With the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa, it is clear that cold stores and cold chains will be vital for the distribution of the vaccine. The biggest challenge for Medical authorities and the Health Department is the cold supply chain as the COVID-19 vaccines requires a gigantic cold chain, possibly for temperatures as low as –70°C. Any failure in the cold-chain integrity would be disastrous.

 

Moderna’s vaccine has to be shipped at –20 degrees Celsius, and it has to be stored at that temperature for six months. Once thawed and the vaccine needs to be kept in a refrigerator between two and eight degrees Celsius and is good for up to 30 days. Pfizer’s vaccine has a much greater challenge as it must be kept at –70 degrees Celsius. Once transferred to a refrigerator, it must be administered within five days.

 

Condensation control in large coldstores is a common problem within the cold-chain industry especially if a cold store has a loading dock. Ice and frost is caused when moist air enters the cold store. When it comes into contact with cold surfaces such as floors, walls and evaporator coils the water vapour in the air condenses to form water then freezes to form ice resulting in wet and iced floors, surfaces and ceilings causing a health & safety issue.

 

These problems can be resolved by dehumidifying the air so that condensation and subsequent long term mold and fungus growth do not occur. The need for defrosting is reduced in low temperature cold stores as forming of frost on the evaporators is reduced. Thereby, unwelcome temperature variations caused by defrosting the cold store is avoided.

 

Why a Munters Desiccant Dehumidification is the perfect solution for cold stores that require extreme temperatures:

• Can dry to -70°C dewpoint
• Not temperature sensitive (+40°C to -40°C)
• Reduces RH
• Reduces absolute humidity
• Reduces dew-point
• Multiple energy sources can be used e.g. gas, steam, MPHW
• System runs dry = longer life
• Uses lower airflows
• Energy efficient

 

The unit can be installed either outside or within the actual store as it excels in functioning independently of the ambient air temperature – in contrast with cooling dehumidifiers which work at reduced capacity from approximately + 15°C. This also makes dehumidification within freezer departments a possibility.

 

CASE STUDY – IceDry® improves operation & safety at cold store for coldchains

At Coldstar in Vejle, Denmark, their cold store at 125,000m3 functions as a transit and distribution store for customers within the catering industry and supermarkets all over Denmark offering refrigeration services for perishable goods at the desired temperature to maintain the quality of the product for its customers. Approximately 30 people are employed at this highly advanced cold store which meets all requirements for the unbroken coldchain. 

 

THE PROBLEM:

Issues occurred in the areas between the cold store and the loading bays. Approx. 30-40 times a day trucks are being loaded/unloaded at the loading bay area and the moisture-laden air from the atmosphere enters into the handling room (3510m3) which divides the cold store from the loading docks. When this warmer and more humid air meets with the cold air from the handling room, (-22C), condensation is created, causing wet and slippery floors, ice on the mirrors at the conveyers, fogging and problems with the functionality of the photo sensors. During the summer period these problems get even more serious as the water content of the outdoor air increases, causing even more condensation.

 

THE SOLUTION:

Munters presented a tailor made IceDry® solution where dry air ensures that condensation is reduced to a minimum – going directly to the root of the problem – and hereby preventing all of the above mentioned problems. The Coldstar solution itself is unique by its ability to instantly redirect the dry air to the required areas.

The IceDry® dehumidification system is designed to provide continuous dehumidification of the handling room and also to supply dry air to one or more of the loading docks on request. When a truck enters one of the 6 docks for loading/unloading, dry air is immediately supplied directly into that dock, ensuring the air has a low relative humidity as it enters the handling room.

One IceDry®3000 unit was installed at both ends of the handling room. Ducts lead the dry air to all 6 gates from where it is fed into the docks when needed, and continuously into the handling room. This flexibility ensures an optimised use of the dehumidification system. The solution has been adapted perfectly to meet with Coldstars’ procedures and requests and the system is the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia.

 

Problems with ice formations, slippery floors and fogging now belong in the past and Coldstar can confirm that the working and safety conditions for their employees have been considerably improved and the loading and unloading of goods is now carried out in a faster and safer way.

 

Munters IceDry® system has proven so successful in over 600 coldstores across the world that it has won the prestigious 2014 European FoodTec Silver Award for innovation. The award criteria for recognition was the successful implementation of innovative concepts in the Food Industry to improve processing, the environmental conditions and safety.

All in all, IceDry® saves energy and time, ensuring high product quality and minimises the risk of accidents.

 

Munters IceDry® desiccant dehumidifiers are specially designed for installation in cold stores and freezer systems and is a Food Technology and Health & Safety Award-winning system.

 

Munters IceDry® key features:

– Specially developed for cold store installation
– Automatic defrosting function
– Increased efficiency of evaporators
– Safer cold stores, no slippery floors
– Reduced need for defrosting cold store
– No ice on products, secures the quality of frozen goods
– Less mechanical failures, reduced maintenance costs

 

Not sure how to select the size of the correct dehumidifier for my cold room or cold store? Contact a Munters Specialist at SMAC Enterprises today for advice and pricing on the best suited Munters desiccant dehumidifier unit for your application.

 

SMAC ENTERPRISES: info@airtreatment.co.za

We are sole distributors in South Africa representing Munters AirTech, we assist clients throughout South Africa: Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein etc as well as the entire Southern Africa region. We supply both commercial and industrial Munters dehumidifiers for all industries and applications that have humidity problems.