CASE STUDIES
Bespoke R449A-based marine refrigeration system delivers
Darren Mockridge: “It was crucial to have a proven, water-tight design ready to go.”
T
cooling for 65m super yacht Chillfl ow Solutions has designed and installed a bespoke R449A-based marine refrigeration system for a 65m super yacht, operating on high effi ciency Bitzer Ecoline compressors.
he ocean-going ice-breaker required a highly reliable replacement refrigeration system to serve its onboard cold room,
freezer and garbage store. Use of an off -the-shelf replacement pack was ruled out due to space restrictions, and the distance between the pack, cold rooms and condensers. The system also required 100% redundancy to ensure continuity of cooling in the unlikely event of a breakdown at sea. Chillfl ow Solutions Ltd went back to the
drawing board to design a totally bespoke solution, with support from Bitzer UK. The resulting system, built at the refrigeration specialist’s Redruth site, has a capacity of 12kW and is based on two Bitzer Ecoline 4PES-12Y semi-hermetic compressors operating on a run and stand-by basis, each able to cover the cooling load and operating with a condensing temperature of 45°C. R449a refrigerant is non-toxic and non-
fl ammable, with an A1 safety classifi cation under EN 378 and ASHRAE 34 standards. The compressors have an integrated monitoring system that keeps track of winding temperature, phase sequence, phase failure,
The pack uses Bitzer CM-RC01 controllers to regulate the compressors’ onboard Varistep capacity controls.
current, plus oil temperature and level, ensuring optimum performance at all times. The pack is connected to two Bitzer sea-water
resistant K373HB shell and tube condensers, which provide excellent corrosion resistance and heat transfer between the refrigerant and sea water, used to reject heat. Darren Mockridge, managing director of
Chillfl ow Solutions, said: “The time-window to complete the project was tight due to the vessel’s limited time in port. It was crucial to have a proven, water-tight design ready to go from the moment the installation team had access.”
He added: “Our relationship with Bitzer UK goes back many years. However, this was our fi rst direct project collaboration with the company, via the local distributor. The team was extremely supportive on the technical aspects and helped us deliver a reliable, highly effi cient bespoke solution.” A key design requirement was optimum
Chillfl ow Solutions Ltd went back to the drawing board to design a totally bespoke solution, with support from Bitzer UK.
energy effi ciency given the limited power availability onboard. The pack uses Bitzer CM- RC01 controllers to regulate the compressors’ Varistep capacity controls, allowing refrigeration output to be precisely matched to cooling load, down to 10% of full capacity.
Download the ACR News app today The refrigeration control panel onboard the vessel.
The pack is also equipped with a Bitzer IQ module with Bluetooth connectivity, giving hands-free access to key performance parameters, if required. Darren Mockridge: “The close relationship between Bitzer UK and its remanufacturing arm, Green Point UK, is also a big plus for us – not just in the UK but worldwide. For example, our operation in Australia works with the local Bitzer and Green Point remanufacturing divisions there to support our Australian marine contracts.” Kevin Glass, managing director of Bitzer UK, said: “Marine refrigeration applications are particularly demanding due to the critical nature of onboard cooling and challenging marine environment. ECOLINE compressors are proven to give long-lasting service in harsh applications, such as marine cooling. “We were delighted to support Chillfl ow Solutions in their innovative solution for this project, which was delivered successfully despite the tight timeframe and restricted access onsite.”
www.acr-news.com • September 2023 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48