Food cold stores

it is essential that food storage facilities adhere to standard principles. Adhering to food storage standards prevents a decline in food quality and controls poisoning due to spoilage.
One of the conditions to prevent food spoilage is maintaining the appropriate temperature for the products, which is provided by the food cold store. Additionally, controlling the atmosphere and humidity is mandatory for long-term food storage in food cold stores.

Food cold stores Categories

Food cold stores are categorized based on the temperature range for food storage, into above-zero and below-zero cold stores.
Below-zero cold stores operate at a maximum cooling temperature of -18 degrees Celsius.
Above-zero cold stores are specifically designed for storing fruits, vegetables, and similar items. They operate at a cooling temperature range of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius. These cold stores are used to store food that needs to be kept in a refrigerator before cooking.

There is also a type of cold store known as a “pre-cooling room,” which operates at zero degrees Celsius and is used to thaw frozen meat for later consumption. In centers with less than 100 meals cooked per day, upright refrigerators may be used instead of cold stores.

Electricity Consumption in Food Cold Stores

In general, the mechanism of a food cold store consists of a motor, condenser, compressor, expansion valve, nitrogen reservoir, operator, condenser fan, and connecting pipes.

The motor drives the cold store compressor and supplies its electrical energy. Therefore, it is necessary to control electricity consumption in cold stores and prevent wastage by using appropriate measures.

Cold Store Lighting

A food cold store must be equipped with sufficient and appropriate lighting. Fluorescent lamps are used due to their low power consumption, significantly reducing electricity usage. It is important to note that the cold store should be deprived of natural light for its components to function properly.

Cold Store Compressor

Selecting the right equipment is the first step in reducing energy consumption in a food cold store. The compressor is one of these pieces of equipment. The compressor for the food cold store should be chosen to provide an appropriate cooling load. Additionally, the compressor should be able to perform defrosting at the right time. Another consideration in compressor selection is that it should provide the highest coefficient of performance for refrigeration in the desired temperature range with the most suitable refrigerant. This way, the consumed electricity is not wasted and is used efficiently.

Appropriate Electrical Panel for the Cold Store

To reduce the electricity consumption of cold stores, an intelligent electrical panel equipped with control commands is highly effective. A good electrical panel should be able to detect the required defrosting time and have the capability to install an inverter and capacitor bank. Furthermore, an electrical panel with remote control capability and separate management of different sections of the cold store significantly reduces energy consumption.

Insulation of Food Cold Stores

To prevent energy waste in cold stores, proper insulation is necessary. In this regard, the thickness and quality of insulation are crucial. The insulations used in food cold stores are often sandwich panels. All areas of the cold store should be covered with insulation to prevent energy loss.

Condenser and Operator Equipped with Axial Fans

The selection of the appropriate type of condenser and operator plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption. If the volume of the condenser and operator is suitable, the operating time of the cooling compressor is reduced, resulting in reduced electricity consumption.
The number of fans used in these devices should also be sufficient. Additionally, fans with the necessary energy consumption label should be used.

Suitability of the Cold Store Structure

The structure of the cold store should be designed in such a way that heat is not transferred from the columns or floor to the external environment. In addition, the floor of the cold room should be well insulated, and sandwich panels should be properly installed on the walls of the cold store.

Capacitor Bank and Inverter

Using a capacitor bank and inverter, as well as soft-starting, can prevent substantial electricity costs and reduce electricity consumption in food cold stores.

Hybrid Cold Stores

Considering the future increase in electricity consumption and energy crises, systems that operate with renewable energies have received attention. For this purpose, cold stores have been constructed to operate using energy derived from solar power. While building such cold stores still poses challenges, if constructed appropriately, they can significantly reduce electricity consumption.