Tan Long designed, fabricated, supplied and installed NH3 refrigeration systems a complete system for Kyokuyo Vina Foods Co., Ltd — an export seafood processing plant. The turnkey scope covered the whole plant, from the IQF freezing lines, contact plate freezers and flake ice machines through to the production hall air conditioning.
Project summary
| Client | Kyokuyo Vina Foods Co., Ltd |
| Industry | Export seafood processing |
| Refrigerant | NH3 (Amoniac) |
| Tan Long scope | Design – Fabrication – Supply – Installation |
| Total IQF freezing capacity | 4,300 kg/hour (08 belts) |
| Flake ice capacity | 35 tonnes/day (04 machines) |
| Equipment fabricated in-house by Tan Long | 17 of the 33 main equipment sets |
What Tan Long's scope covers
- System design: calculating the cooling load, selecting the compressor configuration, designing the NH3 pipework and laying out the equipment to suit the plant floor plan.
- Equipment fabrication at the Tan Long plant: IQF belts, contact plate freezers, flake ice machines and evaporative condensers.
- Supply of imported equipment: compressors, air coolers, FCUs and water chilling equipment from specialist manufacturers.
- Installation, commissioning and acceptance: connecting the whole system, charging refrigerant, balancing and handing over for operation.
Equipment handed over by Tan Long
Equipment fabricated in-house by Tan Long
| Device | Parameter | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed IQF belt | 500 kg/h | 05 units |
| High-speed IQF belt | 600 kg/h | 03 units |
| Contact freezer | 1,000 kg per batch | 01 unit |
| Flake ice machine | 10 tonnes/day | 03 units |
| Flake ice machine | 5 tonnes/day | 01 unit |
| Evaporative condenser | — | 04 units |
Equipment imported from specialist manufacturers
| Device | Brand | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Screw compressor | Mycom (Japan) | 05 units |
| Industrial Air Cooler | Güntner (Germany) | 09 units |
| Air conditioning FCUs | Güntner (Germany) | 01 batch |
| Water cooling system 10 m³/h | Buco | 01 unit |
| 704 kW air conditioning water chilling system | Danfoss (Denmark) | 01 unit |
Together with the pipework, valves, ancillary equipment and the complete NH3 refrigeration system.
Why the system uses NH3 as the refrigerant
NH3 (ammonia) is the most widely used refrigerant in large-scale export seafood processing plants, for three engineering reasons:
- The highest cooling efficiency among the common industrial refrigerants, particularly in the evaporating temperature range from -18°C to -40°C — exactly the operating range of IQF freezing.
- Low operating cost: the refrigerant is inexpensive and its high efficiency reduces electricity consumption per tonne of goods stored.
- No ozone depletion and no direct greenhouse effect, which suits the environmental requirements of export markets.
In return, NH3 demands a far higher standard of safety capability: leak detection sensors, emergency ventilation systems, and strict operating and maintenance procedures. This is the technical barrier that means not many contractors in Vietnam have mastered plant-scale NH3 systems.
The role of each equipment group in the line
- IQF conveyor (08 units, 4,300 kg/h in total): freeze each individual piece of product in 8–15 minutes. The ice crystals formed are extremely small, so tissue structure and sensory quality are preserved after thawing — a mandatory requirement for export seafood.
- Contact freezer (1,000 kg per batch): freeze block-form product by direct contact between the plate and the mould, giving a high rate of heat transfer and evenly flat finished blocks.
- Flake ice machine (04 units, 35 tonnes/day): supply flake ice to preserve raw material at intake and pre-processing, holding the product's core temperature down before it enters freezing.
- Screw compressor Mycom (05 units): the heart of the NH3 system, running continuously and sharing load according to the actual demand of each area.
- Evaporative condenser (04 units): reject condensing heat to the atmosphere. Evaporative condensers use less electricity than air-cooled condensers in Vietnam's climate.
- Condenser and Güntner FCUs: distribute cooling to the stores, the processing rooms and the production hall air conditioning system.
What the project demonstrates about Tan Long's capability
17 of the 33 main equipment units on the project were fabricated by Tan Long itself: all 08 IQF belts, the contact plate freezers, the 04 flake ice machines and the 04 evaporative condensers. This is what sets it apart from the trading-contractor model of buying equipment in and fitting it.
Fabricating in-house brings three direct benefits to the client:
- Control over the schedule: no dependence on import delivery dates.
- Customised to the floor plan: equipment dimensions and configuration designed around the actual workshop space.
- Fast repair and replacement: materials, drawings and the fabrication team are all available in-country.
Project photos
Need advice on a similar system for your plant?
Tan Long provides consulting, design and quotations for NH3 refrigeration systems and IQF freezing lines for seafood and food processing plants. Call 0933 357 058 (Mr. Thinh) or send a quotation request.
Related projects
- Sai Gon Food JSC — NH3 refrigeration system for 04 workshops
- Vietnam Clean Seafood JSC
- Famisea Food JSC
- View all projects delivered by Tan Long
Frequently Asked Questions
Which work packages did Tan Long deliver at Kyokuyo Vina Foods?
Tan Long designed, fabricated, supplied and installed a complete NH3 refrigeration system for Kyokuyo Vina Foods Co., Ltd. The handover list includes 08 high-speed IQF belts (05 units at 500 kg/h and 03 units at 600 kg/h, 4,300 kg/h in total), a 1,000 kg per batch contact plate freezer, 04 flake ice machines (35 tonnes/day), 05 Mycom screw compressors, 04 evaporative condensers and 09 Güntner air coolers.
What is the total IQF freezing capacity at Kyokuyo Vina Foods?
The combined freezing capacity of the 08 IQF belts is 4,300 kg/hour, comprising 05 units rated at 500 kg/h and 03 units rated at 600 kg/h. All 08 belts were fabricated by Tan Long.
Which equipment on the project was manufactured in-house by Tan Long?
17 of the 33 main equipment units were fabricated by Tan Long at its plant in Duc Hoa 1 Industrial Park, Tay Ninh (formerly Long An): all 08 IQF belts, the contact plate freezer, the 04 flake ice machines and the 04 evaporative condensers. The imported portion comprises the Mycom compressors, the Güntner air coolers and FCUs, and the Buco and Danfoss water chilling equipment.
Can Tan Long deliver a similar project for another plant?
Yes. Tan Long has designed, fabricated and installed industrial refrigeration systems for 29 projects in Vietnam. See full project list or call 0933 357 058 (Mr. Thinh).
