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Blast freezing and food plant cooling that keeps the line moving.
In a food plant the freezer sets the speed of the whole line. If product comes out warm, the line slows down or the product fails. Blast coils need high airflow, heavy frost capacity and a defrost that gets them back online fast.
Blast freezers use high-capacity evaporators with high-velocity fans and wide fin spacing to freeze product quickly at air temperatures around -30 to -40°F. Spiral and tunnel freezers use the same principle in a continuous line.
What makes it hard.
The problems we size against.
Freezing time is throughput.
A slower freeze means fewer racks per shift. The coil and fans set how fast heat comes out of the product.
Frost loads are heavy.
Warm, wet product releases moisture that frosts the coil fast. The fin spacing and defrost have to keep up.
Sanitation matters.
Washdown areas need stainless casings and drain pans that clean easily.
How the system works.
From the load to the air, in four steps.
- Warm product goes in.
Trays, carts or a belt bring product into the freezer.
- High-velocity air strips the heat.
Fans drive very cold air across and through the product.
- The coil takes it.
A heavy-duty evaporator absorbs the heat into the refrigerant.
- Defrost and repeat.
Water, hot gas or electric defrost restores the coil between loads.
The equipment.
What goes into a food and blast freezing system.
Blast Freezers
Industrial Unit Coolers
Customized Heat ExchangersQuestions about food and blast freezing
What is the difference between a blast freezer and a holding freezer?
A blast freezer pulls product temperature down fast with high airflow and very cold air. A holding freezer keeps already-frozen product at temperature with much lower airflow.
What air temperature does a blast freezer run at?
Commonly -30 to -40°F air, depending on the product and the freezing time required.
Which defrost suits a blast freezer?
Water defrost and hot gas defrost clear heavy frost fastest. Electric and air defrost suit smaller units. The selection follows the refrigeration plant.
Send the heat load.
Loop temperatures, flow and site. A sized selection comes back.