How to Convert a Freezer Room into a Blast Freezer?

Converting a standard freezer room into a blast freezer is not simply a matter of turning down the temperature dial; it is a systematic project involving equipment performance evaluation, parameter resetting, and operational procedure adjustments. A standard freezer room (typically maintained at -18°C) is mainly used for long-term storage, while the core mission of a blast freezer is to rapidly bring the core temperature of food through the "zone of maximum ice crystal formation" (-1°C to -5°C) within a short time (usually 2-4 hours). To achieve this functional conversion, professional modifications and adjustments must be made from the following key dimensions:

I. Evaluate and Upgrade the Core Refrigeration System

A blast freezer requires significantly higher refrigeration capacity than a standard freezer room. A standard freezer room typically matches 10-15 kW per 100 square meters, while a blast freezer requires 20-30 kW. Therefore, the first step is to assess whether the existing compressor can support this. If the original unit is fixed-speed or lacks sufficient capacity, it must be upgraded to a high-efficiency variable-frequency screw-type blast freezing unit to provide strong cooling output. Additionally, the standard air cooler must be replaced with a high-power, high-airflow dedicated blast freezer air cooler to ensure that cold air can forcefully penetrate the products.

II. Reset Temperature Control Parameters (SP Value)

On the control panel, the target temperature (SP value) must be significantly lowered from the conventional -18°C to a range of -30°C to -40°C. Due to the large temperature difference, avoid setting the SP value to the lowest level at once. The correct approach is to cool down in stages: first set the SP value to around -10°C, and after the room temperature stabilizes and drops, gradually lower it to -20°C, and finally stabilize at the blast freezing target value of around -35°C. This effectively prevents the compressor from triggering protective shutdown due to sudden load increases.

III. Optimize Airflow and Product Placement Inside the Room

Blast freezing performance heavily depends on the efficiency of cold air circulation. Before loading, products must be divided into flat blocks with a thickness not exceeding 5 cm, and surface moisture should be wiped dry. When placing, maintain a gap of at least 10-30 cm between the products and the walls and fans, and the stacking height must never exceed the air outlet of the air cooler, ensuring effective cold air circulation and avoiding localized "heat island effects".

IV. Strengthen Insulation and Defrost Management

The temperature difference between the inside and outside of a blast freezer is significant. If the original insulation layer thickness is insufficient (less than 150 mm), it can lead to cold loss and external condensation. If necessary, high-density polyurethane insulation panels must be added or replaced. Additionally, since the blast freezing process tends to cause frost buildup on the evaporator, the defrost cycle should be shortened, and hot gas defrosting technology should be prioritized to ensure heat exchange efficiency.

Converting a freezer room into a blast freezer requires the dual coordination of hardware and software. If the original equipment foundation is weak, forcing the temperature adjustment will not only fail to achieve blast freezing results but will also severely shorten equipment lifespan. It is recommended that a professional refrigeration engineer conduct an on-site survey and system modification to ensure blast freezing quality and proper operation.

Company Profile:

Senbin Holdings provides services on how to convert a freezer room into a blast freezer. Our core business includes: cold chain cold storage, refrigeration compressor units, chillers/clean rooms, warehousing facilities and equipment, refrigeration components, refrigeration and insulation equipment, blast freezing/ice-making equipment, etc. Reasons to choose us: numerous successful cases, excellent reputation, reliable and trustworthy, equipped with imported compressors, more efficient cooling, intelligent energy saving, saving up to 30% in costs compared to alternatives. For example, questions you may have such as: How to adjust the temperature of a freezer room to blast freezing? How to switch a freezer room to blast freezing mode? How to modify the space of a freezer room for blast freezing? Feel free to call us for consultation; Senbin Holdings is at your service.