London Tube Demonstrates Refrigeration Challenges
We know that when you contact Icecool Trailers for help with a walk-in chiller or refrigerated trailer you expect us to deliver a working unit. We work tirelessly to make sure that is exactly what each and every client gets. But what we do is not always easy. External refrigeration has its challenges that have to be overcome.
We thought it might be helpful to illustrate how difficult external refrigeration can be under certain conditions. To do so, we have chosen to talk about what's currently happening with the London Tube. As you know, some of the oldest Tube lines have no air-conditioning. Taking a journey across the city can expose passengers to heat in excess of 34°C on the hottest days.
The Main Problem
London's Tube system is one of the most reliable in the world. The problem faced by the older lines is their design. The original designers did not build in any means of installing air conditioning at a future date. Simply put, there is no room in either the lines or carriages to install cooling systems.
Air-conditioning is built around the principle of drawing out hot air, cooling it, and sending it back into the space. That's exactly what our external refrigeration units do. Warm air is drawn out of the cooling space, removed using a heat exchanger, and the cool air is pumped back in.
In the Tube however, there is no way to remove heat from the ambient air. Furthermore, every person who enters the Tube system brings additional heat into the environment. The lack of air conditioning leaves officials with just one option: pull cooler air in from the streets above while simultaneously removing warmer air already in the system.
Circulating air with large, industrial fans is really the only way to go. It helps a little bit, but not enough to make a notable difference if you're stuck in the Tube for an extended amount of time. Hot summer days can make travelling the Underground a nightmare.
External Refrigeration and Summer
We face a lot of the same challenges during the summer months. It's not hard to keep a refrigerated trailer at the right temperature when the weather is relatively cool. The heat of the summer is an entirely different matter. The hotter it is outside the harder a refrigerated trailer's condenser unit works.
One of the ways we beat the summer heat is with insulation. The better insulated a refrigerated trailer is, the easier it is to keep it cool on the hottest days. We also work hard to maintain compressors, condensers, and all the other equipment that works together to keep interior spaces cool. A well-maintained trailer or walk-in cold room performs better under extreme conditions.
We cannot do anything about the Tube, but we are standing by with external refrigeration solutions. If you're in need of a refrigerated trailer, freezer, or walk-in cold room, Icecool Trailers is the one to call.
Sources:
Express – https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/981640/uk-heatwave-London-underground-tube-temperature-met-office-forecast
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