SUPERMARKET REFRIGERATION
When prevention is better than cure
Supermarket refrigeration has an essential role to play in keeping our food fresh. However, there are many challenges surrounding the chillers used in the refrigeration system, including the production of large amounts of condensate, leaks, dirt and blockages. So, what’s the answer to keeping supermarket refrigeration in good working order? Stuart Newbury at Aspen Pumps talks us through the challenges and explains why the correct servicing and maintenance routine is the solution.
C
hillers used in supermarket refrigeration produce a significant amount of condensate and so need effective condensate pumps to pump away the water. However, there are additional challenges in this application thanks to the inevitable food debris and bacteria found in this environment.
The chiller condensate tray offers ideal conditions for microbes to quickly multiply: moist, and with a constant supply of food particles. As the microbes grow, they excrete an exopolysaccharide layer – known as slime. This protective biofilm further allows microscopic organisms to flourish.
Blockages
If the slime blocks the condensate pipe then the condensate pump will not be able to pump out the slime, which could result in the reservoir overflowing and water
30 October 2019
flooding the floor. As well as the loss of shelf space and sales opportunities until the chillers are back up and running, these leaks drastically increase the risk of accidents due to slips on the floor, which poses a huge potential cost for supermarkets.
Slime can block up the condensate pump, pipe and drain and if it attaches to the float in the condensate pump it can prevent the float from operating the pump or can force the pump to believe there is water present, meaning the condensate pump motor will continue to run until the motor burns out. Both scenarios cause the reservoir to overflow and therefore result in leaks. If the refrigeration system isn’t cleaned properly and thoroughly treated the condensate pipe will continue to block and leaks will keep occurring. Biofilm is difficult to combat since it can become immune to individual cleaning treatments. It’s also not soluble in water so
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