Passive Cooling for Deep-Freeze Refrigerated Trailers
O Desafio
How can cold-chain operators reduce refrigeration workload at deep freeze setpoints, without compromising cargo integrity?
Solar heat load forces refrigeration units to run longer and cycle harder. At a deep freeze setpoint there is almost no thermal headroom, so every watt of solar gain is paid for in diesel and engine hours.
A Solução: O PolyFrost
Two Brazilian cold-chain operators applied PolyFrost, ChillSkyn’s passive cooling coating, to the standard white-painted composite roofs of frozen refrigerated trailers. Each coated trailer was measured against an uncoated control unit using TRU telematics, before and after coating, across matched day and night periods.
What is PolyFrost®?
PolyFrost is a patented spray-applied passive cooling coating, engineered to reduce heat load on sun-exposed assets, such as refrigerated transport, containers, and industrial equipment.
Reduces solar heat load
Prevents surface heat from becoming an internal temperature problem.
Lowers cooling workload
Cooling systems run fewer hours. Less runtime, less energy, less mechanical strain.
Scalable and easy to apply
Standard spray equipment, just like paint, in under 12 hours. Retrofit or factory spec.
Protects asset economics
Supports resale position, maintenance planning, and replacement timing.
Resultados
Teste de Campo
- Videira, SC - March 2026
9-day monitoring period –0.4 °F (–18 °C) setpoint - Chapecó, SC - April 2026
8-day monitoring period –4 °F (–20 °C) setpoint
1 Control & 1 Test
Frozen refrigerated trailers for each trial.
Method
TRU telematics, before and after coating.
- Engine ON/OFF cycles and duty cycle
- Fuel consumption, litres per hour
- Day and night analysed separately
Videira, SC, BR · March 2026 Chapecó, SC, BR · April 2026
Comparativo de performance | |
|---|---|
Savings, daylight hours (Videira) | ↓ 28% |
Savings, 24-hour average (Videira, Chapecó) | ↓ 19% |
TRU runtime reduction* | ↓ 570 h/yr |
Pull-down to freezing setpoint | Faster |
* Projected from the 19% average at 3,000 operating hours per year.
Impactos Principais
Repeatable Across Fleets
Two operators, two sites, and the same 19%. A repeatable result, not a single favourable trial.
Optimizing Deep Freeze
Less solar load where it counts most, plus faster pull-down to setpoint.
A Path to Fleet Scale
Applies to new builds or in-service trailers alike with standard spray equipment.
Climate note: These trials ran in the southern-hemisphere autumn. Operators in hotter, higher-solar regions, or running through summer, should expect results at the upper end of observed performance.