Ice build up is caused when moist air enters the cold store. Sometimes there can be thin layers of ice which has the appearance of snow. When the moist air comes in to contact with cold surfaces such as floors, walls and evaporator coils, the water vapour in the air condenses to form water and then freezes to form ice.
Moisture typically enters the cold store or freezer during door opening times. As the doors open warmer, more moist air in naturally drawn into the cold store, which in turn causes fog, condensation, ice and snow. Most cold stores require constant opening and closing of doors to move product so restricting door opening times in not as option. Even when the doors
are closed, air will be sucked into the store because of the negative pressure created by the temperature difference. Plastic strip curtains will reduce the amount of warm moist enter entering the cold store, but a complete solution involve using and TFT desiccant dehumidifier to stop any moisture entering the cold store at it's source.
Three Ways to Reduce Ice in Cold Stores:
1. Limit number of seconds door is opened each time.
Do not under estimate how much moisture enters the cold store every time the doors are opened. If you can reduce the number of seconds the door is opened for you will significantly reduce the amount of moist air entering the cold store. Rapid doors on timers are a good idea here. Or put in the practise of the shutting the door straight after you enter. Do not leave the cold store door open as you are packing or looking for product!
2. Install plastic strip curtains.
Plastic curtains are a good way to reduce the amount of air that enters the cold store during door opening times. The curtains act as a barrier so that is harder for the moist air to get into the cold store. However, moist air will still get into the cold store through the gaps and when forklift is running through the curtains.
3. Use a dehumidifier to ensure your cold store is kept dry.
The best way to ensure your cold store is kept as dry as possible and ice and snow build up are severely reduced. The Icedry does this by dehumidifying the air as it enters the cold store, ie at loading bay door or in airlock. As the doors open, the solution is to capture the moist air, dehumidify it, and supply dry, low dew point air at the entry doors. This dry air is drawn into the cold store when the doors open and circulates freely across the floor to keep it dry.
Key Facts:
TFT Desiccant Dehumidifier can be placed inside the cold store.
TFT Desiccant Dehumidifier has been specially designed to withstand the tough, cold environment within cold stores, ensuring the unit runs reliably and efficiently.
Even when the doors are closed, TFT will still sublimate ice and snow inside the cold store, in comparison to an airlock, which is running during the logistic time.
TFT Desiccant Dehumidifier will continue to work to reduce ice and snow build up throughout the day and night.
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