Avocado Cold Storage Room in Peru

Case Study: 17×12×3.1M Avocado Pre-Cooling Cold Storage in Peru | Bitzer 20HP Refrigeration System

Project Overview – Custom Avocado Cold Storage in Peru

This turnkey cold storage project is constructed in Peru’s main avocado producing area, specially built for fresh avocado short-term pre-cooling and temporary warehousing before export.

- Inner dimension: 17m × 12m × 3.1m

- Design storage temperature: +10℃ constant temperature

- Main usage: Post-harvest pre-cool, slow down fruit respiration, avoid premature ripening and peel blackening for export-grade avocados

- Core refrigeration setup: 2 sets Bitzer 20HP condensing unit (XJB20MBBGWJ-FB) + 2pcs DL42/503E-FB ceiling evaporators

Our team finished full service including thermal insulation enclosure construction, refrigeration piping, equipment installation, system commissioning and customer operation training to match Peru’s subtropical high ambient climate and export cold chain standards.

Client Background & Original Storage Pain Points

The client is a local Peru avocado plantation & export enterprise, supplying fresh avocados to North America and European markets. Before building this dedicated cold storage, fruits were stored under natural shade space with obvious drawbacks:

1. Fast fruit ripening: Field high ambient temperature accelerates avocado respiration, lots of fruits overripe during transit and get rejected by overseas importers.

2. High commodity loss: Uneven ambient humidity causes peel blemish and mildew, around 15% avocados discarded every harvest season.

3. Unstable delivery schedule: Without pre-cooling space, fruits have to be shipped right after picking, unable to flexibly arrange container loading according to shipping schedule.

To improve finished fruit yield and stabilize export business, the customer invested in this fixed +10℃ constant-temperature avocado cold storage.

Cold Room Insulation & Internal Layout Design

3.1 Thermal Insulation Structure

Whole wall and roof adopt high-density polyurethane insulated sandwich panels with excellent heat insulation and moisture resistance, effectively isolate outdoor high heat of Peru’s harvest season and lock stable indoor temperature. One set of insulated sliding cold door is reserved for forklift and fruit basket access to cut cold leakage during frequent loading/unloading.

3.2 Temperature Standard

Set stable operating temperature at 10℃ ±0.5℃, the optimal pre-cool parameter to restrain avocado respiratory intensity, extend shelf life and meet international fresh fruit export quarantine requirement.

Full Refrigeration System Configuration with Original Bitzer Parts

All refrigeration equipment is configured targeting Peru local high outdoor temperature environment:

1. Outdoor Condensing Unit: 2
   
2. XJB20MBBGWJ-FB air-cooled condensing units equipped with Germany Bitzer 20HP compressors, installed outdoor beside cold storage. Bitzer compressor features reliable high-temperature running performance, stable cooling capacity under Peru’s hot summer climate and low failure rate for long-term continuous operation.
   

2. Indoor Evaporator: 2 sets DL42/503E-FB ceiling type air coolers evenly mounted on warehouse ceiling to form circulating cold airflow, eliminate indoor temperature dead zone and realize even cooling for stacked avocado fruit baskets.

5. Turnkey Construction & Project Implementation Steps

1. On-site measuring & layout confirmation based on client’s basket stacking and forklift turnover plan

2. Factory pre-produce PU insulation panels and cold door accessories

3. On-site panel assembling, ground dampproof construction and enclosure sealing work

4. Outdoor unit fixing, copper pipeline welding and refrigerant piping layout

5. Indoor evaporator hoisting, electric control cabinet installation and circuit wiring

6. System vacuum treatment, refrigerant charging, full-load cooling test & temperature fine adjustment

7. Project acceptance + on-site operator training for daily cold room management

Actual Operation Benefits After Commissioning

1. Dramatically cut fruit rejection rate: Under stable 10℃ pre-cool condition, avocado overripe & defective rate drops from original 15% down below 4%, greatly raise qualified export volume.

2. Flexible shipment arrangement: Client can stock harvested avocados temporarily and arrange container loading as per ocean shipping schedule instead of rush delivery.

3. Energy-efficient stable running: Matched Bitzer refrigeration system reduces comprehensive power consumption compared with locally assembled irregular cold units.

4. Reasonable space capacity: The whole warehouse can hold bulk packed avocados for batch pre-cooling, fully satisfy daily pre-processing demand of the plantation’s picking output.

7. Our Advantages for South America Fruit Cold Storage Projects

- Mature design experience for Peru, Chile, Ecuador tropical & subtropical fruit cold storage (avocado, mango, citrus, banana)

- Genuine Bitzer compressor with accessible spare parts supply in South America market

- Custom insulation thickness & air cooler layout designed according to local annual average ambient temperature

- Full one-stop service: design, production, shipment, on-site installation and after-sales maintenance

8. Free Custom Cold Storage Solution Inquiry

If you need customized pre-cool cold storage for avocado, citrus, berries and other fresh fruits in Peru and South America, send your warehouse size, storage goods and target temperature, our engineering team will provide free layout design and formal quotation.