Design and performance evaluation of a cold storage room for bakery and frozen foods using coolselector®2 Software

Abstract

Efficient cold storage design is essential to preserve the quality and safety of perishable food products, especially in tropical environments. This study presents a simulation-based design of a cold storage room using Danfoss Coolselector®2 software to store a combination of bakery and frozen food products. The cold room was configured to operate continuously at 4 °C and 80% relative humidity, with a daily load of 2000 kg. Cooling load calculations included product cooling, conduction, and internal heat gains from lighting and equipment, resulting in a total required capacity of 2006 W. The selected system consists of an Optyma Plus condensing unit and a thermostatic expansion valve using R-404A refrigerant. Performance was evaluated through pressure drop analysis, refrigerant flow characteristics, and thermodynamic behavior on P-h diagrams. Results showed that the system met the cooling demand under ambient temperatures up to 35 °C with a COP ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 depending on evaporating conditions. This study demonstrates the value of integrating manufacturer-verified simulation tools for practical cold storage design in hot and humid climates.