The use of refrigerator-based equipment is a requirement of all food service operations–large or small–almost without exception. And being of such common occurrence, it’s normal to take such equipment for granted. However, like many other aspects of food service equipment, there’s always an opportunity to learn more about the use and function of refrigeration. Try to answer the following questions: * Does a refrigeration system pump cold air into a unit to lower the temperature of the food therein? Or, does it extract the heat from the food to lower its temperature? * What is the correct temperature for holding refrigerated meats, vegetables, beverages, etc.? * How long should it take to reduce cooked product temperatures from 140[degrees]F to below 40[degrees]F? * Based on meal volume, what size in cubic feet should a raw bulk storage cooler be? * Is a water-cooled refrigeration system faster than an air-cooled […]

Refrigeration is a vital part of modern food production. Without a means to cool and keep food cold, the quality and safety of food would be compromised and the sophisticated cold chain we are used to would not be possible. The whole food chain is underpinned by refrigeration from primary food processing through storage, transport, retail and domestic refrigeration in consumers’ homes. Refrigerants Refrigeration systems using a working fluid or ‘refrigerant’ were invented in the early 1800s. These early systems used air, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or ammonia as the refrigerating fluid. Such systems were superseded in the 1930s by CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) that quickly became the dominant refrigerants as they were then considered to be efficient, cheap, non-flammable and non-toxic. In the 1970s it was realized that CFCs were responsible for damaging the ozone layer and in 1989 the Montreal Protocol agreed on a phase-out of CFCs. Thi […]

Refrigeration and air conditioning may become more efficient and environmentally friendly thanks to the patent-pending work of LSU physicists. The team of researchers led by LSU Physics Professor Shane Stadler has discovered a breakthrough magnetocaloric material that may change the energy industry, including air conditioning and food refrigeration. “The world refrigeration market is expected to increase by about $7-8 billion by 2018,” Stadler said. Therefore, his breakthrough has a significant economic impact as well as an impact on the energy industry and environment. Stadler’s research focuses on the next generation of magnetic cooling technologies, which are simpler in design, quieter and more environmentally friendly than conventional compressed-gas systems currently used. “LSU’s basic research into low-temperature physics and materials science has potential applications in areas related to energy, ele […]

Focusun Wishes you abundance, hope, peace and a festive holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Focusun™ Refrigeration Corporation is the most reliable company in the field of ice machines and cold storage rooms, offering over 11.000 units to five continents. Focusun™ work towards making refrigeration solutions easier, with professional technical engineering teams, who are aware of all the new technology related to refrigeration. Basic Facts: Founded in 1945 Headquarter in Frankfurt, China headquarters in Shanghai, Factory in Jiangsu Today over 500 staff members, one of the leading and largest ice machine producer in the world. Specialized in: All types of ice machines with different capacities. Water chillers Ice packing machines Ice storage systems and cold storage rooms Vacuum coolers Concrete cooling systems Mine cooling Snowmaking machines   Products Features: Safety comes first: which means no matter which machine, they are all safe to use and operate. The home of quality: it is always better to explain the high price o […]

The purpose: In countries where the Sun is shining half of the day or more, especially in developing countries where a stable electricity isn’t always assured,  lack of cold storage. The solution is green Focusun offers portable, walk-in cold rooms that work exclusively on solar energy. This reliable system is especially fit for remote locations, disaster-stricken areas or regions without a steady power grid. Smart cooling solutions mobile cold rooms have high insulation values and are manufactured according to world standards. The solar panels are connected with a system that stores extra solar energy for the night times. This smart cooling solution is eco-friendly, has low running costs and requires low maintenance. Technical information Measurements: A 40 feet or 20 feet shipping container with solar panels on top. Choice between cooling (0,5 / 5 ˚C) or freezing capacities (-24 /-18˚C). Products stay 24/7 cool or frozen, becaus […]

The first ever patent for an Ice Machine was granted to John Gorrie in 1851 after he had perfected his 1842 invention of a system that was able to chill water to produce ice. However, his plan to manufacture the machine for the general public was thwarted by a smear campaign led by Frederic Tudor, and the death of his partner. He died four years later in 1855, humiliated and financially ruined. He lays buried in Apalachicola, at Gorrie Square, and his original machine and plans are held at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Alexander Twining also received a patent for an Ice Making Machine in 1853. His experiments led to the first commercial refrigeration system in the USA (1856) and he also established the first practical method for bulk producing ice by artificial means. Professor Jürgen Hans also experimented with ice creation and in 1929 he successfully developed a machine that was capable of making ice that was edible. H […]

  For a decade or more, the potential of CO2 in supermarket refrigeration has been recognized in Northern Europe. Thanks to its unique properties, notably the high heat transfer coefficients and the low sensitivity to pressure losses, CO2 delivers high performance in supermarket applications.   In warmer climates, the advantages of CO2 in food retail applications have been disputed. In recent years, however, the interest from forward-thinking retailers has fueled the invention of new technologies that make transcritical CO2 systems in warmer climates both viable and profitable. New technologies are rapidly emerging as highly energy-efficient solutions that help retailers reduce complexity and meet current and future regulation on traditional refrigerants. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of different solutions for CO2 refrigeration in warmer climates – from basic cascade systems to the advanced ejector techno […]

Advantages and disadvantages of any compressor are based on its characteristics and application. Advantages and disadvantages listed below are for a typical compressed air system in an industrial plant. The estimated full‐load bhp requirement of each compressor type at 100 psig discharge pressure at the compressor, a main drive motor typical efficiency of 92 percent and 0.746 kilowatts (kW)/bhp, the approximate operating costs of operation are obtained. Single‐Acting, Air‐Cooled Reciprocating Air Compressors Advantages include Small size and weight Generally, can be located close to point‐of‐use avoiding lengthy piping runs and pressure drops Do not require separate cooling systems Simple maintenance procedures. Disadvantages include: Lubricant carryover as piston rings wear, which should be avoided Relatively high noise Relatively high cost of compression Generally, are designed to run not more than 50 percent of the time, although som […]

You’ve probably seen calculators with solar cells — devices that never need batteries and in some cases, don’t even have an off button. As long as there’s enough light, they seem to work forever. You may also have seen larger solar panels, perhaps on emergency road signs, call boxes, buoys and even in parking lots to power the lights. Although these larger panels aren’t as common as solar-powered calculators, they’re out there and not that hard to spot if you know where to look. In fact, photovoltaics — which were once used almost exclusively in space, powering satellites’ electrical systems as far back as 1958 — are being used more and more in less exotic ways. The technology continues to pop up in new devices all the time, from sunglasses to electric vehicle charging stations. The hope for a “solar revolution” has been floating around for decades — the idea that o […]