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This freezer was built to provide us with on-farm storage for our frozen meat. The box is built with jacks on all four corners that enable our farm truck to hook up to it for the occasional large delivery or pick-up from meat processors. It is cooled by commercial grade refrigeration components. It can store roughly 3000 lb of frozen meat and hold it easily at -10F. Projected energy costs are $1200 / yr.
The documentation of this project will include detailed instructions of how to service the refrigeration components and what tools are needed. These are useful skills for the modern farmer and I'm looking forward to sharing what I know and getting input from others!
The documentation of this project will include detailed instructions of how to service the refrigeration components and what tools are needed. These are useful skills for the modern farmer and I'm looking forward to sharing what I know and getting input from others!
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Open Source Freezer Pod (WIF_868)
10/03/2018
We run a grass-fed beef business and really needed on-farm storage in addition to the occasional short-haul to deliver larger volumes of meat. Because we have set-up a shop for participating in the open source movement, we opted to construct our own freezer rather than purchasing one.
DESIGN GOALS
- Minimum R35 Insulation for reduced energy consumption (Someday this unit will be solar powered!)
- Operate at 240V AC 60Hz. Single Phase
NOTE: There is no engine driven refrigeration component of this system. When used for transport, it is always short-haul, so the box contents will stay plenty cold. If extended remote location operation is needed, a provision for generator mounting would need to be added.
- Sufficient structural soundness and vibration resilience for over-the-road use. All mechanical connections except electrical hook-ups are riveted.
- Weather-Proof
BUILD PROGRESSION
- Fabricate Main Structure, including Door Insert (See "WIF_868_Main_Structure.pdf")
- Paint areas of Main Structure to be covered by Sub-Floor Sheet metal
- Install Sub-Floor Sheet metal
- Cut and Install Light Framing Members to Main Structure. These provide stiffness and attachment points for the exterior sheet metal skin.
- Install Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam-board Floor Insulation Stack and pressure treated Plywood Sub-Floor.
- Fabricate Floor Pan and attach to Plywood Sub-Floor
- Cut and Assemble Light Framing Members (LFMs) to form Interior Structure
- Fabricate and Install Evaporator-Hanging Structure
- Fabricate and Install Interior Sheet Metal
- Hire Spray Foam Contractor to Insulate around Interior Envelope
- Fabricate and Install Exterior Sheet Metal
- Fabricate and Install Door
- Fabricate and Install Condensing Unit Shelf
- Prep and Paint
- Install Refrigeration Components
- Test
- Implement