Agricultural

Searle's range of bespoke and standard range agricultural products are suitable for a wide range of applications and produce.

Refrigerated storage systems in the agricultural sector are essential because they extend the period of acceptable eating quality for seasonal, perishable products.  In an appropriate storage environment, the flavour, colour, weight and texture required for a product's marketability can be maintained to as near the harvested quality as possible.  This quality will gain the best market price for longer.  Therefore, in order to gain maximum profitability from a given crop, a refrigerated storage system must efficiently and consistently maintain the correct temperature and level of relative humidity. 

Different products require different storage criteria to maintain ideal conditions.  For example, onions require storage with carefully regulated ventilation and refrigerated cooling to dry the crop and maintain low humidity in the store.  Potatoes need coolers operating on a close temperature difference to maintain their weight and condition.  The design of the store layout and air flow, as well as the choice of refrigeration equipment, becomes vitally important.

Searle, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of high-quality cooling products, offers a wide range of solutions for agricultural refrigeration, both standard and special.  In addition, Searle also offers unmatched technical support and excellent manufacturing capability and capacity.  Based on many years experience in this market-place, Searle can combine these resources to work with customers in designing and manufacturing bespoke solutions to meet any agricultural storage application.  These could include coolers, condensers or dry coolers, special materials (including stainless and galvanised steel), ammonia or glycol systems, defrost options, hygiene solutions etc..

Searle’s extensive portfolio of standard products for this market-place includes coolers, air-cooled condensers and dry air coolers all of which are certified under the Eurovent “Certify-all” scheme.  This provides assurance, through independent product testing, that duty and noise data are stated accurately.  This allows refrigeration systems to be designed with confidence using correctly sized and matched equipment, leading to lower capital outlay and reduced running costs through improved energy efficiency.  Unit selection is made easy using Searle’s Selection Software Program.

All Searle’s coolers have many coil and fan options so that a perfect match can be found for every storage or blast freezing application in terms of cooling capacity, air throw, air volume, temperature range and temperature difference.  Many defrost options can be specified and units can be used with a number of different refrigerants, including ammonia, and glycol.

The robust SM cooler (12kW to 199kW) may be mounted flush to the ceiling or on a base.  It has a one-piece structural draintray which allows units to be lifted, fully assembled from underneath thus reducing installation time.  The double-skinned, insulated draintray also assists defrost in low temperature applications and prevents condensation in high temperature ones.  The cooler offers easy access for cleaning and maintenance.  The coil has been designed with a high fin area allowing frost to build up over a larger surface, reducing the number of defrost cycles, allowing the cooler to operate more efficiently for longer periods.

The FM floor-mounted cooler (19kW to 270kW) is based around the same coil as the SM cooler, offering the same benefits of efficiency and fewer defrost cycles.  The units are exceptionally robust and able to withstand typically demanding agricultural applications.  Air discharge can be vertical or horizontal, with many options such as rotating cowls and air-operated dampers.  Searle’s experienced sales team can offer advice on fans, airflow and unit location.

The LSR dual discharge cooler (13kW to 63kW) has been designed for use where low air velocities are required, such as in occupied areas, or where the advantages of dual air discharge suits the layout of the refrigerated space.  LSR units are fast and easy to install, and can be mounted flush to the ceiling (aiding hygiene requirements).  Hinged drain pans and fan plates are standard, as are removable access panels at each end, offering easy access for cleaning, maintenance and servicing.

Searle offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of Eurovent-certified air-cooled condensers in Europe.  With capacities ranging from 7.5kW up to 1330kW at nominal conditions, and with many fan/discharge options available, there is a condenser to suit all agricultural applications.  Units can be specified with a choice of coil materials giving added protection in aggressive atmospheres, and circuiting can be specified to suit the requirements and layout of the refrigeration system(s).  Flatbed units can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and V-bank units are available.  All Searle’s condensers can be configured to operate as dry-air liquid coolers.