Dehumidification solves problems in small chilled stores

Controlling and limiting the humidity is key

Problems can be solved my means of dehumidification, lowering the relative humidity to maximum 70 % RH. At this level, condensation and following growth of mold- and fungus will not occur. The need for defrosting in the chilled stores will also be reduced significantly, since evaporators will no longer be blocked by ice formations. This will prevent the fluctuations in temperature that is caused by defrosting.

A Munters desiccant dehumidifier can be installed either outside or directly inside the chilled store, since the desiccant principle is not being affected by low ambient temperatures, as what happens to refrigerant dehumidifiers. Thanks to the desiccant principle, dehumidifiers can also operate directly inside cold stores, at minus degrees. For that specific application, Munters designed the award winning IceDry®dehumidifier.

Laboratories
Six cold stores at the University of Copenhagen provide storage and cultivation of algae cultures in nutrient-rich water for research and education. Previously, problems were experienced with mold and fungus growth on walls, curtains, and test tubes and the labels became illegible. Six Munters’ dehumidifiers were fitted outside the cold stores, blowing the dehumidified air into the rooms. The relative humidity is now kept constant, at 60 % RH, and these problems are avoided.

Catering centers
At Novo Nordisk’s Hvidøre training facility in Klampenborg, a cold store is used to store homemade products and maturing meat. The desire here is to purchase whole animals for maturing to ensure optimal quality, however, the hung animals began to spoil prematurely due to excessively high relative humidity.

Munters installed a smaller dehumidifier in the actual cold store, which now ensures that the relative humidity remains, and that the meat matures under the right hygienic conditions.