FDBusiness.com

Global logistics specialist Kuehne + Nagel has invested in another environmentally efficient chill store cooling system from Star Refrigeration. Kuehne + Nagel required a new refrigeration plant as part of an extension to a chilled storage facility at its Brinklow site, near Milton Keynes. The distribution centre handles food and drink logistics for one of the UK’s leading supermarket chains.

Following the success of previous cooling projects at other UK sites, Kuehne + Nagel approached Star to design and build an environmentally conscious, robust and reliable refrigeration plant for the new chill store. Star worked in partnership with the main building contractor for the expansion project to deliver a turnkey cooling solution for Kuehne + Nagel.

A world leader in cooling and heating system innovation, Star designed and built a high efficiency refrigeration plant incorporating two of its Azanechillers. The compact ammonia packaged chillers supply cooling to the new multi temperature chill store, with a 56,000sqft chamber for chilled goods and a 45,000sqft produce chamber for fresh fruit and vegetables. Each temperature controlled chamber has a throughput of around 30 tonnes per hour.

Star combined the new Azanechiller system with an existing refrigeration plant to give Kuehne + Nagel the flexibility to operate the two chambers within the new chill store at different temperatures. The existing plant allows the fresh produce chamber to operate at +9 degrees Celsius, with the new Azanechiller system enabling an operating temperature of +2 degrees Celsius in the chilled goods chamber.

Working to a strict time schedule, Star pre-commissioned and performance tested the Azanechiller system at itsGlasgowmanufacturing facility to reduce installation time on site at Brinklow.  Group company Star M&E Solutions was awarded the role of mechanical and electrical contractor, including main low voltage panel works, lighting for the two chambers, fire alarm and alterations to the ventilation system.

The Kuehne + Nagel system features two air-cooled Azanechillers with ammonia as primary and glycol as secondary refrigerant.  Each unit has a cooling capacity of 400kW and features a low ammonia charge of less than 0.45kg/kW. The Azanechillers are located externally, mounted on concrete plinths adjacent to the existing plant room.

As an environmentally conscious natural refrigerant with zero global warming and ozone depletion potential, ammonia overcomes concerns over HFCs. Waste heat from the Azanechillers is recovered for defrosting the evaporators in the new and existing refrigeration plant.

Azanechiller is a complete refrigeration package, ideally suited to temperature controlled storage as well as food processing, building services and process cooling. Only an electrical supply and flow/return pipework is required to provide cooling. This reduces site installation and commissioning time, whilst also avoiding the need for a plant room.

Suitable for cooling both water and glycol, Azanechiller was developed by Star for environmentally conscious end users. Azanechiller typically offers a 30% increase in performance compared with standard HFC chillers. Its packaged design and careful component selection result in an ultra low refrigerant charge, with all ammonia contained within the chiller and sited outside the warehouse or production facility.

Azanechiller features high quality, industrial components to offer unrivalled performance, reliability and low maintenance. Each unit includes two screw compressors, low noise drive motors, Star’s low charge low pressure receiver and semi-welded PHE evaporator. Star¹s Telstar computerised control system ensures optimum performance, with HMI touch screen interface and optional broadband connection for offsite remote monitoring.

Azanechiller is available as an air-cooled or water-cooled unit with cooling capacity from 200kW to 850kW. Air-cooled Azanechillers feature high efficiency EC condenser fan technology. Water-cooled Azanechillers include a welded plate heat exchanger condenser to minimise refrigerant charge. Both include floating header pressure control, which optimises efficiency at part load conditions and low ambient temperatures.

When it comes to designing energy efficient cooling and heating systems, Star is a natural innovator.  Star works with strategic partners across the globe to deliver low carbon, cost saving solutions. For more information, phone Star Refrigeration on 0141 638 7916, email star@star-ref.co.uk or visit www.star-ref.co.uk.