Cold rooms play a critical role in the storage of food, medicine and other sensitive products. In order for these rooms to operate efficiently and reliably, the main components such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion valve must be selected correctly. In this blog post, we will examine the points to consider when selecting these four components and their features.
1. Compressor
Function:
It is the starting point of the cooling cycle.
It compresses the refrigerant from low pressure to high pressure.
Selection Criteria:
Capacity: It should be suitable for the size of the cold room and the cooling capacity required. Capacity is measured in BTU/h or kW.
Efficiency: Compressors with high energy efficiency should be preferred. Attention should be paid to efficiency values such as EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) or COP (Coefficient of Performance).
Noise Level: Compressors with low noise levels should be preferred, especially if they are to be used in noise-sensitive areas.
Ease of Maintenance: Models that are easy to maintain and have easy spare parts to supply should be selected.
Features:
Piston Compressors: Durable and widely used, but noisier.
Screw Compressors: Quieter and more efficient, suitable for large capacity applications.
Scroll Compressors: Offering high efficiency and low noise levels, they are ideal for small and medium-sized systems.
2. Capacitor
Function:
It transfers the heat of the refrigerant to the external environment.
It allows the fluid to transform from the gas phase to the liquid phase.
Selection Criteria:
Heat Transfer Capacity: Must be compatible with the capacity of the cooling system. Sufficient capacity directly affects the cooling performance.
Air or Water Cooled: Air cooled condensers consume less water and require less maintenance, while water cooled condensers provide higher efficiency.
Material and Durability: Must be made of corrosion-resistant materials. If used in harsh environments such as sea water or salty air, models with special coatings should be preferred.
Features:
Air Cooled Condensers: Provides air cooling through fans. It has a simpler and maintenance-free structure.
Water Cooled Condensers: Transfers heat using water, is more efficient but requires a water source.
3. Evaporator
Function:
It allows the refrigerant to evaporate and draw heat from the environment.
Provides the desired low temperature inside the cold room.
Selection Criteria:
Capacity: Must be suitable for the cooling load. Capacity is measured in BTU/h or kW.
Air Flow: It should provide good air circulation. The placement of fans and the direction of air flow are important.
Defrost Feature: It must have an effective defrost system (electric, hot gas or air defrost) to prevent icing problems.
Features:
Direct Expansion Evaporators: Commonly used, the refrigerant evaporates directly.
Water Evaporators: Provides indirect cooling using water, especially used in low temperature applications.
4. Expansion Valve
Function:
It reduces the pressure of the refrigerant and sends it to the evaporator.
It allows the fluid to evaporate and the cooling process to begin.
Selection Criteria:
Type: Thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) and electronic expansion valve (EXV) are the most commonly used. TXVs are simple and reliable, while EXVs provide more precise control.
Capacity: Must be suitable for the capacity of the cooling system.
Adjustability: It provides the advantage of being adjustable according to different load and temperature conditions.
Features:
Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV): Simple and widely used, provides precise temperature control.
Electronic Expansion Valve (EXV): Provides more precise control and energy efficiency, especially preferred in large systems.
Kaynak: Tunelgroup Cooling System
