What Is Cold Storage & Its Type, Application And How It Functions

What Is Cold Storage?

Cold storage refers to specialized units designed to preserve perishable, temperature-sensitive goods. It will extend the shelf life of stored items and prevent them from spoilage or contamination. It's an essential component for industries such as hospitality, pharmaceuticals, food, and dairy.

The destruction of perishable items due to inadequate storage conditions. It results in significant inventory losses and reduced profitability. Additionally, there are potential health risks for consumers that should not be overlooked. Thus, it's crucial to seek out cold storage solutions that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient, tailored to the product's nature and the optimal temperature range for prolonged preservation.

With stricter regulations on product safety and growing consumer demand for high-quality products that maintain their flavour, texture, and integrity, the investment in reliable cold storage solutions has never been more imperative. 

Types of Cold Storage:

Businesses can choose from various cold storage options based on product type, capacity, and storage duration:

• Multi-Commodity Cold Warehouses: These facilities store diverse products and produce, each requiring unique temperature and storage conditions. They are modular and easy to install, with efficient racking systems to optimize storage space.
• Walk-In Chillers and Freezers: Walk-in chillers (2°C to 8°C) and freezers (-18°C to -20°C) are modular units for storing food, drinks, and pharmaceuticals.
• Step-In Chillers and Freezers: Compact cold storage rooms designed for perishable items with a short shelf life.
• Display Cum Cold Rooms: A combination of display and storage units, these are used for packaged frozen goods and are commonly found in supermarkets, hotels, and retail chains.
• Refrigerated Transportation (Reefer Trucks): Reefer trucks are essential for maintaining stable temperatures during last-mile deliveries and long-haul transport. Eutectic trucks offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative.
• Controlled Atmosphere (CA) and Modified Atmosphere (MA) Chambers: These chambers store food items by controlling the gaseous environment, slowing down respiration, microbial growth, and enzymatic reactions that lead to spoilage.

Cold Storage: Industry and Applications

The utility of cold storage is expanding across various sectors:

• Retail Food Sector: To prevent spoilage and contamination, frozen food items such as meats, seafood, dairy, and produce must be kept at approximately -18°C. The selection of cold storage solutions is influenced by the storage duration and the logistics required to deliver the products to consumers.
• After Harvest: Freshly harvested items like fruits, vegetables, milk, and fish require refrigeration to prevent premature ripening and decay. Fruits and vegetables, in particular, need a controlled environment with precise levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and humidity to extend their shelf life.
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Medications, vaccines, biologicals, lab samples, and other pharmaceuticals must be stored at specific temperatures, typically between 2°C and 8°C, to maintain their safety and efficacy.
• Hospitality Sector: Restaurants and hotels rely on cold storage to preserve beverages, ingredients, and prepared meals, ensuring they remain safe and ready for consumption. Effective refrigeration is necessary to maintain the taste, quality, and texture of these items.
• Horticulture: Cold storage is also essential for florists and suppliers to preserve ornamental plants and cut flower stems. Seeds, spices, and dried fruits additionally require suitable cold storage to enhance their longevity.

How Cold Storage Functions:

A cold storage system operates on a refrigeration cycle, comprising key components such as:

• Compressor: This vital part of a cold room consumes the most power, raising the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant gas from the evaporator. As pressure increases, so does the boiling point, allowing the compressor to condense the refrigerant gas to the condenser's temperature.
• Condenser: Serving as a heat exchanger, the condenser expels heat from the refrigerant and circulating water. The efficiency of the condenser directly impacts the performance of the cold room.
• Evaporator: It absorbs heat from the storage space or surrounding air to cool the area, causing the liquid refrigerant to vaporize.
• Receiver: Essentially a reservoir for the liquid condensate, the receiver also channels the liquid refrigerant to the expansion valve for a drop in temperature and pressure.
• Expansion Valve: This component decreases the refrigerant's pressure and temperature, transitioning from the receiver to the evaporator.
• Fans: Fans or blowers circulate the chilled air throughout the cold room via convection.

Final Words

Cold storage is utilized across multiple sectors to extend product shelf-life and maintain safety, wholesomeness, and freshness. Your enterprise must choose an energy-saving and economical cold storage solution, tailored to the specific food or product type, capacity, storage environment, and duration of storage. Call Africhill to know how can help you with the perfect cold storage to improve your profitability!