Recent Trends in Cold Storage Systems

Abstract

The cold storage is a big room or commercial building used to store perishable items like vegetables, fruits, fish, milk products, meat, etc. under controlled conditions where temperature, humidity, etc. are controlled for a longer duration. Different types of cold storages are available and selection of cold storage is based on the application. In recent years, solar hybrid cold storage systems are getting popular due to lower operating cost and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Also, thermal energy storage systems with phase change materials are being used in cold storage systems. The new technologies are developed to reduce the energy consumption of cold storage systems. The quality of the perishable items stored in the cold storage may be retained by applying nano coating on the fruits. This chapter reviews cold storage systems, elements of cold storage, design of cold storage, application of phase change and nano particles in cold storage system.