Walk in coolers can accurately control the indoor temperature and provide a suitable storage temperature for perishable products. They are widely used in restaurants, medical institutions and other industries. But do you know how to build a walk in coolers? In this guide, you will be introduced to the working principles, components and advantages of this large refrigeration system. Help you better build and use walk in cooler.

 

Important Components Of Walk In Coolers

walk in cooler Material

Refrigeration System

The refrigeration system is the core of the walk in coolers. It consists of three components

  • Evaporator coil: made of material with good thermal conductivity, absorbs heat inside the cooler and reduces the temperature
  • Condenser: discharges the heat absorbed by the evaporator to the outside
  • Compressor: compressor for walk in cooler makes the refrigerant refrigerate from liquid to gas and then from gas to liquid

The three components maintain the operation of the refrigeration system to ensure the continuous operation of the cold room.

Insulation Board

If the refrigeration system is the key to cool the walk in coolers, then the insulation board is the key factor to maintain the temperature of the cold room. The insulation board of the walk in coolers is usually made from high-quality materials like polyurethane or polystyrene. It makes the cold room unaffected by the external temperature, prevents the loss of cold air, and ensures long-term cooling.

Temperature Control System

The commercial walk in cooler is equipped with sensors and thermostats to adjust the temperature to ensure the convenience and efficiency of refrigeration.

Walk In Cooler Door

Walk in cooler door come in a variety of styles, usually manual or sliding. An excellent cold room door can not only save space but also have a good sealing effect to prevent the overflow of cold air.

Ventilation System

The ventilation system is an essential component of the walk in coolers. If you don’t want the air in the cold room to have a serious odor, you must install a good ventilation system.

Working Principle Of Walk-In Coolers

walk in freezer

Heat Transfer Mechanism

The working principle of modern walk-in cooler is that the refrigeration system generates cold air, which accumulates in the cooler composed of insulation panels, lowers the temperature in the cooler, and maintains the required temperature inside the cooler through the sensor system and control system.

Refrigeration System Cycle

Refrigeration cycle process:Compressor: compresses low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerants (such as R404A, R134a) into high-temperature and high-pressure gas.
 
Walk in cooler condenser: High-temperature refrigerant gas dissipates heat in the condenser and becomes medium-temperature and high-pressure liquid.
 
Expansion valve: suddenly decompresses the high-pressure liquid refrigerant and turns it into a low-temperature and low-pressure mist, ready to absorb heat.
 
Walk in cooler evaporator: The mist refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator coil, cools the cooler, turns itself back into gas, and re-enters the compressor.
 

Air Circulation

A fan is arranged at a suitable position in the cooler to make the air flow inside, prevent uneven cooling, and ensure that the items are stored at the appropriate temperature.
 

Advantages Of Walk-in Cooler

Walk-in refrigerators can not only store items but also greatly extend the shelf life of items. For example, items that originally only appeared in summer can still appear in winter. It can greatly reduce waste and improve resource utilization efficiency.
 

Extend The Storage Time Of Items

Walk-in refrigerators provide a low-temperature controllable environment for items while storing items, which can allow fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and beverages to have a longer shelf life. The constant low-temperature refrigerator can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria and prevent premature deterioration. For food companies, walk-in refrigerators are indispensable, which can help companies reduce unnecessary waste and ensure product quality.
 

Save Business Operating Costs

Reducing waste is another way to save costs. Walk-in refrigerators can enable companies to have longer operating time. Companies can purchase in bulk when the product is low and store it until its product is out of season. Off-season products can bring more considerable income, and there is no need to worry about deterioration when purchasing in bulk at a low price, which can effectively increase the company’s profits.
 

Wide Range Of Applications

walk in coolers support a variety of customized sizes. Whether it is a small restaurant grocery store or a large warehouse storage, it can be customized according to customer needs.

 

How To Build A Walk In Cooler?

Planning Before Construction

1 Determine the needs

Purpose: The cold storage room is used for refrigeration (0 to 4 degrees Celsius) or freezing (below minus 12 degrees Celsius)
Required size: Determined according to the business needs of the enterprise (a small warehouse of 10 square meters, or a large cold storage of 100 square meters)
Temperature control accuracy: The temperature difference of ordinary food can be 2 degrees Celsius, while the temperature difference of the walk in cooler for medical or laboratory needs to be controlled within 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Purchase budget: After determining the needs, you should purchase it based on your own purchase budget. The price of a walk in cooler is about US$2,500 per square meter.
 

2 Planning Site Selection

Build indoor or outdoor

Indoor walk in cooler: It can save energy and is easy to use. The service life of the cold storage room is also longer, but ventilation space and maintenance space need to be reserved after the construction of the walk in cooler.

Outdoor walk in cooler: The construction space is large, so there is no need to worry about the operation of the cold storage room due to space problems. However, the outdoor environment is unstable, and the cold storage room needs to be rainproof, sun-proof and heat-insulated.
 

3.Power Supply

Stable power supply is a necessary condition for the operation of cold storage. Unstable power supply can easily lead to poor cold storage effect, and even damage the goods in serious cases.
It is recommended to install an independent circuit in the cold storage and prepare a backup generator.

 

Tips For Using A Walk In Coolers

  • When using the walk in cooler for the first time or when it has not been used for a long time, the walk in coolers should be cooled to the required temperature before putting the items in, rather than putting the goods in the cold room before starting to cool down
  • During use, hard objects should be prevented from colliding with the insulation board of the cooler to avoid damage and depression of the insulation board, which will affect the insulation effect of the cold room.
  • Check the sealing degree of the cold room regularly, and repair it in time if it is damaged
  • Keep the floor clean when using the walk in coolers. If there is ice or water accumulation on the ground, it should be cleaned in time. It is necessary to pay attention not to use hard tools to avoid scratching the ground and affecting the service life.
  • The walk in coolers cannot completely guarantee the consistency of the storage time of the goods. The goods inside need to be checked regularly. Once mold, rot and other problems occur, they should be dealt with in time.
  • The temperature and humidity in the cold room should be consistent to avoid large fluctuations.
  • When storing goods, try to complete it at one time, minimize the number of times entering and leaving the cold room, and avoid the cold room being affected by the outside temperature. Pay attention to whether the air curtain is open when opening the door.
  • It is strictly forbidden to store flammable and explosive items, and open flames are strictly prohibited.

If you need a walk in cooler, you can contact Pecold, we are a professional refrigeration equipment manufacturer including industrial ice makers, quick freezers, and walk in coolers. We can provide you with perfect refrigeration services.

FAQ

1.What is a walk-in cooler?

The walk-in cooler is a large refrigeration unit designed to store perishable goods at a specific temperature. It’s commonly used in industries like food service, healthcare。

2.What temperature should a walk-in cooler be?

Typically, walk-in coolers should maintain a temperature between 34°F and 40°F to keep perishable items fresh without freezing.

3.How much is a walk in cooler?

The price depends on the type of cold room you choose. The size of the walk-in cooler the thickness of the panels, the type of condensing unit, the brand of refrigeration components you choose for the walk-in coolers etc. These factors will affect the price. Contact us and we will provide you with the best quotation.

4.What is the lighting intensity requirement inside a walk-in cooler?

The required lighting intensity inside a walk-in cooler is typically around 10 foot-candles (108 lux) for safe visibility

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