How to Select Suitable Copeland Units for Fruit Cold Storage 3

Selection of Unit Configuration Form

For small cold storage within 300m³, integrated air-cooled packaged Copeland units are preferred, featuring convenient installation, no need for cooling water system and simple maintenance. For medium cold storage of 300～1000m³, air-cooled or water-cooled units can be selected according to site conditions. For large-scale fruit storage cold storage above 1000m³, it is recommended to adopt a parallel scheme of multiple ZB units. Some units can be shut down for energy saving during low load periods. The failure of single equipment will not affect the overall operation of cold storage with higher stability.

3. Selection of Refrigerant and Unit Structure for Compliant and Long-term Operation

With the upgrading of environmental protection policies in the refrigeration industry, refrigerant selection must take compliance, equipment adaptability and operation stability into account. Meanwhile, the condensation mode shall be determined according to site conditions.

(1) Specification for Refrigerant Selection

The outdated R22 refrigerant has been gradually phased out. R22 models shall not be selected for newly built or reconstructed cold storage. For new projects, priority shall be given to Copeland ZB units adapted to environmentally friendly refrigerants R404A, R448A and R449A. Such refrigerants meet environmental protection standards with high heat exchange efficiency and stable working conditions, compatible with new generation Copeland scroll models to satisfy long-term compliant operation requirements. Check the refrigerant adaptation parameters on the compressor nameplate during selection. Do not replace refrigerants privately in the later stage to avoid compressor burnout.

(2) Adaptation Scenarios of Condensation Modes

1. Air-cooled units: Applicable to most small and medium-sized fruit cold storage. No supporting equipment such as cooling towers and water pools is required. They occupy small land area with fast installation and commissioning and simple later maintenance. They are suitable for fruit shops and small storage warehouses with limited space and outdoor installation, serving as the mainstream choice for fruit cold storage.

2. Water-cooled units: Applicable to large-scale fruit cold storage. They feature lower condensation temperature, higher operating energy efficiency of units and lower noise, with remarkable energy-saving advantages in long-term continuous operation. However, supporting cooling towers and circulating water systems are required with higher upfront installation cost, suitable for large agricultural product storage bases.

4. Special Supporting Design for Fruit Cold Storage Determines Fresh-keeping Effect and Equipment Service Life

The selection of Copeland units is not only about choosing the main unit. The matching degree of system supporting components directly determines the fruit fresh-keeping quality and equipment service life. The core of fruit fresh-keeping is "small temperature difference, high humidity and stable temperature", which is essentially different from the system design of ordinary freezing cold storage.

(1) Strictly Control Evaporation Temperature Difference

The temperature difference between warehouse temperature and eva