Blast freezer cold room

Types of blast freezer cold rooms

The main purpose of a blast freezer cold room is to aid rapid freezing and preserve food products and other items. This is achieved in different ways, shapes, and sizes. Typically, there are blast freezer cold room types based on functionality and design.

• Floor-mounted: This is the most common type of blast freezer cold room. It is built with traditional insulation and a metal ceiling. Normally, this unit freezes food items from the ground up.
• Ceiling-mounted: This blast freezer cold room is similar to the floor-mounted model. As the name implies, the entire unit is mounted from the ceiling. It takes up less wall space and is great for limited space areas.
• Trolley blast cold rooms: These are units that can accept trolleys. Typically, they are large and have multiple doors for easy access. Some come with a horizontal trolly, while others feature a vertical trolly. Whatever the case is, they are all designed to suit different businesses.
• Blast freezer cold room with holding: This feature allows businesses to freeze food items for a long period and keep them stored until they are ready to be used. They are also great for reducing food waste in the hospitality industry.
• Nitrogen blast freezer: This freezer cold room uses liquid nitrogen to freeze items rapidly. It does this by creating a chilling vapor that surrounds the food item. Then, blasting it with cold air until the item is frozen solid. The beauty of nitrogen blast freezers is that they operate quickly and efficiently.
• Induction blast freezer cold rooms: An induction blast freezer cold room uses electricity to freeze items. Typically, these machines have coils that are housed within the freezer. When electricity runs through the coils, it generates cold air that freezes the item. One good thing about induction blast freezer cold rooms is that they are energy efficient.
• Spiral blast freezer cold room: This type of freezer cold room has a spiral design. Food items enter from the top of the spiral and exit when they are frozen. Spiral blast freezer cold rooms are great for industrial use.
• Tunnel blast freezer cold rooms: Just like the name indicates, the freezer cold room looks like a tunnel. Cold air is blown through the items from all sides until they are solidly frozen. A tunnel blast freezer cold room is ideal for mass production.
• Roll-in blast freezer cold rooms: Similar to trolly blast freezer cold rooms, roll-in models allow businesses to roll in items into the freezer without any hassle. This makes access and loading super easy.

Specifications and maintenance of a blast freezer cold room

Specifications

The specifications of the blast freezer cold room will vary depending on the model, manufacturer, and unique needs of the target business. However, here are some features to expect:

• Size and capacity

  Sizes and capacities will usually vary from smaller to larger cold rooms. One example is that at least a 3,000 cubic feet cold room is applicable for the food processing industry.

• Temperature range

  Blast cold rooms have a wider temperature threshold than standard cold rooms. The typical temperature range is from -30 degrees Celsius to as low as -60 degrees Celsius.

• Flooring options

  Some prefer cold rooms with insulated metal or PVC flooring, while others may opt for fire-printed concrete for additional safety and durability.

• Operating environment

  Certain industrial blast freezer cold rooms are designed to function under harsh conditions. These cold rooms are manufactured with corrosion-resistant materials to avoid any kind of functional interference.

Maintenance

Like any equipment, regular maintenance checks and servicing are crucial for the optimal performance of the blast freezer refrigerator. Manufacturers usually advise routine maintenance every few months for domestic and semi-industrial/designed for low-impact use blast freezers. This could be every three to six months. For industrial/fully suited for high-impact uses, every month. The interval makes sense since these machines are purposely built for very high-capacity use.

The most appropriate way to go about it is to follow the maintenance schedule in the user manual. However, some core maintenance practices include:

• Overall inspection. This includes checking for unusual issues like loose fittings, damaged components, weak or worn-out parts, or corrosion, among others.
• Electrical checks and testing. This is done to ensure safe and proper power supply, transmission, and reception. All to ensure the machine works excellently and without any hitches or threats to safety. Power control systems, wiring, connections, and insulated aspects are all checked and/or tested.
• Cooling system maintenance. Components like evaporators, condensers, compressors, fans and other related parts are inspected, cleaned, and taken care of.
• Door maintenance. The door systems are also taken care of by examining and ensuring the seals are tight. Security and locking systems are optimal, and any damage, misalignment, or wear is taken care of.
• Control system checks. This is a couple of system checks in one. Thermostats, timers, and other relevant control and monitoring system aspects are also maintained.

Usage scenarios of a blast freezer cold room

Apart from the benefits and features derived from using a commercial blast freezer cold room, there are vast industrial applications of the facility. The biggest industries which utilize the blast freezer are the food sector, research laboratories, and the pharmaceutical sector.

