Hydrocooling with hygienised water reuse for more efficient precooling

Improvements in the cold chain are allowing more fruits and vegetables to benefit from the rapid cooling provided by water. During the XXIV Postharvest Conference organised by IRTA Lleida, Laia Torregrosa, from Ilerfred, presented the positive results obtained with tomato and lettuce using a system already widely applied to other crops such as cherries and asparagus.

Ilerfred’s hydrocoolers include adaptations designed to reduce the impact of water droplets and avoid damage to the product. The company offers static systems with doors that make it easier for forklift operators to introduce the pallet to be precooled, as well as continuous systems for higher-volume operations.

Water consumption control and hygiene

Controlling water consumption while maintaining hygiene is one of the key requirements of hydrocooling.

Ilerfred and Ilerdagua work jointly in this field. Ilerdagua, together with IRTA researchers, has developed a system that maintains water hygiene through a series of treatment stages.

The water from the tank is reused through a cleaning system that first removes larger solids. This is followed by the application of an advanced pretreatment and an innovative filtration system, developed and patented by Ilerdagua, which removes smaller particles present in the water. Depending on the requirements, the process can also include a carbon filter and a disinfectant.

By combining Ilerfred’s hydrocooling technology with Ilerdagua’s hygienised water recirculation system, it is possible to carry out precooling with high water savings while helping to avoid cross-contamination.

In the main image, Laia Torregrosa explains Ilerfred’s hydrocooler options, accompanied by the Ilerdagua team, who later presented the water hygiene and reuse system with zero discharge and high water-saving efficiency.