Not only in the food business but commercial refrigerators have significant use in the floral and pharmaceutical industries as well.
Commercial refrigerators, to make them better, more reliable, and more cost-efficient have gone through significant changes throughout history before they were available in their present form. But have you ever wondered, where did it all start? Who thought that there was a need for commercial refrigeration and then worked to make what is now the most important piece of machinery for the food and beverage industry in Australia?
In this article, we are going to take you on a tour of the history of commercial refrigeration in Australia. Where, when, and how did it begin? And did you know, the genius who invented commercial refrigerators was an Aussie? Read on to find out more!
To keep it preserved for later use, food needs to be kept at a certain temperature and in certain conditions. Thankfully, we have modern state-of-the-art refrigerators today that make food storage convenient and help us keep it fresh for a longer period of time. But how did civilisation preserve food before the invention of refrigerators?
Interestingly, before the advent of refrigeration, ice holes, holes in the ground, and other storage cabinets were used to do the job of a modern-day refrigerator. Holes were dug in the snow during winter to store food in them, ice cabinets were made by putting ice in wooden or metal cabinets, and food was stored in them.
Although ice holes and cold cabinets got the job done for a while, these methods weren’t very efficient. A warmer than regular winter day meant all your stored food had gone bad. Ice had to be bought and stocked in the ice cabinets every day to prevent the food from rotting.
We needed a better way of storing and preserving food for longer use. A way that was hassle free, reliable, and cost efficient. Hence, the need for refrigeration arose.
So how did the invention of the commercial refrigerator take place? You might not believe it but this significant mechanical invention happened as a result of an Australian man’s determination to enjoy a cold beer! James Harrison, an Australian man, developed a refrigeration system in 1854 that removed ice as an essential component in keeping food and drink products cool.
People used ice cubes back then to chill their beer but the ice, as it melted, diluted the beverage, ruining its taste. James, also a journalist, set out to find a solution to chill beer without the use of ice.
Today, after multiple changes in design, we have that invention in the form of modern-day commercial refrigerators! Let’s see how James’s refrigerator worked!
James used a vapour compression system in his refrigerator. Using ether as a refrigerant, James created a system that worked according to the principles of the second law of thermodynamics.
Using a compressor, ether was forced to pass through a condenser where it cooled down and turned into liquid. This liquid ether then passed through the coils of the fridge where it heated up and turned into gas. This process caused the dispersion of heat from within the refrigerator to the outside. This system of refrigeration, highly efficient at that time, formed the base on which modern-day refrigeration stands. If you'd like to learn more about how a commercial refrigeration cooling system works, check out our article here.
Although this system is efficient, it still needed some design changes to make it suitable for commercial use. Commercial refrigerators we have today work on very similar mechanics to that of James’s refrigerator but since it’s been almost 2 centuries, there have been some significant changes to the designs.
These changes have made the system even more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Instead of ether, better refrigerants are used which increase system efficiency. However, we still owe the luxury of modern day domestic refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning to James Harrison and his system.
Not surprisingly, the first business that commercially used James’s system of refrigeration was a brewing company. Glasgow & Co, a Bendigo-based brewery used his system for the first time for, yes you guessed it, chilling their beers!
Today, commercial refrigerators form the backbone of the food and beverage industry. These industrial scale refrigerators are used in supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Food and beverage warehouses use commercial fridges to store ingredients and products before they are shipped.
The invention of the commercial refrigerator dates back to 1854. James Harrison, using a vapour compression system, and ether as a refrigerant, made the world’s first commercial refrigerator. His system was highly efficient at the time and was first used by a brewing company to chill their beverages.
Today, modern commercial refrigerators work on the same principles as used in James’s refrigeration system, but with significant design changes.
