Whether your business operates a convenience store, restaurant, or any other kind, commercial refrigeration systems are essential in maintaining fresh ingredients while minimising food waste. Unfortunately, faulty refrigeration systems may lead to higher-than-expected utility costs or spoilt inventory that must be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Refrigeration systems are comprised of many individual parts that work together to regulate the temperature in refrigerators. Discovering some critical features of commercial refrigeration system Melbourne will keep your walk-in fridges cool.
Condenser
An effective commercial refrigeration system Melbourne relies on a condenser unit outside the building to work correctly. This unit houses coils made of copper with aluminium fins to increase surface area for rapid heat transfer. A fan blows air over these coils to speed up this process and cool down refrigerant gas as quickly as possible.
Once the condenser has sufficiently cooled off, its liquid discharged back to the compressor is passed to pressurise into high-pressure gas using compression and sent to an evaporator, where heat from within a building can be transferred through heat transference – this works on the principle that hotter substances will always absorb more heat than cooler ones; typically these evaporators consist of copper tubing with fins similar to engine radiators for this process.
Evaporator
Evaporators are responsible for cooling air. It consists of tubes coated in an oily liquid to absorb heat from passing airflow over them.
When selecting an evaporator for your refrigeration system, there are various factors to consider. First and foremost, determine your load requirements to find one with suitable size and capacity requirements.
Next, it is essential to take your working environment into account. Certain evaporators are better suited for harsh or moderate environments than others. Consider what type of refrigerant will be in use since different evaporators work better with some refrigerants than others.
Thermostat
A refrigerator thermostat keeps an eye on the temperature in your fridge. If it detects that it drops below its set point, it signals to shut off its compressor to ensure food remains cold and safe to be stored.
When the thermostat’s sensor detects that air temperatures have become warmer than usual, it signals the refrigeration system to resume cooling activities until the desired temperature in the fridge is reached.
The thermostat controls heating and cooling systems in appliances like ovens, refrigerators and incubators, typically powered by 24-volt transformers. Most thermostats are made from bimetal with magnetic contact that provides hysteresis to avoid short heating cycles and a built-in display screen displaying their current target interior temperature that can be altered using buttons or switches.
Compressor
Compressors are at the core of any commercial refrigeration system Melbourne. By pushing compressed refrigerant gas through its circuit and forcing it into contact with the evaporator, it becomes compressed before eventually being released into the atmosphere as coolant.
Leaks in your refrigerant line could cause your refrigerator to lose cooling capacity, potentially leading to higher energy costs or even total system failure.
An additional issue that may occur with your compressor is loud motor noise, which indicates it is working harder than required and overheating, potentially leading to loss of refrigeration power. If this happens, contact a technician immediately, as they will help fix the problem and restore refrigeration power.
Refrigerant
In the refrigeration industry, refrigerant serves as the cooling fluid, moving back and forth from liquid to gas state during its refrigeration cycle, absorbing heat energy.
The evaporator transfers heat from refrigerant into water or air. It is often where problems with commercial refrigerator systems begin, such as dirty coils that limit their ability to transfer heat, thus decreasing cooling power and reducing efficiency.
Refrigerant must be an inert chemical that won’t ignite or become toxic over time; otherwise, leakage could compromise cooling power and product integrity. Additionally, increased compression force could increase energy bills significantly or even cause system failure.
Commercial refrigeration systems are responsible for keeping your restaurant inventory cold and free from bacteria. It is accomplished through the use of a refrigerant that can quickly change from liquid to gas when triggered by certain pressures and temperatures.
Understanding the basics of a refrigeration system can help prevent energy waste and loss of food inventory. This article will cover the key components of a commercial refrigerator, including the condensing unit, evaporator, compressor, and thermostat.