Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems) has begun sales of its new TEU series under the Preciso brand in Europe, marking a significant advancement in all-electric-driven transport refrigeration units. The sales are managed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport Europe GmbH, the company's European sales arm based in Osnabruck, Germany.
The launch aligns with Europe's ongoing efforts to decarbonize and improve air quality, particularly in urban areas. The freight transportation sector is increasingly adopting electric vehicles, with many countries and cities accelerating this shift. The TEU series is designed to meet the demands of this rapidly advancing electrification, offering high environmental performance and adaptability to various mounting constraints to accommodate different battery installations in electric vehicles.
The TEU series features a modular structure, a first for MHI Thermal Systems, allowing for compactness and weight reduction. The refrigeration unit's main components—the condenser, evaporator, and compressor—are separated into compact modules. This design facilitates easy installation in various electric vehicles without interfering with vehicle configuration. Compared to the TU series, the TEU series boasts a 30% reduction in volume, a 40% smaller required opening width and area, and a 55% reduction in weight.
This compact and lightweight design contributes to extending the range of electric vehicles equipped with lightweight, high-capacity batteries. Despite its diminutive size, the TEU series provides high refrigeration capacity suitable for large trucks. This is achieved via an economizer cycle, which enhances refrigeration capacity by branching a portion of the refrigerant to cool the main refrigerant flow before injecting it into the compressor's intermediate stage during compression.
The TEU series supports a variety of power supply types, including electric vehicle batteries, vehicle-mounted generators, and dedicated TRU batteries, making it versatile for a wide range of vehicles. The TEU1400MA model features a multi-evaporator system, enabling the simultaneous transport of cargo at different temperature ranges within a single vehicle. This is achieved by installing four types of evaporators of varying sizes in partitioned compartments, allowing for the regulation of multiple temperature zones.
MHI Thermal Systems plans to continue promoting CO2 reduction through advancements in electric systems using inverter technology, enhancing energy savings and temperature control. The company aims to improve operational efficiency with multi-evaporator systems, addressing logistics industry challenges such as working style reforms, transport efficiency, and environmental compliance. By doing so, MHI Thermal Systems seeks to contribute to the realization of safe and secure transport.