New ColdCube™ containers from Thermo King provide powerful mobile cooling and freezing solutions that can be easily moved between different field applications. These lightweight, durable, flexible solutions can be loaded relatively quickly into a standard van or truck and powered by the vehicle battery, or once unloaded, the containers can be plugged into a standard wall outlet for continuous cooling.

Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, offers three ColdCube™ container sizes, each available in cooling and freezing models, to fit a variety of business needs.

“ColdCube™ containers provide a simple way to manage temperature-sensitive cargo, providing consistent temperature management while optimizing flexibility for users,” said Gary Mullins, accessories product manager for Thermo King in the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa region. “These containers are ideal for managing the transport of refrigerated and frozen cargo in mixed fleets or for initial startup companies.”

These food-grade, heavily-insulated solutions offer precise temperature control with the added flexibility of operating on both AC and DC power. ColdCube™ containers are competitively priced compared to full van conversions and offer a lower price point to businesses that need intermittent refrigeration and/or freezing capability during transport.

Potential applications for the ColdCube™ include:

•  load optimization in larger vans and full-size trailers,
• small vehicles with limited capacity requirements for cooling and freezing,
• rental and leasing option for special events.

The ColdCube™ features a digital temperature controller with easy read out. With a wide range of accessories available, this solution is ideal for business applications such as catering and special events, delivery of medicines and vaccines, fresh and frozen blood bank transportation and courier services.

This flexible cooling and freezing solution provides customers with financial flexibility as well as the flexibility to either purchase or lease the unit depending on their specific needs. The Thermo King dealer network, with more than 300 service points across Europe, is available to support ColdCube™ solutions with their knowledge and expertise.

GEA Refrigeration Technologies has developed a HVF-Freezer (high velocity freezer) that uses newly designed air jets in a bid to reduce the outer layer temperature of food.

The high velocity jets break down the insulating boundary layer, allowing the surface to be frozen very quickly. According to GEA, this enables the product to freeze faster than in conventional freezers while minimising dehydration losses.

The hvf is described as ‘an innovative and improved freezer concept’ and built on existing impingement freezer technology. Impingement freezers apply to freezing of hamburgers and other flat products, as well as for crust or set freezing of various food products. GEA claims benefits to food processors include higher quality food products as the result of less cellular damage, improved capacity with more than 10% – 15% than existing impingement freezers, higher yield, longer shelf life of food and faster freezing time.

“GEA brought plenty of time and development work for improving the freezing dynamics to produce better results, increasing yield and allowing for faster and more complete freezing while using less energy,” said Robert Laflamme, president of GEA Refrigeration Canada Inc. “We’ve taken the impingement concept to a new level of quality and performance, while also incorporating GEA’s trademark hygienic features, including fully welded seams, sloped floor and more.”

GEA will launch its HVF-Freezer at the International Poultry Expo (IPE) in Atlanta.

For more information go to www.gea.com.

Energy-saving concept truck completes successful pilot test in London

Brussels, Belgium, January 15, 2013 – One of the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) largest refrigerated hybrid trucks, engineered by Thermo King in collaboration with Volvo and Arla Foods, is transporting milk throughout London while providing increased sustainability, lower fuel costs and reduced noise.

The 26-tonne, 8.65-metre concept rigid truck features transport refrigeration solutions from Thermo King, a manufacturer of temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand. The truck features a combined conventional and eutectic plate solution that Thermo King engineers helped developed for the vehicle to provide temperature control when the vehicle operates in both engine and battery-powered mode.

Thermo King developed the solution in cooperation with Volvo UK and Volvo Belgium for Arla Foods, the UK’s largest dairy company. Arla has a challenging environmental agenda and the key focus of this project was to find a solution to support the delivery of their carbon dioxide reduction targets. The truck represents the only Volvo 26-tonne refrigerated dairy truck hybrid in the UK today.

“Thermo King is working to develop innovative solutions such as this to help customers meet forthcoming regulations and increase sustainability for both large and small deliveries,” said Steve Williams, UK sales manager for Thermo King.

The vehicle features the Thermo King vehicle-powered V-700 Max Spectrum refrigeration system which is used to provide over-the-road refrigeration. The V-700 Max Spectrum, the latest addition to the Thermo King V-Series range of transport refrigeration units, has a nominal capacity 20-30 percent higher than its direct competitors.

This technologically ensures that the V-700 Max Spectrum is the most environmentally responsible unit for the application and meets all the criteria required by Arla Foods. The V-700 Max Spectrum refrigeration unit is a low-noise unit, allowing for inner city delivery at any time.

The hybrid truck also features specially designed eutectic plates, which are connected to the V-700 Max Spectrum’s refrigeration system, that provide backup refrigeration when the truck is operating in the over-the-road battery mode.

When the unit is plugged in on electric standby overnight, the refrigeration unit’s host compressor provides the necessary refrigeration to freeze the liquid solution that is inside the eutectic plates, providing the overall system with additional temperature hold over capacity when the Volvo Hybrid is operating in battery mode during its deliveries.    .

