At Stoop we use a cold water machine, also called a chiller or indirect cooler. The cold water machine consists of a compact frame with a cooling compressor(s) and a condenser. This machine cools the water. This cold water is transported to the coolers (evaporators) in the cell and then released into the air.

The advantages of the cold water cooling installation for Stoop are:

• Little refrigerant (gas), 25kg.

• Low evaporation temperature, which ensures less condensation, resulting in less disease pressure on the gladiolus (penicillium).

• Less drying out of the flower bulbs due to the low evaporator temperature. This results in better quality of the bulbs if they are stored longer.

• Less defrosting, at a cell temperature above 2 degrees. This ensures less heating in the cell.

• Heating and cooling combined in 1 system, which is perfect for Gladioli.

• The heat released during this process is used for the drying process of the gladioli both upon arrival and before shipment.

This system dehumidifies the air. This reduces the humidity level during the drying process of the bulbs after arrival.

We measure humidity using two methods. By measuring the dry and wet temperatures we know the relative humidity of the cells. By means of this measurement we want to ensure continuity of the humidity in the cells. In addition, this is also measured digitally, but that is less accurate.