to develop cleaner and more fuel-efficient gensets able to comply with CARB (California Air Resources Board), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), EU NRMM (non-road mobile machinery,) and PRC GB4 regulations.

·         Technology innovation: that’s seen the relatively simple, large, and less efficient early genset designs give way to more efficient, compact, and variable speed gensets – with functions such as fuel injection and electronic control systems 

The 7 factors behind genset innovation

For genset manufacturers looking to stay ahead of the game, environmental regulations can in part be anticipated. The greater challenge comes in aligning innovation to customer expectations. A situation that raises the obvious question: just what do cold chain logistics firms really want from their marine gensets?

Well, based on the feedback received at Thermo King by both our employees and dealers, we’d highlight 7 core requirements that continue to guide our innovation strategy:

1.      Power requirements: gensets must be able to match the power needs of any refrigerated container, including peak power demands, without being either under- or over-powered

2.  Durability and maintenance: delivering a robust, well-built genset requiring minimal maintenance to reduce downtime and the need for repairs

3.  Fuel efficiency: essential to lowering both operating costs and any genset’s carbon footprint, while offering ever-reliable performance

4.  Automatic restart: on occasions when a genset stops operating (due to lack of fresh air or thermal overload etc.), the unit should be able to automatically restart in order to maintain a container’s power supply

5.  Regulatory compliance: meeting all relevant environmental (such as CARB) and safety regulations, is another ‘must have’ to avoid legal issues and enable gensets to operate in any region 

6.  Installation flexibility: different genset configuration options (e.g. clip-on or undermount)) help logistics firms increase the utility of their refrigerated containers

7.  Remote monitoring and control: today’s gensets must afford two-way communication via telematics to access capabilities for real-time remote tracking, load protection, and advanced diagnostics

Innovation in action: the SG-5000/3500 genset series

In response to these demands, Thermo King continues to innovate across our marine genset range – as evidenced by the SG-5000 and SG-3500 series.

What this technology offers is a powerful combination of performance, telematics, and low operating costs. The result is trusted load protection, as well as full compliance with all regulations including CARB  – which is where the SG-5000’s non-idling future feature and exhaust temperature controls are especially relevant.

The SG-5000 and SG-3500 are also at the forefront in genset design, with its ability to deliver:

·         Increased reliability: made possible by proven engines, an alternator with stable output (important for units that have inverters), and an advanced controller

·         Lowest TCO: the unit’s service interval is set at 3,000 hours to help minimize downtime, while simplified maintenance acts to further reduce lifetime costs

·         Increased corrosion resistance: which is the result of our innovative painting process

·         Improved frame quality: the result of a fully automated robotic welding and inspection process

·         Dual-fuel capability: primarily diesel-driven, the SG-5000 and SG-3500 are also compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and biodiesel

·         Telematics: deliver full visibility of a genset’s operation, which alongside a controller that can prevent engine idling makes the unit ready for future regulations

·         Easy-to-use controller: with features such as auto restart, automatic Pre Trip Inspection (PTI) health check, digital voltage regulator, and automatic Ecopower

Put innovation to work in future-proofing your genset fleet

Meeting the demands of regulators and customers has remained a true catalyst for marine genset innovation at Thermo King. With our SG-5000 and SG-3500 series, you have access to technology that’s purpose-built to ensure the highest possible levels of load protection – while driving efficiency, performance, and sustainability. It’s about providing the reassurance of knowing that every investment is optimized to meet your customer commitments, and opening up a world of new opportunities.

To find out more about the SG-5000 genset, click here.

To find out more about the SG-3500 genset, click here.