Leaders at Arla and Volvo are evaluating the vehicle for commercialization. They anticipate that it will deliver significant fuel savings and reduce truck emissions.

thermoking.com

STAF, a leader in refrigerated retail transport serving the greater metropolitan Paris area, has expressed a growing interest in the cryogenics solution developed by Thermo King. This innovative sustainable cooling technology reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, noise and maintenance costs and improves performance and load protection.

Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, honored STAF’s commitment to energy and operational efficiency and sustainability by presenting the company with the “Energy Efficiency Leader Award.”

Dwight Gibson, vice president of transport solutions for truck and trailer for Thermo King in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, presented the award to Kara Mendjel, chief executive officer of STAF.

Since a successful test pilot in 2011, STAF has converted five delivery trucks to the new CryoTech refrigeration unit using recycled R-744 refrigerant in a unique open-loop system to achieve a significant reduction in emissions and superior performance compared to conventional diesel powered units. STAF has cut their CO2 emissions by approximately 44,560 kg annually with the new solution without any compromise to refrigeration performance.

The switch will enable STAF to meet PIEK low-noise requirements and the regulations regarding priority air action zones or Zone d’Actions Prioritaires pour l’Air (ZAPA). The French authorities have started implementing experimental ZAPA and banning highly pollutant vehicles from low emission zones to improve air quality in urbanized zones.

“Innovation has always given us a strategic competitive edge at STAF,” says Kara Mendjel, chief executive officer of STAF. “We’re very pleased that the Thermo King CryoTech refrigeration units go beyond increasing sustainability, optimizing performance and reducing costs to actually anticipate regulatory and commercial requirements, creating a win on all fronts.”

The CryoTech refrigeration units offer the industry’s quietest refrigeration solution and substantially exceed the demanding PIEK low-noise standard, which make them ideal for the demands of distribution in dense urban areas such as Paris and its surrounding suburbs.

Transport distribution in large cities generally mean frequent door openings, allowing ambient air to enter the cargo space, raising temperature and risking damage to the load. The CryoTech units offer quick temperature recovery and precision temperature control. This in turn reduces the risk of product spoilage and extends shelf-life of the transported produce.

“Thermo King is pleased to offer proven cryogenic technology, backed up by more than a decade of experience with this innovative technology,” says Eric Lunven, managing director of Paris Froid Services, the local Thermo King dealer. “CryoTech offers a sustainable alternative that is ideally suited to the rigorous demands of an urban distribution operation.  Our in-house expertise will ensure that STAF continues to experience a seamless transition to the new technology.”

During the InnoTrans trade fair in Berlin, Germany, last month, leaders from Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, honored TT-Thermo King as rail dealer of the year for 2012.

 The award recognizes the TT-Thermo King sales and service teams for quality production, customer service and fast response. TT-Thermo King is the largest Thermo King dealer in Poland and the only certified rail dealer in Poland.

 Group photo at awards ceremony:

Shown here during the award ceremony are (from left) Tomasz Szmajter, sales manager for TT-Thermo King; Magdi Sayegh, service manager for Thermo King; Jakub Glinkowski, service and operations manager for TT-Thermo King; Wojcieh Zoladek, chief executive officer and president of TT-Thermo King; Michel van Roozendaal, vice president of bus for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa and global rail for Thermo King; Dominique Vallas: sales director of global rail for Thermo King.

 Rail yard photo: Shown here at the trainyard in Poznan, Poland, are TT-Thermo King team members (shown from left to right) including Michal Brejwo, TT-Thermo King technician; Tomasz Szmajter, sales manager for TT-Thermo King; and Hubert Lawniczak, technician for TT-Thermo King.

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.

The latest Tundra range of refrigeration air dryers, now available from Hi-line Industries Ltd, have been designed to the highest engineering specification, providing the maximum operating performance with the lowest operating cost.

Eighteen models in the range are available ex-stock including units from 20 to 1040 scfm air throughput and operating off a 230V single phase 50Hz supply, together with models having air throughput from 605 to 1040 scfm with a 3 phase 440V 50Hz power input.

All models are designed for a standard 7 barg inlet pressure, at 35°C air inlet temperature (25°C ambient) and offer a constant 3°C dewpoint temperature delivery at all times. The new design heat exchangers incorporated give a very low differential pressure drop across the dryer, ensuring further energy savings.

Non-standard operating conditions that can be accommodated include inlet air pressures (4 – 16 barg), ambient air temperatures (10 – 50°C), inlet air temperatures (20 – 60°C), and air throughput up to 9988 cfm can also be accommodated on dryers manufactured to order.

A high pressure range up to 50 barg can also be supplied. Dewpoint indicators are incorporated as standard (digital on larger models), together with an illuminated ‘Power On’ switch. An optional zero loss condensate drain can also be fitted. The larger models also have built-in filters to protect the heat exchangers from particulate build-up, so helping to protect from restriction and eliminating potential damage to the heat exchanger.