• Catering industry: This constitutes restaurants, hotels, bakeries, cafeterias, and school kitchens and eateries. A catering blast freezer cold room is utilized to pre-cook foods and quickly freeze them to prolong the shelf life. It is also commonly used to freeze baked goods like cookies, cakes, bread, and pastries to prolong the shelf life and retain their original texture upon reheating or defrosting.
• Food processing and manufacturing industry: This industry utilizes the freezer cold room to freeze, chill, or cool food items before packaging them for sale. A blast freezer for meat is popularly used in the processing industry to freeze meat immediately after slaughtering to retain the nutritional value and integrity of the meat products.
• Healthcare services industry: Research laboratories, medical centers, hospitals, blood banks, and pharmacies all utilize the blast freezer for storage and preservation of medical supplies, blood, human organs, tissue, vaccines, and other valuable medical products. Pharmaceutical companies use the blast freezer cold room to store and preserve sensitive drugs, vaccines, and biologics at a constant low temperature to maintain their potency and quality.
• Research & development in educational institutions: Universities, R&D institutions, and agricultural research centers can utilize a temperature-controlled blast freezer cold room to store biological samples, such as DNA, tissue, cells, or microorganisms, at low temperatures to preserve their viability and integrity. Besides, agricultural institutions can study the preservation and storage of genetic material like seeds and crops. Educational tutors can also employ the blast freezer to freeze specimens for scientific teaching and demonstrations.
• Supermarkets and retail stores: Ice cream and frozen foods blast freezer cold rooms are utilized to store and preserve ice cream, frozen desserts, and other frozen food products at low temperatures to maintain their quality and prevent freezer burn. Supermarkets can also use the freezer to freeze perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and meat to extend their shelf life and reduce food waste.

How to Choose a Blast Freezer Cold Room

• Capacity and Size:

  It is essential to evaluate the intended purpose of using the blast freezer and consider the required capacity and size. Buyers can determine the dimensions and weight of the largest items to be frozen and take notes on how many of them will be stored in the room at once. Considering future storage needs is also imperative, as business buyers may require an expansion of the capacity of the blast freezer cold room in the years to come.

• Temperature Range:

  Make sure that the cold room's temperature range corresponds to the products' freezing temperatures. It is crucial to test whether the freezer is capable of reaching and sustaining blasts freezing temperatures within its cold limits.

• Energy Efficiency:

  Consider the energy efficiency of the products, particularly with respect to the operating expenses of energy bills. Check the cold room freezer's chilly storage efficiency and the room's absorption or cooling systems. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the machine's insulation, sealing, and construction to reduce energy consumption.

• Safety and Compliance:

  Ensure that the blast freezer cold room adheres to safety standards and regulations for compliance. Check for necessary safety features like fire alarms, emergency exits, and proper ventilation systems.

• Installation and Maintenance:

  Consider the installation and maintenance requirements of the cold room freezer. Determine whether professional assistance is required for the setup or if it can be a DIY project. In addition, it is crucial to evaluate the regular maintenance procedures to ensure the equipment remains in optimum condition over the long term.

Q & A

Q1: What is the difference between a blast freezer and a regular freezer?

A1: The main difference between a blast freezer and a regular freezer is the speed at which they freeze items. While all freezers preserve food by keeping it cold, blast freezers are designed to freeze food quickly by exposing it to extremely cold temperatures. This creates smaller ice crystals within the food, which maintains its flavor and texture once thawed. Regular freezers take a longer time to freeze foods.

Q2: How long can food be stored in a blast freezer cold room?

A2: The duration depends on the type of food. Meat, poultry, and seafood can be stored for up to one year. Fruits and vegetables can be stored for eight months to two years. Bread and baked goods can be stored for up to six months. They can all be stored in a blast freezer cold room without going bad or losing quality.

Q3: Can blast freezers cold rooms be used for purposes other than freezing food?

A3: Yes. Blast freezer cold rooms are versatile freezing options that can be used to freeze perishable items such as ice, fruits, and pipes. They are also used in the pharmaceutical industry to maintain the stability of certain chemicals, compounds, and products. In the arena of science and research, they are used to preserve biological samples like cells, tissues, and DNA. Finally, cold blast freezers are used in the food processing industry to expedite the cooling of cooked products, like when making large batches of cooked grains or dough.

Q4: Are there energy-efficient blast freezer cold rooms available?

A4: Yes. When looking for blast freezer cold rooms that are energy efficient, search for the one with high-quality insulation. Consider the machine's overall effectiveness and performance ratings. Some blast freezer cold rooms will have energy-saving features, like programmable controllers and staggered loading systems. If possible, select the one with a modular design, as this will help reduce energy consumption during operation and while maintaining the ideal cool room temperature.