Design of a Cold Storage with R507A Refrigerant for the Preservation of Twenty-Five Tons of Apples in the Ankara Province

Abstract

In the absence of proper humidity and temperature conditions, undried fresh foods will experience physiological and biological deterioration, resulting in mass loss and the development of mold. Thanks to this rationale, humanity has endeavored to keep food products from deteriorating. This can be observed through the use of cold rooms constructed by the Ancient Romans using clay and the cooling chambers known as "Yakhchāl" developed by the Persians. The advancement of refrigeration technology has persisted since the era of ancient civilizations. The advent of refrigeration cycles has significantly streamlined the implementation of containment technology. The presence of these systems in residential settings can be attributed to the development of the vapor compression refrigeration cycle and the compact nature of this technology, which enables convenient freezing or cooling of products for storage purposes. Vapor compression refrigeration cycles are still widely employed in various applications, such as office and automotive air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and industrial cold rooms. This study aims to develop an industrial cold room design tailored explicitly for storing and transporting apples, a perishable agricultural commodity. The primary objective is to ensure that the apples are maintained in optimal humidity and temperature conditions, thereby preventing any degradation, even when handling large quantities in Ankara.