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Manual of refrigerated storage in the warmer developing countries Published by International Institute of Refrigeration, Paris, France, 1990, 20OFF, ISBN 2 903 633 479

I found this manual extremely interesting. A great deal of information has been packed in, and in a useful and informative manner. It was very easy to read, and I found that the chapters were well defined with good sub- headings, making it easy to find information.

The manual covers a range of topics from the best methods to store chilled and frozen foods tO the plan- ning, construction and management of a cold store. I found the initial chapter which dealt with the storage of chilled and frozen foods especially interesting, and found that the information provided gave a good introduction to the subject. A lot of information on storage times, temperatures, conditions to optimize storage, preserva- tion techniques and product compatibility was provided which gave an ideal background to the subject. One point which disappointed me was the lack of references or suggested reading which could provide further infor- mation, as in a number of cases I would have liked to explore the subject area in more detail.

The chapters covering planning, construction, com- missioning and management of a cold store are well written and very clear. Details of planning a cold store,

how to carry out heat balances, calculation of refriger- ation capacity, and the actual construction details such as insulation, lighting and safety are all clearly and con- sistently covered. The actual refrigeration equipment and controls are also covered, detailing the principle and type of equipment available, together with diagrams explain- ing layout and design. Also, particularly useful are the chapters on the correct operation of a cold store, detail- ing maintenance, safety and control.

The information is well presented and the illustrations clear. The data presented would generally be useful to anyone aiming towards the design and building of a cold store, but would probably be more of a starting point rather than a specific design manual. However, the range of topics covered is very wide, and the actual data provided would be vital to anyone setting specifications, designing or commissioning a cold store.

Overall, the manual is both interesting and informa- tive, and would be a useful reference for anyone aiming to design and construct a cold store. It would probably be of most benefit to people who wanted a good general introduction to the subject. It would, however, be a most useful addition to the bookshelf of anyone who works in the refrigeration engineering field.

Judith Evans University of Bristol, UK

222 Int. J. Refrig. 1993 Vo116 No 3