Reducing High Temperature Air Ingression in Refrigerated Spaces

If your meat or poultry business operates a refrigerated space, such as a chiller/freezer room(s); or at retail, a counter display refrigerator, you will know cool air can escape, for example with the constant opening and closing of doors. However, there are ways to combat these inefficiencies.

Cooling inefficiencies are caused when the door of a cold room or cabinet is opened, air that is either cold or heavy escapes, whilst warm air flows in above it. When warm air enters the area, the cooling systems have to work harder to maintain the set temperature, which in turn reduces efficiency and increases costs and energy output.

Meat Processing Facilities & Large Storage

In order to assist in combating the ingression of high temperature ambient air into refrigerated spaces, additional protection devices and procedures can be adopted, such as:

• Interlocks – this is a chamber outside of the refrigerated space which prevents high ambient air ingression by having only one door open at any time.  Often an example of this simple solution is having a cold room that leads onto a freezer room, operating one door open before one door closes.
• Strip curtains – these are PVC/ insulated plastic strip curtains and can be a more cost effective option to prevent warm air ingression.
• Air curtains – These can be installed above doors and entrances. They separate cold and warm air using an invisible air barrier, across the door opening.
• Door Arrangements – Selecting the right door is important. You should consider insulation, value and traffic expected. We recommend you consult a specialist contractor when considering any of these options.
• Radar/ PIR – these are switches for automatic door control (not manual). In high traffic conditions, such as a goods in for chiller/ freezer(s); automatic doors are a brilliant solution and can incorporate sensors to open when traffic approaches, or radar for specific traffic only.
• Cold room panels – need to be carefully selected to perform in the correct conditions.  Both the thickness and type of panel can have a huge impact on your refrigerated space.

Having a door or curtain that is able to prevent air flow between the cold room and ambient areas, and which protects against heat intrusion by conduction and radiation, can preserve the internal temperature of your cold room much more effectively and reduce the wear on your refrigerator, saving you money and time.

Refrigeration at Retail

When food produce is displayed at retail, similar cooling inefficiencies are present for example in the loss of cool air through counter displays and multideck cabinets.

In order to combat this loss, consideration should be given to the following:

• Doors/ covers/ panels/ blinds, which can be installed as a retrofit to maintain the barrier between refrigerated space and high ambient temperatures.
• Installation of night blinds can be another great option to maintain the temperature of the product overnight.
• Bespoke display meat lighting over the produce.

The effect of implementing each of these will help reduce breakdowns and the need for reactive maintenance call outs. The refrigeration evaporators and fans will be cleaner, energy costs will be reduced and the life of the system overall will be lengthened. This can equate to a saving of approximately 20% on running costs per year!

CB Refrigeration Ltd install refrigeration systems and accessories to meet almost any application. We can offer advice and commercially viable solutions to all of our customers and aim to deliver the best solution.

We offer tailored service and maintenance plans to suit your needs and offer a range of services from simple cleaning to improve efficiency, to control and refrigeration upgrades.

If you would like to speak to us regarding bespoke cold storage applications, call our team today on 02920 861627, or email us for a quick response at sales@cbrefrigerationltd.co.uk.