Abstract: Freshly harvested vegetation is precooled in refrigerated containers by circulating 25,000 cubic feet of chilled air per minute through the container. Conduits formed by pallets on which boxes of the vegetation are stacked distributes the chilled air, which flows through the produce to the top of the refrigerated container. Air is withdrawn from the top of the container and cooled by flowing it past large chilled water film surface area produced by cascading 2,200 gallons of water per minute through a cross fluted PVC surface media block. A drift eliminator removes water droplets that might damage vegetation or cardboard boxes from the chilled air exiting the surface media block. A radial fan recirculates the rechilled air to the conduits below the pallets. A false door is movably mounted to fluidly connect the air flow at appropriate positions on the container.

Abstract: Three tanks containing cryogenic fluid coolant are mounted inside the insulated compartment of a refrigeration container. A control system releases coolant into the compartment responsive to changes in the compartment temperature relative to maximum and minimum temperatures. When the compartment temperature is below the minimum temperature, no cooling of the compartment is desired, and the controller vents all excess boil off vapor outside the compartment. When the compartment temperature is above the maximum temperature, substantial cooling is required, and the controller releases vaporized coolant liquid into the compartment. When the compartment temperature is between the maximum and minimum temperatures, some minimal cooling is needed, and the controller flows the excess boil off vapor into the compartment instead of venting it outside. The coolant is released into the compartment through a venturi to circulate the compartment gases.