Klinge Corporation has been awarded contracts with Raytheon Polar Services Company, under a contract with the United States Antarctic Program (funded by the National Science Foundation), to design and produce 100% redundant 40’ Refrigerated Container Systems and 20’ Refrigerated Container Systems in 2009 that are able to function at extremely low temperatures.
The Container Systems will be used to store, protect, and transport ice core samples within a required temperature range so that the data contained within them is preserved. These ice cores will be harvested in Antarctica and transported to the United States where they will be used to reconstruct a detailed climate record extending over hundreds of thousands of years.
Klinge Corporation’s Engineering Department designed the redundant 40’ Refrigerated Container Systems, consisting of primary and backup refrigeration systems (Klinge model NMR-872) as well as primary and backup integral generator sets (Klinge model NMG-115-11). The 40’ Container Systems maintain the required cargo temperature of -30°C while in ambient temperature conditions of -50°C to +50°C.
The two refrigeration systems and two generator sets have an environmentally-friendly double-walled fuel tank capable of holding enough fuel for three days of continuous generator operation. Additionally, the Container Systems are automated in operation and allow for easy maintenance and replacement of components (including the ability of personnel to operate and service the Refrigerated Containers while wearing large gloves).
Furthermore, the Refrigerated Containers underwent redundancy, operational procedure, and 24 hour temperature acceptance tests to ensure the systems are capable of transporting the ice cores from McMurdo Station in Antarctica to California and on to Colorado in the USA.
Klinge has also supplied redundant 20’ Refrigerated Container Systems with primary and backup refrigeration systems and one integral generator set. The 20’ Container System maintains the required cargo temperature of -30°C while in ambient temperature conditions of -30°C to +50°C. The design allows for easy user access and interface with the controls as well as easy cargo loading/unloading. The 20’ Refrigerated Containers underwent the same testing as the 40’ Container Systems to ensure that the systems are capable of transporting the ice cores from Rothera Station in Antarctica to California and on to Ohio in the USA.