Humidifiers for Cold Storage Warehouses
Cold storage humidification plays a critical role in maintaining product integrity, humidity balance, and operational efficiency.
Humidifier System for Cold Storage of Fresh Produce
and Other Perishables
Cold storage facilities are used for preserving a wide array of food products and other perishable goods. When items are securely packaged before leaving the ripening rooms, you do not have to worry about moisture loss. However, in the case of fresh produce stored in an open-air storage space, moisture loss is a major concern.
Cold Air Loses Moisture Content
Air has the capacity to hold a certain volume of water vapor. This capacity increases with the rise in temperature. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature compared to wat that air has the capacity to hold at that temperature. Hot, tropical regions have relative humidity going into the high 80s and 90s. Meanwhile temperate zones have cooler climates and much drier air as a result.
The same conditions are replicated inside a cold storage facility. The moisture content in the air is constantly getting siphoned off as condensate near the cooling coils. As the air gets dryer, it causes nearby objects to lose water content through the process of transpiration
Leafy Greens Need High Humidity Level
Fresh leafy greens, and other fruit and vegetables, will lose their water content rapidly under dry, cold air conditions. This can lead to product deterioration, which in turn leads to lower revenues because they haven’t maintained product weight. Sustaining required humidity levels is essential for the proper storage of such perishable goods in cold storage.
If you want to see this in action, all you need to do is open your refrigerator and look at the crisper bin – a space dedicated for the storage of fresh vegetables. It’s designed to retain a higher level of humidity than the other zones inside the fridge.
In large supermarkets and other cold storage facilities storing fresh produce, you cannot rely on crisper boxes to maintain high humidity levels. You need a dedicated humidifier for cold storage with a high-pressure fog system.
Cold Storage humidifier for Meat & Poultry
Refrigeration is essential for the safe storage of meat and poultry. At the same time, exposure to dry air con leave the meat surface with an unappetizing brown tint. The texture of the meat after cooing also suffers as a result, becoming dry instead of juicy and moist.
Meat Products Need Rapid Cooling
The culprit here is cold air with low relative humidity. Rich in proteins, lipids, and enzymes, meat is a potential haven for microbial activity and oxidation. Fast cooling is required to prevent this right after the butchering process.
The initial cooling process carried out in a slaughterhouse is called primary chilling. When the meat is correctly chilled, it retains its freshness due to the presence of unfrozen water inside. This water can be lost to the air if the cold room suffers from low humidity.
Chilled Meat Has High Water Content
Water loss leads to deterioration of quality, both in terms of appearance and taste. It also makes the product lighter, which inevitably leads to a loss in revenue as it is most often sold by the ounce. Meat has a relatively high-water content between 50% to 75% and requires a high relative humidity of up to 95%.
With the constant condensation impact from cooling coils and other surfaces, maintaining high humidity levels inside a cold storage system is not easy. With a high-pressure fog system, cold storage humidifiers can increase humidity and get the job done, especially in cold storage rooms, refrigerated holding areas, and packing zones.
The Main Benefits of Using a High-Pressure Fog Humidifier in Cold Storage
Drastically inhibit the moisture loss in certain fruits, fresh vegetables, and meat.
Humidity-controlled storage prevents loss in revenues due to product weight loss.
Helps the food items retain a fresh, attractive appearance for a longer period.
Precise controls for optimal humidity levels prevent damage due to excessive humidity.
Ensures longer storage in the facility with improved shelf life.
High-pressure systems require less water and are more economical.
Focused nozzles and environmental controllers can maintain separate humidity zones for different products.
Anti-drip technology prevents messy water leaks from the nozzles.
Cold Storage Humidification Case Study
Five Crowns Marketing
At the center of Five Crowns’ packing and shipping operations, Crown Cooling includes a modern solar-powered, 55,000 square-foot cold storage facility. Approximately 5,000,000 units of produce pass through the facility every year.
The cold storage refrigeration process removes moisture from the air. Under these conditions, asparagus, melons and citrus lose water volume and weight. For produce growers and packers, profits are based on weight and product shrinkage results in lost revenue.
The Challenge was to reduce moisture loss and increase grower profits by adding humidity to cold storage refrigeration for produce.
Successfully, humidification control reduced moisture loss which maintained product weight and positively impacted the bottom line.
Trust MicroCool for All Your Cold Storage Humidification Needs
The MicroCool High-Pressure Fog Humidification system is the ideal equipment for any cold storage facility designed to house fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, wines, and a wide array of other perishable goods. We will custom design a system to meet your specific space requirements and product storage needs.
Cold Storage Humidification Resources
Explore MicroCool’s Focus System and Ibex humidification system designed for cold storage humidification applications. Review system components and technical information to support humidity control in cold storage environments.
Need additional information? Contact MicroCool to discuss your cold storage humidification requirements