Rebuilding Mobile Cold Storage System to Maintain Fishery Product Quality
Abstract
The inadequate performance of the refrigeration compressor can limit the ability of a mobile cold storage system to maintain stable low temperatures during continuous operation, potentially affecting its application for fishery-product storage and distribution. This study aims at evaluating the technical performance of a rebuilt mobile cold storage system following the replacement of its original automotive air-conditioning compressor with a 1 HP air-conditioning compressor. An experimental case-study method was conducted using a 1,560-L mobile cold storage unit located at the Center for Testing the Application of Marine and Fisheries Products in East Jakarta. The rebuilding procedure comprised initial system inspection, removal of the existing compressor, modification of the compressor mounting, installation of the 1 HP compressor, reconnection of the suction and discharge refrigerant lines, electrical-system adjustment, system evacuation, refrigerant charging, leak inspection, and operational testing. Cooling performance was evaluated from the temperature reduction during an 8-h experimental test using 10 L of water as the test medium, with an initial temperature of approximately 30°C. The rebuilt system reduced the test-medium temperature from approximately 30°C to -4°C within 8 h and maintained stable cooling operation throughout the test period. These results demonstrate that replacement of the automotive air-conditioning compressor with a 1 HP air-conditioning compressor restored the cooling capability of the 1,560-L mobile cold storage system. The findings indicate that targeted compressor replacement, supported by appropriate mechanical, refrigerant-piping, and electrical modifications, provides a practical component-level rebuilding approach for restoring existing mobile cold storage systems used in fishery-product applications.
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