Cryogenic cooling

What is cryogenic refrigeration?

The special feature of cryogenic refrigeration is that products can be stored and transported at very low temperatures. Dry ice changes from a solid to a gaseous state, sublimating at -78.5°C. Cryogenic refrigeration is ideal for transporting frozen products in isothermal containers.

Cryogenic cold comes in the form of blocks, plates, pellets, grains of rice or snow. Dry ice is produced from CO2 gas, a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas.

How do you measure dry ice in an isothermal container? Get in touch with us and we’ll calculate the weight of refrigerant you need, based on the isothermal container you’re using and the intended transport time.

What is the advantage of cryogenic refrigeration?

Its solid form provides far greater cooling power than that produced by eutectic plates. Cryogenic refrigeration is the perfect ally for low temperatures, such as vaccines, and for frozen products that need to be transported without breaking the cold chain throughout.

Dry ice, also known as dry ice, is a solid form of carbon dioxide that comes in blocks, plates, sticks and pellets. It has a negative temperature of -78.5°C and sublimates, releasing cold without leaving any residue.

OLIVO advises against the direct use of CO2 ice for transporting fresh products, which would be damaged by freezing.

Comment fonctionne le froid cryogénique ?

Warm air has a lower density than cold air. The air therefore rises naturally, a process known as convection. This convection is encouraged by the convection channels in OLIVO containers. The hot air in contact with the cold surface of the ice drawer’s diffuser heats up the solid CO2, which sublimates. This sublimation generates energy that cools the air. The density of the air increases and it sinks to the bottom of the container.

For products that need to be kept at a very low temperature, such as lactic ferments, it is advisable to place the dry ice inside the load: this is the mille-feuilles technique, one layer of products, one layer of CO2 ice.

Apart from the specific mille-feuilles technique, we advise against placing the dry ice directly in the batch. The load in contact with the dry ice will be unnecessarily very cold, while other parts will warm up because they are poorly irrigated by the cold gas.

When refrigeration is added to the inside of an insulated container, the aim is to maintain the inside temperature for longer, i.e. for the duration of the transport. How much CO2 ice should I bring?

OLIVO can provide you with a chart showing the weight of dry ice required to achieve the desired result, depending on the environment and the duration of the transport.

The energy input in the form of CO2 ice must be sufficient to compensate for the heat input from the insulated container during transport.

What are the advantages of cryogenic refrigeration?

1. Quality

Cryogenic refrigeration using dry ice is non-toxic and non-flammable, with no odours or flavours, and prevents the proliferation of bacteria. Products are stored and preserved without temperature variation, even at temperatures below -18°C. The cold chain is respected.

2. Flexibility

Frozen products, lactic ferments, vaccines… Cryogenic refrigeration gives you real logistical flexibility.

3. Cost optimisation

Thanks to the minimum weight of dry ice during transport and the fact that you don’t need to buy a refrigerated lorry, you can avoid heavy investment and increase storage capacity for your deliveries using your small or large van. We offer a wide range of boxes with different volumes to suit the size of your vehicle.

4. Performance

Cryogenic cold cools much faster than water ice, and dry ice is up to 3 times more efficient than water ice. The most fragile food products remain intact. Cryogenic refrigeration preserves the freshness and quality of your fresh and frozen products, even when it’s very hot and delivery is interrupted by frequent stoppages.

5. An innovative, environmentally-friendly solution

Noise pollution is reduced without a refrigerated box, and the carbon footprint is smaller than with more conventional solutions. What’s more, our insulated boxes are recycled when they reach the end of their life.

What are the applications of cryogenic refrigeration?

Cryogenic refrigeration is used in many industries, including the following:

• Food industry
• Medical sector
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Scientific research…

Whatever your sector of activity and your needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team will do its utmost to find the solution that’s right for you.

ADR marking

In Europe, the road transport of dangerous goods is governed by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods. This agreement is known as the ADR.

Dry ice can create a dangerous atmosphere. Insulated containers with a capacity of more than 1 m3 must be specifically marked during transport to indicate the presence of dry ice. This may be a BAC-type insulated container delivering CO2 ice (full load) or a refrigerated ROLL with dry ice (refrigerant dose).

The ADR marking is intended to indicate the presence of dry ice and to make users and operators in the transport chain aware of the safety instructions.
ADR marking is required if :

• You use an insulated BAC to transport CO2 ice. In this case, dry ice is considered to be a conditioning agent within the meaning of the ADR.
• You use an insulated ROLL-OFF for refrigeration using dry ice. In this case, CO2 ice is considered to be a refrigerant within the meaning of the ADR.

You can download the OLIVO summary of ADR marking requirements.

Remember to check the marking obligations specific to your territory. The ADR text can be downloaded from the UNECE website.