Refrigeration technology is one of the many innovations we take for granted today, and there is no doubt that life would be far more difficult without it. From improved food safety in restaurants and enhanced preservation of medical supplies to greater everyday comfort, refrigeration and temperature-controlled environments bring tons of benefits that have become invaluable in this modern age. And when we think about these advantages, the first thing that usually comes to mind is a cold room. Read on as we delve into the details behind this structure and how it functions.
What is a Cold Room?
A walk-in cooler is a cold room design that is essentially just a large refrigerator typically operating at temperatures between 0°C and 5°C. This makes them suitable for medium-term cold storage of perishable goods like meats, fruits, and vegetables and wine. Contrary to popular belief, the cold room is not a modern invention but has been around for centuries.
According to historical records, a ruler in Syria by the name of Zimri-Lim ordered the construction of massive ice houses close to the Euphrates River around 1700 BC. These houses served as the technical origins of the Persian “ice pits” or Yakhchal, which were ancient, large-scale, and dome-shaped refrigerators created from mortar materials with high resistance to heat transmission. Ice and snow were stored underground within these structures, which provided excellent food preservation capabilities for the time as well as access to cool ice during the warmer months.
How Cold Rooms Benefit The Modern Restaurant
A cold room is a type of insulated chamber that is designed to maintain a precise and specific range of temperatures using refrigeration systems, which can build for a system to achieve between 16°C to – 40°C. This climate-controlled space can then serve a wide range of purposes, including the storage, preservation, food processing, medical resources, wine storage, and other temperature-sensitive and perishable assets. Cold rooms are generally categorised according to their refrigeration cooling capacity and size, which range from large warehouse-sized facilities to a small walk-in cooler in Singapore.
Cold rooms are similar to other refrigeration systems you may have already encountered, such as your household refrigerator. They are essentially just a bigger and far more powerful version of that, and they use the same components and working principle to boot. In other words, a basic cold room design has the following parts:
- An insulated structure
The walls, floors, and ceilings of cold rooms are built with high-density insulation materials (such as polyurethane or polyisocyanurate panels) to reduce heat transfer. These panels ensure that external temperatures don’t influence the internal conditions, maintaining energy efficiency.
- Refrigeration system
At the heart of the refrigeration system lies the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant gas and causes it to expand and absorb heat energy. This hot and high-pressure gas then flows to the condenser, where it releases heat to the outside air and condenses into a liquid as it cools. The expansion valve then reduces the temperature and pressure of the cooled refrigerant before sending it to the evaporator coil. As the refrigerant passes through the coils, it absorbs heat from the air inside the cold room and cools the space before going back to the compressor to repeat the refrigeration cycle.
- Temperature control system
A thermostat monitors and regulates the room’s temperature to keep it within the desired range. If the temperature rises beyond the set point, the refrigeration system activates. Some cold rooms feature automated monitoring systems that send alerts if there are temperature fluctuations.
- Humidity control
Many cold rooms include humidity regulation, as some products (like wine) require consistent humidity to prevent corks from drying out and shrinking, spoiling the wine.
- Air circulation and defrost mechanism
Fans circulate cold air evenly throughout the space to ensure that all areas maintain consistent cooling. Meanwhile, the defrost mechanism periodically melts ice buildup on the evaporator coils (which can reduce its efficiency) to keep the system running smoothly.
All these work in conjunction to sustain the desired temperature within the unit.
Conclusion
Cold rooms are essential for industries that rely on precise temperature control, ensuring the longevity and safety of perishable products. These rooms work by maintaining stable, low temperatures through insulation, refrigeration units, and efficient airflow systems. Whether used in food service, pharmaceuticals, or logistics, cold rooms offer versatile storage solutions that help businesses optimise operations, reduce waste, and meet safety standards. Understanding how cold rooms function equips businesses with the knowledge to choose the right system tailored to their needs, ensuring long-term efficiency and sustainability.
For businesses seeking to enhance their operations and maintain compliance with industry standards, understanding the function of cold rooms is crucial. To explore effective solutions for your cold chain needs, visit Cold Chain Refrigeration Pte Ltd.