Daikin Reefer has devised a new, energy-efficient refrigeration unit for global containers. Marketed under the name Zestia, the LX10F unit uses the company's DC inverter scroll compressor technology to realize energy savings of approximately 45 percent over existing designs, the company claimed. Daikin produced its first DC inverter scroll compressor for air conditioning in 1966, and has shipped more than 3 million units since that time. Inverter compressors run at variable speeds, allowing cooling capacity to be adjusted according to cargo needs, ambient conditions and how the refrigeration unit is being used. A key component of the technology is Daikin's Reluctance DC motor, which uses a strong neodymium permanent magnet to increase efficiency at all rotational speeds. The new design goes into full production in November at Daikin's manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, where it will be built in combination with the established LXE10E scroll compressor container-refrigeration machine. Improvements to the unit's microprocessor controller include a large, backlit LCD screen, to present a clear view of temperature records even in dark conditions.
