Energy conservation in cold storage facilities is crucial in modern society, affecting the development of the cold storage industry and the enhancement of social competitiveness. Below, we introduce the current development status and existing issues in China's cold storage industry, analyzing the factors contributing to energy consumption from aspects such as the energy consumption of storage rooms and refrigeration systems, and offering feasible energy-saving measures for cold storage. These measures provide practical guidance for enterprises to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation is a major issue concerning the sustainable development of China's economic construction and a topic of common concern. How to achieve energy conservation and improve the refrigeration efficiency of cold storage is an important subject.

Warehouse Energy Consumption and Energy-Saving Measures:

1. Design and construction of cold storage envelope structures must be reasonable. A good envelope structure is the prerequisite for stable storage temperature, and proper insulation and moisture prevention are crucial. Selecting insulating materials within the appropriate thickness range is essential; typically, materials with low thermal conductivity, low water absorption, and good low-temperature performance, yet reasonable in cost, should be chosen. Additionally, it is necessary to implement moisture-proof and vapor-retarding measures, as failing to do so can degrade the insulating properties of the materials. It is also important to minimize the formation of cold bridges, which can reduce the transfer of heat from outside to inside the storage, thereby decreasing energy consumption and refrigeration costs.
2. Select the cold storage warehouse temperature rationally. On the premise of meeting the quality requirements for stored goods, the warehouse temperature should be increased as much as possible. This raises the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration system accordingly, increasing the compressor's suction pressure. The specific volume of the refrigerant vapor intake decreases, resulting in an increased refrigeration capacity per unit volume, reduced compression ratio, and higher coefficient of performance. With the same refrigeration capacity, the compressor's power consumption is reduced, thus lowering energy consumption. For every 1℃ increase in the evaporation temperature, energy consumption can be reduced by 3% to 4%. Additionally, as the warehouse temperature rises, the heat transfer from inside to outside the warehouse can also be reduced.
3. Rational Installation of Cold Air Curtains and Plastic Door Curtains To reduce the entry of high-temperature and high-humidity air from outside the storage room when the door is opened, which can cause the room temperature to rise and lead to excessive heat and moisture exchange causing frost on the cold air fans or evaporator pipes, thus affecting the stability of the room temperature and the quality of food, it is advisable to use a travel switch to link the cold air curtain with the refrigeration door. This ensures that the cold air curtain is activated simultaneously with the opening of the refrigeration door, cutting off the connection between the inside and outside of the storage room, or by using a plastic door curtain. Minimize the frequency and duration of door opening, and effectively maintain the refrigeration door. Ensure smooth opening and closing of the refrigeration door without any malfunctions, regularly inspect the performance of the sealing strips and electric heating wires, and promptly deal with frost water to maintain the tightness of the cold storage door.
4. Rational Arrangement of Warehouse Lighting: According to our country's cold storage design regulations, warehouse lighting should be between 1.8 watts/square meter and 5.8 watts/square meter. In actual use, it often exceeds the specified range, and low-energy lighting sources should be used as much as possible. Additionally, install automatic lighting control devices to ensure timely lighting off, which can effectively reduce the thermal load of the warehouse.
5. Opt for Mechanized Automated Operations - Utilizing mechanized automated operations can reduce the increase in cold storage thermal load caused by a large number of personnel entering the warehouse, which is beneficial for system energy conservation.
6. Properly stack goods to facilitate cooling. Ensure necessary airways are left open, particularly do not block the return air outlets.