By Massimo Moscati
It may seem trivial but not all are aware of the central role played by refrigeration in our life. The function of the refrigeration is essential in many sectors and its importance will go on growing in the future. Here are some of the main functions and trends concerning the refrigeration that will increasingly consolidate tomorrow:
- Food conservation: The refrigeration will remain fundamental for the conservation of foods, contributing in decreasing food wastes and in ensuring the food safety. The most efficient and sustainable refrigeration systems will be increasingly in demand.
- Cold chain: With the increase of the global trade, the cold chain, which includes refrigeration and freezing during the transport, will become even more crucial to preserve the freshness and the quality of food and pharmaceutical products.
- Sustainable technologies: More sustainable refrigeration systems are under development, like those with low carbon emissions and with natural refrigerants, to face the climatic change and to reduce the environmental impact.
- Intelligent residential and commercial refrigeration: The integration of the IoT (Internet of Things) technology into refrigeration systems will enable the monitoring and the remote management, improving the energy efficiency and the practicality for consumers.
- Use of renewable energies: The refrigeration systems of the future could integrate renewable energy sources, like the solar, to further decrease carbon emissions and energy costs.
- Industrial and therapeutical applications: In addition to foods, the refrigeration will play a rising role in the conservation of biologic samples, drugs and other industrial and medical applications, such as the cryopreservation.
- Refrigeration in extreme climates: Owing to the climatic change, there will be a growing need for refrigeration technologies to manage the effects of extreme temperatures, for both the human comfort and for the conservation of resources.
In brief: the refrigeration function will go on evolving, accepting the ecologic, economic and social challenges, with a growing importance in daily life and in industries.
