Refrigerated Truck Thermal Insulation Technology

Traditional refrigerated trucks face numerous challenges in cold chain transportation. Their single-layer insulation structures allow significant external heat to penetrate the cargo compartment under conditions such as direct sunlight, reducing refrigeration efficiency and compromising the quality of goods. As the insulation layer ages, it becomes increasingly difficult to replace, which drives up maintenance costs and can ultimately shorten the vehicle’s overall service life. To address these issues, a replaceable external insulation-cooling composite system has been developed, achieving both efficient thermal insulation and convenient maintenance.
The system creates a surrounding insulation cavity between the refrigerated compartment and the vehicle body, structured as a composite of insulation panels, detachable modules, and auxiliary cooling units. Sliding insulation panels, preferably made of aerogel blanket, are arranged around the cavity. The panels are divided into four sides, allowing each side to be replaced individually, and they fit tightly against the exterior of the refrigerated compartment to minimize heat ingress. To reduce friction between the panels and the cavity, the vehicle’s inner walls are equipped with a fixed rod, bearing and roller assembly. An ejection mechanism on the vehicle side, consisting of a threaded groove, threaded rod, and crank, allows insulation panels to be pushed out by turning the crank, after which it can be easily pulled out using a lever, enabling quick and efficient replacement. For auxiliary cooling, a cooling unit containing refrigerant is installed within the insulation cavity. The refrigerant evaporates through designated cooling ports to lower the temperature in the cavity, reducing the effect of heat ingress on the insulation panels and enhancing overall insulation performance.
Compared with conventional fixed insulation layers, this design not only increases overall thermal resistance and temperature stability but also reduces energy consumption and operational downtime. It significantly improves the reliability of cold chain transportation and the cost-effectiveness across the full product lifecycle, offering the industry a new solution and development opportunities.