Top 5 Benefits of Increasing Cool Room Efficiency

Operating refrigerated premises come with significant energy demands. Enhancing the energy efficiency of your cool room not only impacts your financial bottom line but also improves operational reliability and environmental sustainability. Here are the top benefits:

1. Reduced Operating Costs

Improving cool room efficiency directly lowers energy consumption, resulting in reduced daily operational expenses. By monitoring and managing energy usage effectively, businesses can identify and mitigate inefficiencies before they become costly.

2. Enhanced Product Quality

Maintaining consistent temperatures and reducing air exchange through effective door management and airflow optimisation helps preserve product quality. This reduces spoilage, enhances shelf life, and ensures compliance with storage requirements.

3. Reducing Air Leakage

The day to day management of the door use is arguably the single greatest impact influencing the running costs after the fixed factors of insulation and plant design. 

Ambient air outside your room is laden with moisture and energy. The air inside of your facility is relatively dry and it is this difference in relative moisture levels that is a key driver of air and energy exchange. 

The warmer the ambient air the greater the amount of water vapour the air can hold. 

• Air at +4°c, 50% RH hold 2.50 g of moisture for every 1 kg of air. 
• Air at 20°c, 50% RH hold 7.26 g of moisture for every 1 kg of air. (Almost 3 times more)
• Air at 30°c, 50% RH hold 13.30 g of moisture for every 1 kg of air. (Almost 6 times more)

When you first open a door, inertia is on your side and a relatively small air exchange may take place. However, it only takes approximately 20 seconds for fully developed in / out air velocities to become established. This is the situation easily found anywhere there is regular forklift traffic. 

High levels of air leakage may cause optimal temperatures to be exceeded, loss of stock and increases the required running times of the system. 

All of this moisture eventually collects on the cooler (evaporator) in the form of water droplets, frost or ice. When a frost / ice accumulation becomes too thick, it acts as insulation and reduces the cooling capacity ensuring a longer run time to make temperature. Moisture will also condense or freezer on the first, sufficiently cold surface it makes contact with. This includes walls, floors, fittings and fixtures. In freezer rooms, this may produce significant ice safety and product spoilage issues.

Actions to consider:

• Close the door – Staff training and awareness, signage, indicating lights and alarms. 
• Door Curtains – Do you have them and are they in good condition? Although not universally loved by all operators, they remain the single most cost effective barrier.
• Door Seals – Do they seal or are they just for show? Does the door need adjusting or gaskets replaced? Easy to check! Go inside your coolroom or freezer room and turn off the inside lights. If you can see daylight past the gaskets you require refrigeration maintenance action. If you are accumulating sheets of ice in front and around the freezer door, you require refrigeration maintenance action. Door seals come in various shapes and effectiveness from simple blade wiper styles to gas tight ripening doors. 
• Install an automatic forklift door to improve management, speed and safety. 
• Install a dedicated personnel door within or next to your wide and tall forklift door.
• Consider automated rapid open / close refrigeration door systems. 

4. Increased Operational Reliability

Regular monitoring and maintenance of cool room systems reduce downtime due to unexpected failures. Early detection of issues such as refrigerant leaks or faulty components ensures prompt corrective action, minimising disruptions to operations.

5. Environmental Impact, Regulatory Compliance and Safety

Improving efficiency not only benefits your bottom line but also reduces your facility’s environmental footprint. By optimising energy use and minimising refrigerant leaks, businesses contribute to sustainability goals and may qualify for environmental incentives.

Proper management of refrigeration systems, including regular maintenance and compliance with refrigerant regulations, ensures safety and regulatory adherence. This protects both the business and the environment from risks associated with outdated equipment and improper practices.

Implementing these strategies not only improves operational efficiency but also positions your business as a responsible steward of resources and a leader in sustainable practices within the industry.

Get in Touch
To learn more about how Heuch can help you, contact our team for a custom quote today at cool@heuch.com.au or 1300 001 952.

Did you know that at Heuch we offer maintenance services for your existing cooling systems?

Heuch delivers personalised service with dedicated account management, ensuring direct communication and tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. We guarantee prompt responses, managing expectations to provide peace of mind. Experience service excellence with Heuch — contact us today service@heuch.com.au or 1300 001 952.

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