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A food industry chiller is an equipment or system designed to maintain a low temperature for food processing and storage. Different types of food industry chillers serve unique purposes depending on the food industries' refrigeration needs.
Blast Chiller/Freezer
It is a cooling food industry chiller that quickly reduces the temperature of hot or newly cooked food to a preset optimal temperature within a short period. It can also freeze food materials rapidly. A blast chiller operates by directing chilled air over the surface of the hot food at high speeds. The high velocity removes heat from the food, cooling it down quickly and safely. This minimizes the growth of bacteria and helps preserve the food's taste, texture, and quality. The best application of a blast chiller is in commercial kitchens, cafeterias, and food processing facilities.
Modular Chiller
It is a versatile food industry chiller that can be customized to meet specific cooling capacity requirements by adding or removing modules or units. Each module is self-contained, and when added, it is seamlessly integrated into the existing system. Modular chillers are energy efficient. They allow for partial loading, whereby only the necessary modules are used to meet the cooling demand, especially during peak seasons. This helps reduce energy consumption. Additionally, modular chillers offer scalability. Businesses can start with just one or two modules and add more later as their needs grow. The chillers are ideal for large food facilities with changing cooling demands.
Walk-in Cooler
The cooler is a large refrigerated storage space people can walk into. It is suitable for storing large volumes of perishable food products such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and beverages at optimal temperatures to extend shelf life and maintain product quality. The coolers can be single or dual-temperature systems with separate refrigeration systems for each cooling zone. This allows businesses to store products requiring different temperature ranges in the same unit. The coolers are commonly found in supermarkets, restaurants, and warehouses.
Air Blast Chiller
It is a type of chiller that cools food items by blowing chilled air over them. Air blast chillers are designed to accommodate various types of food, including trays of cooked meals, whole meats, and liquids in containers. They come in either horizontal or vertical configurations. The coolers can be fully automated, semi-automated, or manual. They are suitable for cooling large batches of hot food quickly and evenly. An air blast chiller is a vital piece of equipment in catering services, hotels, and hospitals.
Chilled Water System
It is a food industry cooling system that produces chilled water and distributes it to ahus (air handling units), coils, and other food processing equipment to absorb heat and cool products. The system uses a refrigeration cycle to remove heat from the water, lowering its temperature. Food industries use chilled water for processes requiring temperature control, such as pasteurization, cooling of hot food, and regulating the temperature of fermenting products.
Chillers are important components of various industries where refrigeration is needed. Food industries and businesses making ice are heavy users of food industry chillers. They are used to preserve food items.
Restaurants and food service businesses frequently use a walk-in chiller to keep their ingredients and finished products at acceptable temperatures. Keeping ingredients in a chiller helps restaurants reduce food-related emergencies. Hospitals also use food industry chillers to store medicine that requires a constant, cold temperature.
Food industry chillers aren't limited to the food industry; other industries benefit from their cooling capabilities. Pharmaceutical manufacturers use industrial cooling systems to keep products at a constant temperature and avoid unexpected breakdowns. Chemical production facilities use air coolers to lower the temperature during the process to ensure a smooth and effective operation.
Ice production facilities heavily depend on evaporative coolers to keep water at low temperatures to turn it into ice. Supermarkets often have chilling systems built into their stores to keep fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat fresh and prevent wastage.
Dairy companies use industrial refrigeration systems to cool milk immediately after it is produced to maintain its quality and extend its shelf life. Breweries use specific types of food industry chillers during the fermentation process to control temperatures. Warehouses and cold storage facilities use walk-in coolers to preserve perishable items. Warehouses often install a walk-in cooler when storing perishable items. Transport companies use food industry chillers during transit to ensure the product arrives at its final destination in perfect condition.
When purchasing industrial chillers for the food industry, it is prudent to evaluate different factors first. Some of the factors to weigh are the cooling capacity, energy efficiency, design and build quality, noise level, as well as the regulatory compliance and safety features of the chiller.
Opt for cooling industrial chillers with high cooling capacity. Such a capacity is usually measured in kW or BTU to ensure the machine supports all the processes in the food manufacturing industry. Consider air-cooled chillers for areas with constant cool temperatures or water-cooled chillers that work better in hot climates.
Buyers should consider energy-efficient food industry coolers to minimize electricity costs. Such a machine has features like variable speed drives (VSDs), high-efficiency compressors, and quality insulation. Go for machines with thermal storage systems as they reduce peak energy consumption.
The frame, coil, and insulated storage tank of a good-quality chiller are made from stainless steel. This material not only prolongs the life of the chiller but also resists corrosion. Durability is more important in the food production industry, where any machine breakdown can halt the entire production process.
Industrial chillers for food industries tend to be large and bulky. Some can be very noisy and lead to site complaints. So, buyers are advised to purchase machines that produce little noise and have efficient compressors.
Safety is very important in the food industry. Buyers should get industrial coolers that meet all the safety standards. The machinery should comply with regulatory requirements. Also, it should have safety features like leak detection and low refrigerant safeguards.
Consider food industry chiller parts that are easier to obtain. Some parts include evaporators, compressors, condensers, expansion valves, chillers solenoid valves and cooling fans. Their availability will simplify repairs and reduction of downtime.
Q1: How is air flow in a walk-in cooler?
A1: Walk-in coolers have vents on both sides that allow for air circulation. This is important for keeping food fresh. However, the design of these vents might be different depending on whether the walk-in cooler is industrial or not.
Q2: How many years does a walk-in cooler last?
A2: If maintained properly, a walk-in cooler can last up to 20 years or more.
Q3: Can a walk-in cooler be moved?
A3: Yes, if the need arises, walk-in coolers are designed in a way that they can be moved. Fortunately, they can also be disassembled and reassembled at another location.
Q4: Do walk-in coolers use a lot of electricity?
A4: The amount of electricity walk-in coolers use depends on their size, what is stored inside, the temp outside, and how well they were built. On average, a large walk-in cooler may use around 6,000 to 12,000 kWh per year.