German manufacturer Cool Expert is showcasing its blue cool concept – a modular HVAC&R system for supermarkets – including its compact propane (R290)-based CHANGE IT chiller at Chillventa on October 11–13 in Nuremburg, Germany.
Details of the blue cool concept and its modular products were presented by Roland Handschuh, Marketing Consultant for Cool Expert during the Green Cooling Technologies for Supermarkets session at the Green Cooling Summit 2022.
blue cool concept
The blue cool concept is a “complete solution for supermarkets with natural refrigerants” that has been developed over the last decade, said Handschuh. It’s an all-in-one system that can cover the entire range of commercial refrigeration applications due to its modular structure, he added.
The concept can comprise medium temperature (MT) applications, low temperature (LT) applications, air conditioning, heat recovery and additional heating from a heat pump.
At the heart of the blue cool concept is Cool Expert’s compact R290-based CHANGE IT chiller. The plug-and-play chiller, which contains 145g (0.3lbs) of propane, can operate as a single unit or part of a “hydraulic network consisting of several refrigeration modules,” explained Handschuh.
Due to its modular design, the CHANGE IT chiller is service-friendly and safe. If servicing is required, the refrigeration circuit is easy to remove and can be replaced within 30 minutes. It is then serviced off site.
The CHANGE IT chiller delivers glycol at -6°C (21.2°F) to the supermarket’s medium-temperature (MT) cabinets. For deep freezing, a subcritical CO2 (R744) unit is added to the low-temperature (LT) cabinets and connects to the system’s glycol network.
Cool Expert’s DEFRO POWER PACK AIR product can also be connected to the system to defrost the LT and MT cabinets, using the warm air above the supermarket’s fresh produce section. Any excess recovered heat is then delivered to the dry cooler on the roof, which also functions as a heat pump during colder months.
According to Handschuh’s presentation, the DEFRO POWER PACK AIR can reduce a supermarket’s energy costs for defrosting refrigeration units by 98% and has a payback period of less than six months. With the unit, each defrosting operation requires just 70W for pump power, compared to 3,500W for electrical defrost.
Over the course of 10 years, by using the DEFRO POWER PACK AIR, an operator can save up to 11.58 tons CO2e per freezer based on two daily defrosts.
The blue cool concept in action
During his presentation, Handschuh shared an example of the blue cool concept with the CHANGE IT chiller in action at an 850m2 (9,150ft2) supermarket.
The CHANGE IT chiller supplies 15m (49.2ft) of refrigerated shelves with glass doors, a 5m (16.4ft) service counter, one MT cold room, 10 heating and air conditioning ceiling units, one door air curtain and heat recovery.
The commercial refrigeration at this store delivers 20kW (5.7TR) of cooling capacity. The temperature of the glycol at the evaporator -8°C (17.6°F) and the temperature of the glycol at the condenser is 30°C (86°F).
The store’s air conditioning provides 55kW (15.6TR) of cooling capacity. The temperature of the glycol at the evaporator -7°C (19.4°F) and the temperature of the glycol at the condenser is 30°C.
The heat pump delivers 70kW (19.9TR) of cooling capacity. The temperature of the glycol at the evaporator -7°C and the temperature of the glycol at the condenser is 30°C.
Heat recovery from the store’s refrigeration equipment can provide a maximum of 26kW (7.4TR) of cooling capacity. The temperature of the glycol at the evaporator -8°C and the temperature of the glycol at the condenser is 30°C.
Chillventa attendees can visit Cool Expert at booth 9-118 in hall 9 of the NürnbergMesse exhibition center to learn more about its blue cool concept and CHANGE IT chiller.
The blue cool concept is a “complete solution for supermarkets with natural refrigerants.”
Roland Handschuh, Cool Expert
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