INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
TECHNICAL
Ammonia and CO 2 provide a natural refrigerant alternative and are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower environmental impact . However , they require special handling and safety precautions due to their flammability and toxicity .
REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION SOLUTIONS
For meat processing , finding and fixing refrigerant leaks quickly is critical for product safety and quality , and also for minimising environmental harm , ensuring regulatory compliance , and enhancing energy efficiency . To support a rapid leak detection , notification , and consequential repair to assist in minimising refrigerant emissions , there are a number of solutions that can be categorized as background monitoring , localised leak detection , and integrated IoT solutions to improve efficiencies . For large scale meat processing sites , an aspirated detection system would be the most effective and efficient considering the high sensitivity , wide coverage and remote sampling functionality :
• High sensitivity : Aspirated systems , also known as active air sampling systems , can detect even very low concentrations of refrigerant gases . They use a pump to continuously aspirate air samples , ensuring high sensitivity and quick response to leaks .
• Wide coverage : Aspirated systems are designed to cover larger areas . They use a network of sampling points , allowing them to monitor extensive spaces effectively . This feature makes them suitable for large supermarkets with complex refrigeration systems .
• Remote sampling : Aspirated systems can sample air from various locations , which is particularly useful in supermarkets where refrigeration units might be dispersed across different sections of the store .
A further integration that would help support a rapid refrigerant leak response and repair would be to integrate the detection equipment with a cloud-based solution . Cloud-based monitoring solutions collect data from the fixed leak detection hardware installed within the meat processing facility . This connected solution then provides secure , remote access , allowing authorized personnel to monitor the system ' s status from anywhere . Cloud platforms often come with analytics tools that provide insights into system performance and trends . BMS software can integrate refrigerant monitoring as part of its functions . BMS continuously monitors various building systems , including refrigeration . It provides real-time data and can be configured to send alerts via email , SMS , or in-app notifications when leaks are detected . CLA
REFERENCES :
1 . National Library of Medicine , ‘ Microbial Communities of Meat and Meat Products : An Exploratory Analysis of the Product Quality and Safety at Selected Enterprises in South Africa ’ ( https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC7997435 /)
2 . United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ), ‘ Beef from Farm to Table ’ ( https :// www . fsis . usda . gov / food-safety / safe-foodhandling-and-preparation / meat-fish / beef-farm-table ), ‘ Fresh Pork from Farm to Table ’ ( https :// www . fsis . usda . gov / food-safety / safe-food-handling-andpreparation / meat-fish / fresh-pork-farmtable ), and ‘ Lamb from Farm to Table ’ ( https :// www . fsis . usda . gov / food-safety / safe-food-handling-and-preparation / meatfish / lamb-farm-table )
3 . MSA Safety , ‘ New Rules of Refrigeration Leak Protection : What You Should Know ’ ( https :// blog . msasafety . com / new-rules-ofrefrigeration-leak-protection-what-youshould-know /)
4 . Environment Agency , United Kingdom , ‘ How to comply with your environmental permit Additional guidance for : The Red Meat Processing ( Cattle , Sheep and Pigs ) Sector ( EPR 6.12 )’ ( https :// assets . publishing . service . gov . uk / media / 5a7c5180e5274a1b00422f54 / geho0209bpja-e-e . pdf )
Multi zone refrigerant leak monitors – meat processing facility .
Multi zone refrigerant leak monitors with cloud connectivity – meat processing facility .
COLD LINK AFRICA • July / August 2024 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 29