Monoblock Refrigeration Unit for Off-Grid Cold Room Applications

Successful Case Study

Monoblock Refrigeration Unit for Off-Grid Cold Room with 150 mm Insulated Panels.

Project Overview

This successful case highlights the real-world deployment of a RIGID Monoblock Refrigeration Unit in an off-grid cold room application, where installation constraints, thick insulation panels, and unstable power availability are often decisive factors.

The customer required a reliable, easy-to-install refrigeration solution capable of operating through a 150 mm insulated cold-room wall, powered entirely by a solar-based off-grid system. Conventional split systems and standard monoblocks typically struggle in such conditions due to wall-thickness limitations, complex installation requirements, or unpredictable electrical behavior.

RIGID’s monoblock solution was selected specifically to address these challenges at the engineering and system-integration level.

Before procurement, the customer raised a critical and technically valid concern:

This concern reflects a common industry issue. Many monoblock refrigeration units are designed for thin panels or masonry walls and lack proper allowance for modern cold-room insulation thickness. As a result, installers are often forced into on-site modifications that compromise insulation integrity, airflow separation, or long-term reliability.

Additionally, the system had to:

• Operate off-grid, powered by solar panels and inverter systems
• Handle variable power input without instability
• Deliver fast pull-down performance for cold-room operation

RIGID Solution

RIGID supplied a wall-mounted Monoblock Refrigeration Unit, engineered with a defined wall-pass structure that supports thick PU/PIR sandwich panels (≈150 mm) while maintaining strict thermal separation between the cold and hot sides.

Key solution attributes include:

• True monoblock architecture
  Fully self-contained refrigeration system with factory-charged refrigerant.
• Wall-pass optimized design
  Engineered spacing between evaporator and condenser to accommodate thick insulation panels without thermal bridging.
• Plug-and-play installation
  No refrigerant piping, no outdoor condensing unit, and no complex field alignment.
• Inverter-compatible electrical behavior
  Stable operation under fluctuating solar and battery input.
• Environmentally responsible refrigerant options
  Including natural refrigerant R290 configurations, depending on model and capacity range.

Technical Specifications

Based on the applied product category and RIGID monoblock portfolio:

• Sound level: < 60 dB
• Application temperature range: From –40 °C to +2 °C (model-dependent)
• Cold room volume: Typically 5 m³ to 55 m³, depending on insulation, ambient conditions, and load
• Power supply: 220–240 V / 50–60 Hz (inverter and off-grid compatible)
• Compressor technology: High-efficiency inverter compressor (model-specific)
• Defrosting system: Hot gas defrost + electric heating (where required)
• Controller: Integrated digital controller with temperature display and system monitoring
• Installation type: Wall-mounted monoblock, suitable for thick insulated panels

Commissioning & Performance Results

The monoblock refrigeration unit was commissioned and operated for the first time under full off-grid conditions.

Measured results:

• Cold room cooled to 8 °C in less than 20 minutes
• Standby current: approximately 19 A
• Active cooling current: >40 A
• Solar input capacity: 19 A to 150 A, depending on controller state

The system demonstrated stable operation despite variable power input, confirming compatibility with solar controllers and inverter-based energy systems.

Installation Advantages

The installation was completed without structural modifications or additional components.

• Single wall cut-out aligned with panel thickness.
• No compromise to insulation performance.
• No refrigerant handling on site, Single-wall.
• Reduced installation time and labor cost.

This outcome validates RIGID’s design philosophy: engineering refrigeration systems around real installation conditions, not idealized assumptions.

This confirms the design intent: the refrigeration unit adapts to the cold room, not the other way around.

Why This Case Matters

This project demonstrates how a properly engineered Monoblock Refrigeration Unit can successfully address:

• Thick cold-room insulation panels
• Off-grid and solar-powered operation
• Fast commissioning and predictable performance
• Reduced installation time and risk
• Rather than adapting the cold room to the refrigeration system, the system was designed to integrate seamlessly into the cold room structure.

Key Advantages of RIGID Monoblock Refrigeration Units

✔ Designed for thick insulated cold-room panels
✔ Factory-assembled, refrigerant pre-charged
✔ Fast installation and commissioning
✔ Reduced risk of installation errors
✔ Suitable for off-grid and renewable energy systems
✔ High energy efficiency with inverter control
✔ Environmentally friendly refrigerant options
✔ Reliable temperature control for commercial cold rooms

Application Scope

RIGID Monoblock Refrigeration Units are widely applicable in:

• Commercial cold rooms
• Food and beverage storage
• Agricultural and produce cold storage
• Remote or off-grid refrigeration sites
• Modular and containerized cold rooms
• Temporary or rapidly deployed cold storage

Conclusion

This successful deployment reinforces RIGID’s position as a provider of practical, engineered monoblock refrigeration solutions for commercial and industrial cold-room applications.

By combining installation-ready design, robust thermal engineering, and energy-aware system behavior, the RIGID Monoblock Refrigeration Unit delivers reliable performance where conventional solutions fall short.

Interested in a Monoblock Refrigeration Unit for your cold room project?
Contact RIGID to discuss your wall thickness, temperature requirements, and power conditions. Our engineering team is ready to support applications where real-world constraints matter.