Workshop Refrigeration System

In a 1000 square meter factory workshop, selecting cooling equipment requires comprehensive consideration of the specific environment (such as ceiling height, heat source distribution, ventilation conditions, and local climate), budget, and cooling requirements. The following is a detailed analysis and recommended solutions for different scenarios:
I. Analysis of Core Influencing Factors
Workshop Environmental Characteristics
Ceiling Height: If the ceiling height is ≥4 meters, industrial large fans can be used to enhance air circulation; if the ceiling height is low, focus should be placed on overall cooling equipment.
Heat Source Type: For workshops with high heat sources such as mechanical processing or welding, the heat dissipation capacity of equipment should be prioritized; for personnel-intensive workshops, human comfort should be emphasized.
Ventilation Conditions: Enclosed workshops rely on mechanical refrigeration, while semi-open or windowed workshops can combine natural ventilation to reduce costs.
Climate Region: Dry northern regions are suitable for evaporative cooling, while humid southern regions should avoid increased humidity affecting effectiveness.
Budget and Operating Costs
Initial Investment: Central air conditioning > ducted air conditioning > evaporative air coolers > industrial fans + localized coolers.
Long-Term Energy Consumption: Evaporative air coolers (low) < industrial fans (low) < spray cooling (medium) < central air conditioning (high).
II. Recommended Solutions by Scenario
Scenario 1: High-temperature dry regions (e.g., northern or northwestern China) with good ventilation
Recommended Solution: Evaporative air coolers (water curtain fans) + roof exhaust fans
Configuration Suggestions:
Install 1 evaporative air cooler (power 1.5-3kW) per 100-150㎡; 6-8 units are needed for 1000㎡, with a total investment of approximately 80,000-120,000 RMB.
Install water curtains on one side of the workshop and fans on the opposite side to create convection; install roof exhaust fans (1 unit per 200㎡) to accelerate hot air expulsion.
Cooling Effect: Can reduce ambient temperature by 5-10℃, significantly improving perceived temperature; hourly electricity cost is about 10-15 RMB (calculated for 8 units running).
Advantages: Moderate investment, low energy consumption (about 1/5 of air conditioning), suitable for personnel-intensive or general production workshops.
Scenario 2: Humid southern regions or workshops sensitive to humidity (e.g., electronics, food processing)
Recommended Solution 1: Industrial large fans + coolers (localized cooling)
Configuration Suggestions:
Install industrial large fans (covering a diameter of 10-15 meters, each costing about 3,000-5,000 RMB); 4-6 units are needed for 1000㎡, with an investment of about 20,000-30,000 RMB.
In fixed work areas or near equipment heat sources, pair with mobile coolers (each costing about 2,000-3,000 RMB); 8-10 units are needed, with an investment of about 16,000-30,000 RMB.
Cooling Effect: Large fans enhance air circulation, coolers provide localized cooling of 8-12℃, improving overall perceived temperature; annual electricity cost is about 10,000-20,000 RMB.
Advantages: Low investment, flexible and adjustable, avoids increased humidity, suitable for workshops without overall cooling requirements.
Recommended Solution 2: Central air conditioning / ducted air conditioning (for precise temperature control needs)
Configuration Suggestions:
Use variable-frequency central air conditioning systems, with cooling capacity calculated at 250-300W per square meter; total cooling capacity is about 250-300kW, with an investment of about 300,000-500,000 RMB.
Set up ducts and thermostats by zone to achieve precise temperature control (18-26℃), paired with fresh air systems to improve air quality.
Cooling Effect: Constant temperature and humidity, suitable for high-end scenarios such as precision processing or clean rooms; annual electricity cost is about 100,000-150,000 RMB.
Advantages: Stable performance, but high initial investment and energy consumption, suitable for enterprises with sufficient budgets.
Scenario 3: Semi-open / outdoor workshops (e.g., storage, forging, welding areas)
Recommended Solution: High-pressure spray cooling system + industrial large fans
Configuration Suggestions:
Spray System: Install 1-2 atomizing nozzles per square meter, paired with a high-pressure pump (power 1-2kW); total investment is about 50,000-80,000 RMB.
Industrial Large Fans: 4-6 units to enhance air circulation and accelerate water mist evaporation; investment is about 20,000-30,000 RMB.
Cooling Effect: Can reduce ambient temperature by 5-8℃, significantly lowering perceived temperature; hourly electricity + water cost is about 5-10 RMB.
Advantages: Flexible installation, low cost, but spray volume must be controlled to avoid floor water accumulation (can be paired with humidity sensors for automatic start/stop).
III. Comprehensive Cost Comparison (for a 1000㎡ workshop, used for 5 months per year, running 10 hours per day)
Solution Initial Investment Annual Operating Cost Applicable Scenarios
Evaporative Air Coolers + Exhaust Fans 80,000-120,000 RMB 15,000-20,000 RMB Dry northern regions, general production workshops
Industrial Large Fans + Localized Coolers 36,000-60,000 RMB 10,000-20,000 RMB Humid southern regions, no overall cooling requirements
Central Air Conditioning / Ducted Air Conditioning 300,000-500,000 RMB 100,000-150,000 RMB High-end scenarios such as precision processing or clean rooms
Spray System + Industrial Fans 70,000-110,000 RMB 8,000-15,000 RMB Semi-open / outdoor workshops, high-temperature work areas
IV. Optimization Suggestions and Precautions
Combine Insulation and Ventilation
Lay insulation materials on the workshop roof (e.g., polyurethane boards, costing 50-80 RMB per square meter) to reduce solar heat transfer and lower the load on cooling equipment.
Install skylights or ventilation louvers to use the stack effect to expel top heat, reducing equipment operation time (especially suitable for workshops with ceiling heights ≥5 meters).
Energy Saving with Smart Controls
Evaporative air coolers and spray systems can be equipped with temperature sensors for automatic start/stop based on workshop temperature, avoiding unnecessary operation.
Central air conditioning should use variable-frequency technology to automatically adjust power based on load, saving over 30% energy compared to fixed-frequency systems.
Maintenance and Durability
Evaporative air coolers require regular replacement of water curtains (1-2 times per year, costing about 200-300 RMB per unit) and cleaning of water tanks to prevent algae growth.
Spray systems require the use of softened water or regular cleaning of nozzles (once per quarter) to avoid clogging from scale affecting atomization effectiveness.
V. Summary and Recommended Priorities
Best Value for Money: Evaporative air coolers (water curtain fans) (suitable for dry northern regions, budget around 100,000 RMB, pursuing low energy consumption).
Preferred for Humid Regions: Industrial large fans + localized coolers (investment of 50,000-80,000 RMB, flexibly addressing personnel and equipment heat dissipation needs).
High-End Solution: Central air conditioning / ducted air conditioning (sufficient budget, strict temperature and humidity control requirements, e.g., precision manufacturing, electronics workshops).
Temporary / Semi-Open Scenarios: Spray cooling + industrial fans (investment of 70,000-100,000 RMB, quickly reduces perceived temperature, suitable for outdoor or high-temperature work areas).
Final Recommendation: Contact professional refrigeration companies for on-site surveys to customize solutions based on specific heat source distribution, ventilation conditions, and local climate. If necessary, combine multiple equipment types (e.g., "evaporative air coolers + industrial fans") to ensure cooling effectiveness while minimizing costs.