Daily Management and Maintenance Methods & Precautions for Refrigerated Storage Facilities

Refrigerated cold storage is closely related to our daily lives. The fresh vegetables and pork we buy at the market are definitely stored in cold storage. Therefore, the environmental maintenance and management of the cold storage interior are quite important. Below, I'll briefly introduce the aspects to be managed and maintained, and the specific maintenance methods.

In summary, the cold storage is primarily to prevent odors from occurring within. It requires regular de-mold and sterilization, and to identify the causes of odors, regular inspections of the storage facility are necessary. Below, we will provide a detailed introduction.

1. Mold and Bacteria Control & Disinfection in Cold Storage: Ingredients and foods stored in cold storage contain fats, proteins, and starches. The presence of these nutrients can lead to rapid growth of mold and bacteria in a quick-freezing cold storage facility. To maintain the cleanliness of cold storage and ensure the quality of stored food and ingredients, regular disinfection is necessary. For mold and bacteria control in cold storage, acidic disinfectants can be initially used, as they mainly coagulate proteins within the bacterial bodies.

Fire protection requirements for electrical wiring and lighting equipment installation

Improper installation of electrical wiring in cold storage can also cause fires.

(1) During wiring design and installation, the power supply cable should not pass directly through the combustible insulating layer. Instead, a pre-buried conduit should be installed at the edge of the door frame for the power supply cable to pass through. If it is necessary to pass through the combustible insulating layer, additional conduit protection must be provided. Moreover, the gap around the conduit outside, within 20-50cm, should be filled with non-combustible materials such as asbestosis mud, glass fiber, basalt, or ceramic soil mixed with chlorinated wax.

(2) Electrical wiring installed permanently in the cold storage should be run through conduits. Lighting fixtures should be moisture-proof types. It is prohibited to lay wiring directly within the combustible insulating layer or to install switches inside the storage room.

(3) To prevent the cold storage doors and internal walkways from freezing or icing due to low temperatures, affecting operation, the new design involves laying a flexible Constantan wire rubber resistance heating cable (anti-freeze heating cable) inside copper pipes within the door frames and beneath the walkway floors. At Guangzhou Quick-freezing Cold Storage, the surface temperature can be controlled at 20℃ after adjusting with a voltage regulator. However, if installed incorrectly, leaving the power input junction outside the wall and allowing the anti-freeze heating cable to pass through rice hull insulation may cause overheating of the resistance wire and potentially start a fire.

The correct installation method is to mount the power junction box inside the wall, and then insulate with non-flammable heat-resistant material on the outside of the conduit. The voltage of the antifreeze heating cable should not exceed 36V, and the voltage regulator's adjustment range should be limited to a safe temperature.

(4) Temporary electrical wires for construction, in the project of quick-freezing cold storage, must use rubber-sheathed cables, and it is strictly prohibited to pass through combustible insulating materials. High-power lighting fixtures must not be placed close to combustible materials or insulation layers, and must be temporarily secured with a lamp bracket. When construction is halted, the power supply should be disconnected.

Refrigeration System

The refrigeration system is a closed-loop system consisting of machines, equipment, and the pipes, valves, and control components that connect them, which are essential for mechanical refrigeration. The refrigeration system of a controlled atmosphere storage facility is essentially the same as that of a standard cold storage facility. However, the refrigeration system in a controlled atmosphere storage has higher reliability, greater automation, and maintains the required internal temperature for long periods in the storage of fruits and vegetables. Generally, ammonia refrigeration systems or single-stage compression direct expansion refrigeration systems using refrigerants are employed.