Refrigerated Storage Fundamentals: Achieving Optimal Performance and Efficiency

Whether you’re a manufacturer or an end user, cold storage is essential to keep temperature-sensitive products safe as they travel the supply chain. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep your goods at the correct temperature without spoiling them.

Refrigeration slows down the rate at which food deteriorates by inhibiting two major causes of spoiled foods: microbial growth and chemical change.

Humidity Control

Refrigerant-driven refrigerators have the ability to hold a certain amount of water vapor at a specific temperature. If this amount is excessive,kho lanh thuc pham it can cause icing on the cooling coils and prevent the refrigerants from contacting with the air. This icing can reduce the efficiency of the refrigeration system, increasing energy costs and making it difficult for the freezers to function correctly.

Humidity control is a vital component of any refrigerated storage warehouse. When humidity levels are high, it can negatively impact the quality of produce stored in the warehouse. This can lead to softening, wilting and deterioration of products.

Fortunately, a commercial dehumidification system can help to control humidity in cold rooms. Unlike regular home humidifiers, these industrial dehumidifiers are designed specifically for cold rooms and can regulate the humidity level to a desired level.

A commercial dehumidification system can also help to prevent ice accumulation on floors and racks. This can lead to a reduction in labor costs as well as the risk of injury.

In active/dynamic cold stores, the primary moisture load comes from door openings, where the pressure changes move moist air into the area, which can then condense on walls, ceilings and stored items. This is not only annoying, but can also cause odors and damage the evaporator coils.

Green Building

A green building is a building that considers the environment and occupants’ quality of life in its design, construction and operation. It utilizes materials that are non-toxic and ethically sourced, and minimizes waste, pollution, energy use and environmental impact.

In the United States, green buildings are increasingly governed and driven by standardized building codes, performance measures and rating systems. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a major international standard, but many other national or local codes are also being adopted to promote a wider range of practices and technologies.

Typical green building strategies include reducing water and energy use, using a variety of sustainable materials, and providing better indoor air quality. Some also employ strategies that maximize the benefits of natural light for heating and cooling, and may even have solar-powered water heaters.

Investing in green building practices and products can significantly cut energy costs. Insulation and air sealing, efficient windows and appliances, and low-flow plumbing reduce energy consumption, saving money on monthly utility bills. In addition, the cost of building materials can be reduced by using high-quality materials that do not emit carcinogens and other toxic chemicals.

Temperature Monitoring

If you’re a healthcare organization or an industry that relies on cold storage, temperature monitoring is essential. Without continuous monitoring, fluctuations and temporary faults can go undetected and cause harm to the products that you store and ship.

To protect stored vaccines and medication, the CDC recommends using a digital data logger that records temperatures every 30 minutes at a minimum. This device should also record any freezing or high-temperature alarm interruptions.

These types of systems are also useful for testing medical substances to see if they have been exposed to harmful conditions during the storage process, as well as for checking on the effectiveness of drugs. For these purposes, they can also be used to track the history of temperature changes within your freezer or refrigerator.

For example, many commercial-grade refrigerators and freezers have built-in temperature alarms that sound when the temperature reaches certain levels. These devices don’t alert your staff when the temperature goes out of range, so it’s important to have a remote alarm monitoring system that will send an email or SMS message when the fridge or freezer is out of spec.

Choosing the right system can be a complex process. You need a device that’s durable and reliable so it can stand up to the rigors of storage and transport. You also need a support team that’s available to answer questions and address issues as they arise.