How can I improve the quality of my chicory (roots) and save energy?
Do you want to improve the quality of your chicory, reduce your energy costs and make your production process more sustainable at the same time? With Equans’ innovative and sustainable cooling technology, it is possible to control the three essential elements during the storage of chicory:
- Temperature
- Air humidity
- Air circulation
Unlike temperature and humidity, air is difficult to control. But with Equans’ cooling technology, cold air reaches all the chicory roots in the storage cell. The secret? Energy-efficient EC motors with variable speed and alternating power. This eliminates ‘dead spots’ in air distribution, temperature differences in the cell and ice forming on fan blades or boxes.
Optimum storage conditions
Optimal storage conditions ensure that the chicory roots are of the highest quality, even after 10 to 12 months of storage. As a result, chicory roots of unparalleled quality are obtained during the harvesting phase.
The mechanical refrigeration system at chicory producer Nature’s Gold in Zundert is proof of this. This method of storage is very energy-efficient, sustainable and future-proof thanks to the use of natural refrigerants. Director Gijs van Dongen: Thanks to the controlled storage conditions, even the lower quality roots recover during storage. This allows me to store all my chicory roots for a year with good results, without dehydration and with significantly lower energy costs.
