Answers to commonly asked questions about service scope, preventive maintenance, and system support.
A commercial refrigeration system refers to any cooling setup used to preserve perishable goods, maintain process temperatures in commercial or industrial environments. These systems are essential in F&B industries for the purpose of food storage, cold chain logistics, food processing, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Compressor: Circulates refrigerant and raises its pressure.
Condenser: Releases heat from the refrigerant to the surroundings.
Expansion Valve: Regulates refrigerant flow into the evaporator.
Evaporator: Absorbs heat from the cooled space or product.
Refrigerant: The working fluid (e.g., R404A, NH₃, CO₂)
Thermostat: Regulates the temperature in the system
While both systems serve the primary function to preserve and cool the products at required temperature, there are some fundamental differences between them.
Commercial refrigeration system
Designed to preserve and display products for retail and food services. Some examples are restaurant walk-in chillers and supermarket display freezers.
a) Typically small to medium capacity (up to few hundred kW of cooling).
b) Simpler maintenance due to smaller size and less complex design.
Industrial refrigeration system
Designed to support large-scale production, processing and storage operations. Some examples are cold chain warehouses, food processing factories.
a) Large capacity (hundred to thousands of kW) to cool entire facilities and large rooms
b) Systems often involve customized engineering works for specific process needs, with complex piping and control layouts
c) Rigorous maintenance due to the size and complexity of systems. Require specialized technicians who are familiar with these complex systems and safety protocols.
i) Temperature Fluctuations
Inability to maintain consistent temperatures result in potential product spoilage, frost build-up. Common causes include faulty thermostat, wrongly-sized refrigeration unit.
ii) Compressor Problems
As the heart of the system, a faulty compressor could result in total system shutdown resulting in costly downtime. Refrigerant leakage or electrical faults are some common causes.
iii) Condensation
Condensation build-up causes excess moisture to create mould growth and hazardous conditions for the stored products. Poor air circulation and inadequate insulation are common culprits.
iv) Refrigerant Leaks
This common issue causes cold rooms to struggle in maintaining the required low temperature and consuming unnecessary high levels of energy.
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