REFRIGERANTS
Cold store installations using 824kg of low GWP Opteon refrigerants
David Sowden, technical and marketing specialist at Chemours discusses an installation in collaboration with SK Refrigeration Heating and Cooling in this case study from Climalife.
In 2021, due to a rapid expansion of their business, Nationwide Foods Ltd in Evesham required an extension to their existing storage facility.
I
t can never be said that the RACHP industry is dull. With a constant stream of opportunities and challenges presenting themselves in the form of energy saving requirements and
environmental concerns, there is a lot for us to do and to look forward to.
The good news is there are refrigerant solutions available that can help us contribute to governments’ drive towards net zero as well as off er benefi ts to both our own businesses and those of our customers. Many of these solutions are Low or Very Low GWP HFO blends. These refrigerants are essential if we are to provide fl exibility and a variety of options for the future. They also benefi t from being energy effi cient in terms of absorbed power and are therefore often the best choice when considering both direct (leakage) and indirect emissions (CO2 Emissions per kWh of electricity generated). Energy costs and security have also been high on the news agenda and have further increased the need to be effi cient. If photovoltaic panels are the preferred power source, then an effi cient system will also limit the number of panels required and therefore additional CapEx. The majority of these Low GWP HFO blends have the safety class A2L. It’s not that long ago when discussions centred on how to use these mildly fl ammable refrigerants safely and compliantly with standards (EN 378 – EN 60335) and perhaps more importantly, regulations (PED / PE(S)R). Charge sizes and risk assessment (DSEAR) raised concerns due to the A2L classifi cation, although it is often overlooked that this is a legal requirement for all installations and refrigerants including A1’s A3’s B2L’s etc.
Suitable equipment was also scarce as manufacturers took time to assess the potential business value of utilising these fl uids. Thankfully, the necessity for these refrigerants was recognised and appropriate components are readily available today.
Project
In 2021, due to a rapid expansion of their business, Nationwide Foods Ltd in Evesham required an extension to their existing storage facility. The design needed to provide cooling to multiple spaces at various temperatures depending on the requirements of the fruit and vegetables stored. This extension also enabled the redevelopment of pre-existing stores into a marshalling / packing area for goods inward and out. The projects are known as ‘Five chambers’ and ‘Marshalling’, have a combined volume of 25,400m³ and are served by 14 systems using a total of 824kg of Opteon XL40 (R-454A). A variety of common solutions were contemplated to suit their business model with factors such as the available PV capacity allowed under planning permissions, budget and past experiences with centralised refrigerated plant all being considered.
Initially the design centred on R-448A, mainly because this is an A1 refrigerant. However, the client wanted to futureproof against rising refrigerant costs resulting from F-Gas quota restrictions, and with a GWP of 1386 (AR4) this refrigerant was ruled out. They also wanted to select the lowest available GWP that would enhance their environmental credentials and be sustainable for the long term.
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