designed to take advantage of waste heat, geother- mal and other renewable-energy sources to fur- ther enhance these systems’ operating efficiencies. IPAS recommended a system that eliminates
I saw a
reduction in my
electric bill immediately.
the potential for carryover; therefore, there is no corrosive element from the salt-brine solu- tion introduced into the environment. Instead of atomizing the salt solution as legacy units have done in the past, the system IPAS suggested cascades the salt solution over a honeycomb fi ltra- tion medium. The solution then creates a bond with the fi ltration medium, which is stronger than the velocity of air being introduced through the system. Further, steps have been taken to add ad- ditional fi ltration to ensure no salt solution exits the system. Vary believed this technology was the answer
– Sandy Vary, co-owner,
Bel Garden Bi Rite Supermarket
to the store’s problem. After the liquid desiccant system was installed, Vary immediately noticed the cases and rack systems were no longer try- ing to compensate for hot humid air and were running more effi ciently. “I saw a reduction in my electric bill immediately,” she says. Bel Garden Bi Rite Supermarket is now able to extend the shelf life of its products and restock cases in a more profi table manner. “Any store that has any type of refrigeration needs—if it’s medium temp or low temp—will certainly benefi t by the lower humidity situa- tion that this system can produce,” Vary explains. “Consequently, we realized savings to our bottom line from the reduced electricity use and product
Bel Garden Bi Rite Supermarket achieved an approximate 30 percent reduction in energy consumption with the help of a liquid desiccant system manufac- tured by Advantix Systems, www. advantixsystems.com.
waste in our cases and walk-in boxes. We see and feel the effect of the lack of humidity that this system produces.”
The Bottom Line The liquid desiccant system reduced Bel Garden Bi Rite Supermarket’s HVAC energy consumption by approximately 30 percent. The store has been able to drop its humidity levels from 65 percent pre- installation to between 30 to 40 percent on aver- age. In addition, the humidity reduction provided a more comfortable environment, allowing Vary to raise her temperature set point by 5 degrees F. Bel Garden was able to install this system with a one-and-a-half-year payback on the upfront equipment investment. Additionally, the store took advantage of a local energy-reduction incen- tive program, which defrayed a large portion of the expenses. By fi nding a solution to improve the bottom
line, Bel Garden Bi Rite Supermarket has been able to avoid passing along high energy costs to customers. The store also has created a more comfortable environment for its employees and customers.
Watch a video and learn more about how the liquid desiccant