Description / Abstract:
Purpose
This Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) defines a series of
test procedures to determine the temperature conditioning
performance of air mode containers with active conditioning
systems, a classification system for air mode containers with
active condition systems, a standard means of expressing
conditioning performance within each classification and a standard
means of documenting test results.
Field of Application
This ARP is intended to provide users, purchasers and operators
with a single method for testing and documenting the conditioning
performance of air mode containers with active conditioning
systems. The test method identifies the limits of performance and
autonomy at these limits.
The conditioning performance of an air mode container with
active temperature control is a function of the performance of both
passive features, such as insulation material, and active features,
such as heating and / or cooling systems. This ARP applies only to
air mode containers with active temperature control. ARP1523, Air
Mode Insulated Containers – Thermal Efficiency Requirements is the
applicable standard for air mode containers with only passive
features.
This ARP organizes industry requirements for temperature
sensitive transportation into three performance classes.
Class A, Frozen, covers a set point range of -25 °C to 0 °C.
Class B, Cool, covers a set point range 0 °C to 15 °C.
Class C, Room Temperature, covers a set point range 15 °C to 30
°C.
It is not necessary for the test subject to support the full
range of performance classes but it shall support a set point
within the range of at least one of the performance classes.
Within each performance class, this ARP mandates a set point to
be used in the test procedures. The test procedures defined within
this ARP may be repeated at alternative set points within the
performance class range.
The mandatory set points within each performance class range are
as follows:
Class A – Mandatory set point -20 °C.
Class B – Mandatory set point 5 °C.
Class C – Mandatory set point 20 °C.
In the event of a failure of the conditioning systems in an air
mode active container the reversionary performance of the container
is solely attributable to the passive features of the design and
should be in compliance with ARP1523, Air Mode Insulated Containers
– Thermal Efficiency Requirements.