The heat exchanger where high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant gas from the compressor releases heat to the atmosphere, condensing back into liquid for the next refrigeration cycle. The condenser is where heat…
Cross-Docking (Cold Chain)
A logistics strategy where incoming frozen or chilled products are immediately transferred to outbound vehicles with minimal or no storage time, reducing handling costs and maintaining temperature integrity. Products move…
Dead Zone (Refrigeration)
Where Dead Zones Form Dead zones occur predictably in specific locations: Upper rear corners — Cold air loses momentum before reaching these areas, falling to the floor due to buoyancy…
Defrost Cycle
The periodic process of melting ice accumulation from evaporator coils to restore heat transfer efficiency, temporarily suspending cooling while electric heaters or hot gas warm the coils. Defrost cycles are…
Delivery Window
The scheduled time period during which courier operations plan to complete a specific delivery, balancing customer convenience with operational efficiency. Delivery windows in frozen food logistics must account for route…
Demand-Based Defrost
Advanced defrost control that initiates cycles based on measured system conditions rather than fixed timers, reducing fuel consumption 20-30% through intelligent activation.
Design Temperature
Extreme temperature condition for equipment sizing – industry uses 32-35°C European standards for 42°C South African urban conditions plus altitude effects, ensuring summer failures.
Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Frozen Delivery
See: Last-Mile Cold Chain Delivery Business model where frozen food producers or platforms deliver directly to consumers’ homes, bypassing traditional retail distribution. Requires specialized last-mile logistics infrastructure maintaining cold chain…
Door Openings (Thermal Load)
The cumulative heat energy introduced into refrigerated cargo space through air exchange each time vehicle doors open during delivery operations, representing the single largest variable thermal load in multi-stop courier…