3/6/2020 Freezing and refrigerated storage in fisheries - 8.

Calculation of cold store refrigeraion load

8. CALCULATION OF COLD STORE REFRIGERATION

LOAD

8.1 Cold store capacity

A good deal of experience is required to make a correct calculation of a cold store's

refrigeration requirement and this should therefore only be done by a qualified person.
The following calculation is not complete but it serves two purposes. It allows the reader
to make a similar calculation for his own store and thereby obtain an approximate
refrigeration requirement. It also helps the reader to appreciate the number of factors
that have to be taken into account in calculating the heat load and also gives him some
idea of their relative importance.

One important heat load that has been omitted in the calculation is the heat gain due to
solar radiation. This factor depends on a number of conditions which are related to both
the location of the store and its method of construction. In some cases, solar heat load
may not be significant but in other instances, precautions may be necessary to reduce
its effect.

Cold store refrigeration load

Specification

Dimensions 20 m x 10 m × 5 m = 1 000m3
Insulation thickness (0.25 m)
External store surface area (771.5m 2)
Maximum ambient temperature (35C)
Store temperature (-30C)

Load calculation

(1) Insulation heat leak through walls, roof and floor

Conductivity of polystyrene 0.033 0.033 kcal/h mC

Temperature difference between ambient and store 35°C and
-30°C = 65 degC
Thickness of polystyrene = 0.25 m
Surface area of store = 771.5 m 2
Heat leak = 771.5 x 65 × 0.033 ÷ 0.033 = 7422 kcal/h

(2) Air changes

Average of 2.7 air changes in 24 h

Store volume = 1000m 3
Heat gain (35C and 60% R.H. air) 40 kcal/m 3
Air change heat gain = 1000 × 2.7 × 40 ÷ 24 = 4500 kcal/h

(3) Lights (left on during working day)

1000W = 860 kcal/h

(4) Men working

1 man working at -30C gives off 378 kcal/h

2 men working is equivalent to 756 kcal/h

(5) Product load

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3/6/2020 Freezing and refrigerated storage in fisheries - 8. Calculation of cold store refrigeraion load

5.5 kcal/kg for fish load at an average temperature of -20C

Fish loaded per day 35 000 kg
Product load = 3500 × 5.5 ÷ 24 = 8020 kcal/h

(6) Fan load

3 × 250W = 644 kcal/h

(7) Defrost heat

1 defrost of 8440 W for 1 h (recovered over 6 h) = 1 209 kcal/h

Total calculated refrigeration load (sum of Items 1 to 7) = 23411
kcal/h
Total refrigeration requirement with allowances 23411 × 24 ÷ 18
= 31215 kcal/h

If a pump is used to circulate refrigerant, the heat equivalent must be added to the
capacity of the refrigeration condensing unit but not to the capacity of the room cooler.

The minimum refrigeration requirement will be when there is only an insulation heat load
and the fans are in operation. In this example, the minimum load corresponds to only
about 25 percent of the capacity of the installed refrigeration plant. This minimum load
factor will vary considerably with the type of store and mode of operation but some
account may have to be taken of this difference between the maximum and minimum
refrigeration requirements. Large cold stores should be operated with a number of
compressors, which can be switched on and off as required. Large compressors may be
fitted with off-loading equipment which allows them to work efficiently on partial loads.
The reliance on one large compressor for a large cold store could be catastrophic in the
event of its failure. In the case of smaller stores it may be that only one compressor is
viable. Other arrangements can be made to cater for the variation in refrigeration
demand. What must not happen is that a large compressor should operate with a low
load and hence operate with a very low suction pressure or stop and start too frequently.
The first condition is bad for the compressor and the second for the electrical
equipment.

8.1 Cold store capacity

There is no method of defining cold store capacity that satisfies the requirements of
everyone concerned with cold storage. Storage capacity based on the weight of produce
that can be stored will depend on the storage density of the products and the method of
storage.

Therefore, unless only one product is stored under closely defined conditions, this
definition is obviously unsuitable. It is generally agreed that it is more appropriate to
define storage capacity in terms of the store volume but there are a number of ways in
expressing this value.

Gross volume is the volume of the refrigerated space.

Net volume is the volume that can potentially be used for storage and is the gross
volume less the volume required for coolers, structural requirements, doorways and
other permanent features of the store.

Effective volume is the store space that can actually be utilised for storage and it takes
into account the requirements for passageways, stacking equipment etc.

Gross volume and net volume can easily be defined by devising a simple set of rules for
making these calculations. These store volumes, however, can only give a rough
estimate of storage capacity and their main use may before statistical purposes. The
effective volume can only be calculated for each particular case and to achieve any
degree of accuracy, a drawing of the store layout would be required together with full
details of the storage conditions. Store operators should therefore use general
statements of store capacity with care and when placing an order they would give full
details of the products and the storage operation to enable the supplier to provide a

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3/6/2020 Freezing and refrigerated storage in fisheries - 8. Calculation of cold store refrigeraion load

store to suit the operating requirements with the maximum utilisation of the gross
storage volume.

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