Kypraiou Christos, Varzakas Theodoros
Master's Program in Quality and Technology Management, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece.
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of the Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece.
Foods. 2025 Jun 28;14(13):2298. doi: 10.3390/foods14132298.
This review paper addresses the design and testing of ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, highlighting their critical functions in various industries, particularly foods, medicine, and research. ULT freezers operating at temperatures of -86 °C and lower have come a long way with improvements in freezing technology, for instance, from traditional vapor compression systems to new multi-stage refrigeration technologies. This progress has added operational reliability and energy efficiency, essential for preserving delicate samples and facilitating groundbreaking research. The article deeply explores the contribution of refrigerants to ULT freezer efficiency and sustainability. With the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), previously reliant on them, being prohibited due to environmental concerns, the sector opted for environmentally friendly substitutes like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), natural refrigerants, and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Regulatory compliance is ensured by rigid validation protocols to guarantee ULT freezers are safe and meet quality requirements without compromising the integrity of the stored material. In addition to their wide-ranging advantages, ULT freezers also have disadvantages, such as energy efficiency, incorporating automation, the integration of IoT and AI for proactive maintenance, and the development of environmentally sustainable refrigerants. Adequate management strategies, including regular employee training and advanced monitoring systems, are vital to counteract threats from temperature variations and reduce long-term diminished performance. Finally, subsequent innovations in ULT freezer technology will not only aid in research and medical initiatives but also support sustainable practices, ensuring their core role as beacons of innovation in preserving the quality of precious biological materials and increasing public health gains.
这篇综述文章论述了超低温（ULT）冷冻箱的设计与测试，着重介绍了它们在各个行业，尤其是食品、医药和研究领域的关键作用。随着冷冻技术的进步，运行温度在-86°C及以下的超低温冷冻箱已经取得了长足的发展，例如，从传统的蒸汽压缩系统发展到新的多级制冷技术。这一进展提高了运行可靠性和能源效率，对于保存精密样本和推动开创性研究至关重要。文章深入探讨了制冷剂对超低温冷冻箱效率和可持续性的贡献。由于环境问题，以前依赖的氯氟烃（CFCs）已被禁止使用，该行业选择了氢氟烃（HFCs）、天然制冷剂和氢氟烯烃（HFOs）等环保替代品。严格的验证协议确保了法规合规性，以保证超低温冷冻箱安全且符合质量要求，同时不损害所储存材料的完整性。除了具有广泛的优势外，超低温冷冻箱也存在一些缺点，比如能源效率、自动化集成、物联网和人工智能在预防性维护方面的整合，以及环境可持续制冷剂的开发。包括定期员工培训和先进监测系统在内的适当管理策略，对于应对温度变化带来的威胁以及减少长期性能下降至关重要。最后，超低温冷冻箱技术的后续创新不仅将有助于研究和医疗项目，还将支持可持续实践，确保它们在保护珍贵生物材料质量和提高公众健康收益方面作为创新灯塔的核心作用。
