COLD STORAGE OF

AGRO PRODUCE
 Considerations for a COLD
STORAGE
1. Based on storage conditions 1. Selection of site
2. Short term or temporary storage (7-10 days) 2. Orientation and building form
3. Long term storage (6-8 months) 3. Size
4. Frozen storage 4. Space requirement
5. Produce characteristics (specific heat, respiration rate, 5. Thermal insulation
safe and sensitive storage temperature) 6. Refrigeration system (Mechanical-
Compression Refrigeration Systems,
Absorption Refrigeration, Evaporative
1. Uniform temperature Cooling, Thermoelectric Refrigeration) for
2. Length of air blow and impingement on stored products cold store
3. Effect of relative humidity 7. Heat load
4. Effect of air movement
5. Controlling ventilation systems, if necessary
6. Product entering temperature – pre-cooling
7. Expected duration of storage
8. Required product outdoor temperature
9. Transpiration and storage area
 Latent heat load from air entering
Higher temperature air-conditioned space by infiltration
Xm through cracks in doors, windows,
and through their frequent openings
Ym
1. Heat load for cooling 8 tons of
apples from 25 to 14˚C in 24
hours
Lower/storage 2. Heat of respiration from 8 tons
Zm Fans, lights, other devices
of apples
temperature
3. Heat load due to air infiltration
4. Heat load due to lights
5. Heat load due to workers
6. Heat load due to conduction
Latent heat load throughpassing
Moisture 4 wallsdirectly into the
from occupants air-conditioned space through
permeable walls
Latent heat load from
stored materials
A tons – T1 to T2oC
CASE STUDY
In a cold storage, it is desired to store 120 tons potato, 80 tons apple, and 60 tons pears. Specific heats of potato,
apple and pear are 0.87 0.83 and 0.89 kcal/kg-˚C respectively. These produce are to be cooled from 25 to 14˚C in 24
hrs. Specific heats of respiration per hr are 880, 745, and 760 kcal/ton respectively. Twelve man workers will work for
4 hrs and lighting load is estimated to be 500 W. Air infiltration load is assumed as 1020 kcal in 24 hours.

The cold storage structure measures 8 x 8 x 4 m on the inside and is constructed of bricks laid in cement mortar.
Wall thickness is 40 cm and there is 12 cm thick cork insulation on the inside of the four wall. The cement plaster is 1
cm thick. The outside temperature is 28˚C and the inside is maintained at 5˚C. Given that:
Thermal conductivity of brick: 0.45 cal/h/m-˚C
Thermal conductivity of cork: 0.025 cal/h/m- ˚C
Thermal conductivity of cement plaster: 0.25 cal/h/m-˚C
Heat of respiration for men = 170 kcal/h

The heat transfer coefficient for the ceiling is 10% more than that for the walls. There is no heat transfer through the
floor. Heat transfer through walls and ceiling is only due to conduction. Calculate the plant capacity needed in tonnes
of refrigeration, if efficiency of the plant is 75% . Given: 1 ton of refrigeration = 3000 k cal/hr
Basis is 1 day or 24 hours

1. Heat load for cooling potatoes, apples and pears from 25 to 14˚C in 24 hours
Brick
= mass * sp heat * temp gradient
Cork
2. Heat of respiration from potatoes, apples and pears
= mass * heat of respiration
Mortar
3. Heat load due to air infiltration
Outside
(28oC)
4. Heat load due to lights
Inside (5oC)
5. Heat load due to workers
= no of worker * heat of respiration

6. Heat load due to conduction of 4 walls

Q1 = Overall heat transer coefficient (U) * heating transfer surface area (A) * temp gradient

1/U = 1/UB + 1/UP + 1/UC

 1/U = 1/UB + 1/UP + 1/UC Brick
Cork
1/U =1/(kB/xB) + 1/(kP/xP) + 1/(kC/xC)
Mortar

k = thermal conductivity wall material, x = wall thickness Outside

(28oC)
Inside (5oC)
Q1 = Overall heat transer (U) x heating transfer surface area (A) x temperature gradient

7. Heat transfer through ceiling

Q2 = Overall heat transer (U) x heating transfer surface area (A) x temperature gradient

= 0.203 x (1.0 x 8 x 8) x (28 – 5) x 24 = 5261.76 k cal/ 24 hr

Total heat = 1 + 2 + 3 + …..... + 7 =

Hence plant capacity = 95471.06/(3000 x 24) x 0.75 = 1.768 ton of refrigeration (TR)
(1 ton of refrigeration = 3000 k cal/hr)
1. Heat load for cooling eight tonnes of apples from 25 to 14˚C in 24 hours
= 8000 x 0.8 x (25 – 14) = 70400 kca/hr/m-oC Brick
Cork
2. Heat of respiration from 8 tons of apples
= 8 x 745 = 5960 k cal/ 24 hr
Mortar
3. Heat load due to air infiltration
= 980 kcal per 24 hr Outside
(28oC)
4. Heat load due to lights
= (100 x 24 x 3.6)/4.18 = 2060 k cal/ 24 hr
Inside (5oC)

5. Heat load due to workers

= 3 x 170 x 4 = 2040 k cal/ 24 hr

6. Heat load due to conduction of 4 walls

Q1 = Overall heat transer coefficient (U) x Area (A) x temperature gradient

1/U = 1/UB + 1/UP + 1/UC

Heat transfer only conduction
 1/U = 1/UB + 1/UP + 1/UC

1/U =1/(kB/xB) + 1/(kP/xP) + 1/(kC/xC)

k = thermal conductivity, x = thickness

1/U = 1/(0.45/0.4) + 1/(0.025/0.1) + 1/(0.25/0.01) So, U = 0.203 k cal/m2-hr-oC

Q1 = Overall heat transer (U) x heating transfer surface area (A) x temperature gradient

= 0.203 x (4 x 6 x 6) x (30 – 5) x 24 = 8769.3 k cal/ 24 hr

7. Heat transfer through ceiling

Q2 = Overall heat transer (U) x heating transfer surface area (A) x temperature gradient

= 0.203 x (1.2 x 6 x 6) x (28 – 5) x 24 = 5261.76 k cal/ 24 hr

Total heat = 1 + 2 + 3 + …..... + 7 = 70400 + 5960 + 2060 + 2040 + 8769.3 + 5261.76 = 95471.06 K cal/24 hr

Hence plant capacity = 95471.06/(3000 x 24) x 0.75 = 1.768 tonnes (1 TR = 3000 k cal/hr)