Challenge
A long-established animal feed manufacturer in Portugal was working on a new granulated feed product for cattle. During the manufacturing process, the product reaches relatively high temperatures and post-manufacture storage was an issue. Although most animal feed can be easily stored at ambient temperatures, the company was finding that the new product – given the high temperatures reached during manufacture – was susceptible to contamination by worms if then stored at ambient temperatures.
The company wanted to test if rapidly reducing the temperature of the product post-manufacture – by placing it in cold storage at below-zero temperatures – would solve the problem.
Solution
The manufacturer learned of Trane Rental’s cold storage capability through a standard mail-out and got in touch. The Trane Rental team visited the factory site to discuss the issues and recommended two large, 6m Container Fresh & Frozen (CFF) units. The unique CFF units are energy-efficient with an advanced temperature management control system that delivers extremely precise temperature control +/- 0.25°C in chilled mode and +/- 1°C in frozen mode.
The customer initially tested the units at -10°C for a week. This had the desired effect and prevented worms from growing. However, the company was keen to speed up the chilling process and carried out a series of further tests, storing the product in temperatures ranging from -10°C to -18°C.
Results
The Trane containerized cold store units, which were first launched in 2021 for the marine market, can reach and maintain box temperature – even in the toughest conditions – between -30°C and +30°C. The innovative, state-of-the-art temperature management control system features advanced control algorithms, faster processor and PT1000 control sensors.
The unit’s technology is a game changer in terms of energy efficiency. The highly precise level of control can help reduce energy consumption by as much as 20%. The company’s tests with the Trane Rental CFF units have proved a real success and the initial rental contract has now been extended. If production volumes increase, the company may also expand storage capacity still further.
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