Product cooling

Cooling tunnels are designed to carry out accelerated product cooling (blast chilling / freezing) within a small area whilst moving the product linearly as part of the production process.  The keys to successful rapid temperature reductions are knowledge of product (and packaging) thermal properties then applying the correct air temperatures and over-product velocities accordingly.

Individually Quick-Frozen applications provide some of the best product quality for frozen foods, as the product is passed through the freezer tunnel whilst air is blown from the underside of the belt generating a ‘Fluidized’ product. Freezing times are very short which reduces ice crystal formation and improving product quality.

Impingement methods use specially designed air distribution plates with nozzles and exhausts are used to generate high velocity air streams, which are directed at the product perpendicular to the surface. This method of cooling increases the heat transfer rate and therefore, provide effective fast processes where batch cooling is not desired.

Bespoke chambers are designed to carry out accelerated product cooling (blast chilling / freezing) often as a batch process.  The key to success with bespoke chambers is understanding production demands and limitations with knowledge of product (and packaging) thermal properties, then applying the correct air temperatures and over-product velocities accordingly.

Batch cooling is the process of cooling products in cycles.  The key to success with batch cooling is understanding the batch process, production requirements (such as loading rates), batch entry and exit temperatures, in addition to determining the best method of removing the heat. Knowledge of the product(s) being cooled is crucial to ensure that the cooling process is not detrimental to the quality of the product.

Our pallet cooling pods are installed within a cold store to allow the user to rapidly remove heat from a pallet of product without affecting the function of the cold store (as a chilled storage facility). The pod forms an enclosure around the pallet leaving one side exposed to the room and utilises the cooling equipment installed within the cold store rather than having its own refrigeration system. The pod is fitted with a fan, which increases the air flow over the product to remove heat faster than if the pallet was free standing within the store. The pod can be fitted with a temperature probe and illuminated beacon to signal when the product is cooled to the desired temperature. Multiple pods can be installed in one store or can be made portable.

JD Cooling have pioneered a revolution in hydrocooling, re-establishing it as the primary means of removing field heat from root crops like carrots, parsnips and new potatoes. We use much more re-circulating water than other manufacturers, with a unique coil design and improved filtration. The result is low, uniform crop temperatures and vastly enhanced quality. We also make stainless steel hydrocoolers for processed produce like peeled potatoes and carrots.

JD Cooling are specialists in the design and installation of secondary cooling (glycol) systems. Secondary cooling is the most practical way to cool potable towns (mains) water to use in process applications. The mains water is passed through a heat exchanger, which uses Food Safe Glycol on the primary side of the plate to cool the water down as low as +2°C. We use a valve arrangement and control system to maintain the water set point whilst preventing freezing of the water within the heat exchanger. Applications for this system include pasta refresh, batter mixing and post cook cooling of foods.