Applications of refrigeration : industrial processes

In the previous article (General) [BE 9 755] , we showed the extreme diversity of body properties and transformation mechanisms that can be strongly affected by a drop in temperature. So it's hardly surprising that cold is used in a wide variety of ways in most industrial sectors.

The food industry is the sector most concerned by the use of refrigeration. The associated functions include preserving the organoleptic properties and sanitary qualities of products, controlling fermentation processes (particularly for wine and beer), concentrating juices and dehydrating products.

The processing industries concerned are the plastics industry, for mold temperature control; the rubber industry, for cryo-grinding techniques; and the mechanical engineering industry, for shrink-fitting techniques, material hardening and surface treatment. More generally, compressed air dehumidification makes extensive use of refrigeration techniques.

The production and liquefaction of industrial gases and the liquefaction and purification of hydrocarbon gases represent a major economic challenge. For the most part, these processes involve refrigeration systems that call on particularly complex cycles and component technologies.

The treatment of waste (gaseous, liquid, solid) today makes increasing use of refrigeration and cryogenic techniques: for example, the capture of VOC vapors (volatile organic compounds) is frequently based on low-temperature condensation and adsorption, while the purification of liquid effluents can be based on freezing or crystallization techniques.

Cooling applications in civil engineering have been developing for many years, whether for soil consolidation during the construction of underground structures (tunnels, subway networks, etc.) or for cooling large concrete structures.

Leisure activities have also benefited from advances in refrigeration technology, whether in the well-known field of ice rinks or in the more recent and rapidly expanding field of artificial snow production.