How does remote reefer monitoring work?

How does remote reefer monitoring work?

Every refrigerated container, or reefer, has a control panel that functions like the thermostat on your home refrigerator. Shippers of perishable goods program the controller on a refrigerated container with specific temperature, humidity, and other values according to each cargo’s needs. This information is stored within the controller. Should values exceed these pre-set conditions or when problems occur with the refrigeration equipment, this data is time-stamped and stored within the control panel.

Terminal operators manually inspect each control panel on every refrigerated container to confirm the settings are correct for that container number, record current data, and acknowledge any activated alerts. This manual system is a common practice for large and small reefer operations. But it is prone to errors – information logged incorrectly, long time lapses between inspections, and occurrences that leave refrigerated containers disconnected from a power source.

Automated reefer monitoring uses peripheral devices to tap into the control panel and collect all this information. Then, software platforms organize and store this data for reefer operators to view or react to changes through instant notifications.

The Hardware
Remote monitoring systems come in various configurations, some fixed and some temporary, with monitoring equipment installed internally or externally on the refrigerated container.

Fixed or temporary installations of the monitoring hardware depends on the reefer operation’s environment. But the basic premise remains the same, monitoring devices share collected data across a wired or wireless network to a software platform located locally or cloud-based that interprets the information through a user interface.

Fixed installation – Internally mounted hardware
In this solution, internal modems installed directly into each reefer’s control panel communicate to a centralized collection point in the yard or vessel. These modems use the electrical connection of 3-phase powerline cables to transmit data to the software platform. But they can also use RF signals sent directly from the modem for wireless transmission. In addition, this system provides two-way communication, so operators can remotely adjust the temperature, humidity, or other settings within each container.

This arrangement is a good solution for company operators managing a private refrigerated container fleet and vessels.

An example of this is the Powerline Cable Transmission (PCT) platform. RTE first introduced this system of reefer monitoring back in 1985.

Fixed installation – Externally mounted hardware
Most operators cope with refrigerated containers of different makes and models owned by multiple shippers. Therefore, a common interface is essential for consistent data collection without disruption.

For operators that use reefer racks – permanently mounted structures that provide human access to several stories of stacked containers – an option is to use external monitoring devices mounted directly onto the rack at each reefer slot or position.

Each device connects to a reefer’s control panel via an external data port by using a communication cable. Information is then transmitted over a wired or wireless network to a centralized collection point providing two-way communication to a local or cloud-based server.

• The advantage of a fixed reefer monitoring system
  Fixed solutions ensure that monitoring devices are always available for every reefer that arrives at the terminal. In addition, the location on the rack is pre-programmed into each device for accurate accountability, providing a seamless workflow. Properly equipped fixed installations also offer a robust solution for terminal operations subject to crowded radio signal airspace or interference.

RTE’s RRCE-D system relies on a network of fixed-mounted devices, JCOMMS, to provide the two-way interface to the reefer controller.

Temporary wireless installation
Temporary wireless monitoring works equally well in a racked environment. However, this solution affords operators that do not have racks but instead rely on stacked or wheeled yards a viable opportunity to monitor their containers remotely.

Without the framework of a rack to mount hardware, monitoring devices instead attach magnetically to the container’s end frame and are then connected to the reefer’s data port. Each monitoring device communicates wirelessly to a local or cloud-based server via a centrally located gateway in or near the reefer yard. As containers arrive and depart, reefer yard operators add or remove monitoring devices accordingly.

• The advantage of a temporary reefer monitoring system
  Flexibility is the operative word for this solution as it affords reefer operators of any size a viable solution for efficient remote reefer monitoring and allows scalability to changes in reefer throughput.

The Wireless Reefer Acquisition Device, WRAD II by RTE, offers this flexibility for operators using racks, stacks, wheeled yards, and intermodal environments.

The Software
Collecting the data is only half of the solution. The other is organizing it for practical human analysis and storage. A quality software platform brings all of this together in a meaningful way.

A functional software platform should allow the operator to customize the storage and dissemination of this information in a way that works for the user. For example, some prefer a local server, others a cloud-based system. And with so many different UI’s (User Interfaces) available, the software should be compatible across multiple platforms, including windows, web-based, and even mobile applications.

RTE’s GRASP3.0 software platform and GrAsPP mobile applications remain the standard for accomplishing the goals and needs of today’s most discerning reefer terminal operators.

In summary, since no two reefer operations are the same, there is no one answer to finding the right remote monitoring solution. However, some may benefit significantly through a combination of these methods.

RTE recommends an evaluation of your yard layout and the operational processes you use to handle refrigerated container cargo to determine the best solution. After all, the monitoring method you choose should complement your business, not dictate how you need to adapt to it.

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