All products are designed to operate at minimal air consumption, achieved by minimising air pressure-drop and lowering the level of absorbed power, while the direct expansion technology of the equipment offers a constant 3°C dewpoint, preventing dewpoint spiking. More effective methods of operating efficiency, however, have resulted from the built-in engineering design, providing both good performance and high reliability. Additional energy savings are also achieved when the optional Hi-line ZLD autodrain unit is specified.

The latest Tundra range of refrigeration air dryers, now available from Hi-line Industries Ltd, have been designed to the highest engineering specification, providing the maximum operating performance with the lowest operating cost. Eighteen models in the range are available ex-stock including units from 20 to 1040 scfm air throughput and operating off a 230V single phase 50Hz supply, together with models having air throughput from 605 to 1040 scfm with a 3 phase 440V 50Hz power input. All models are designed for a standard 7 barg inlet pressure, at 35°C air inlet temperature (25°C ambient) and offer a constant 3°C dewpoint temperature delivery at all times. The new design heat exchangers incorporated give a very low differential pressure drop across the dryer, ensuring further energy savings.

 Non-standard operating conditions that can be accommodated include inlet air pressures (4 – 16 barg), ambient air temperatures (10 – 50°C), inlet air temperatures (20 – 60°C), and air throughput up to 9988 cfm can also be accommodated on dryers manufactured to order. A high pressure range up to 50 barg can also be supplied. Dewpoint indicators are incorporated as standard (digital on larger models), together with an illuminated ‘Power On’ switch. An optional zero loss condensate drain can also be fitted. The larger models also have built-in filters to protect the heat exchangers from particulate build-up, so helping to protect from restriction and eliminating potential damage to the heat exchangers.

All products are designed to operate at minimal air consumption, achieved by minimising air pressure-drop and lowering the level of absorbed power, while the direct expansion technology of the equipment offers a constant 3°C dewpoint, preventing dewpoint spiking. More effective methods of operating efficiency, however, have resulted from the built-in engineering design, providing both good performance and high reliability. Additional energy savings are also achieved when the optional Hi-line ZLD autodrain unit is specified.

Part of Cargill since 2008, Freeman’s of Newent are a primary chicken processing business, supplying independent butchers and the retail food sector.

As part of Cargill’s drive to improve energy efficiency a site review showed that the spiral refrigeration plant used to cool chicken prior to packing and despatch was a major energy user.

The system comprises five large Sabroe reciprocating compressors, operating on the R22 replacement refrigerant R417a, which processes 72,000 chickens a day. Due to the site having a limited electrical supply power is provided from 2 oil fired generators.

Freeman’s approached Excalibur to investigate the possibilities of improving the efficiency of this system. A study was undertaken which enabled Excalibur to identify the potential to reduce energy consumption by more than 30%

Excalibur were contracted to undertake the modifications which involved the installation of Liquid Pressure Amplification and inverter control of condenser fans, the system was then recommissioned to operate at low head pressure, reducing compressor energy consumption and increasing refrigeration capacity.

The effects of the modification were immediate; production was increased due to lower temperatures in the chiller, while oil consumption of the generators dropped by 1000 litres / week. Achieving a payback against investment of 18 months, and an annual reduction in carbon emissions of 150 tonnes.

www.excaliburenergy.co.uk

 Due to a steep rise in on-site electricity costs – which have doubled in just two years –Fluorocarbon has invested in energy-efficient inverters and a free cooling system from process cooling specialist, IsoCool.  The measures are paying off fast – cooling costs are on track to reduce by 67%. This gives the project, which is funded with a loan from the Carbon Trust and Siemens Financial Services under the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme, a payback schedule of less than two years.

One of the largest fluoropolymer processors in the UK, presently celebrating 50 years in the polymer industry, Fluorocarbon supplies PTFE and polymer related components, high performance engineering plastics and stock shapes.  Their international client base spans a range of industries, from food to plastics. To fulfil demand, the company operates five manufacturing facilities across Europe.

Fluorocarbon’s Hertford factory is one of the largest, with on-site processes including industrial bakeware, moulding and screw extrusion. Consequently, the cooling system is integral, supporting more than 70% of plant equipment within the polymer factory.

Historically the cooling system consisted of a single water chiller with a 120kW cooling capacity, and cost just over £20,000 a year to run. But with electricity prices rising, Fluorocarbon took action, as Shaun Grundon, Health, Safety and Environmental Officer explained:

 “A few years ago, the cost of electricity on the site doubled from 7p to 15p per KWh. We already had plans to improve energy-efficiency, so we looked at the site as a whole and applied for the Carbon Trust/Siemens loan to cover four projects, of which the cooling system is the biggest. As we’d had such great results from IsoCool on previous projects, we approached them to help. They’re also an approved Carbon Trust supplier, which was ideal”.

To significantly reduce the energy-consumption of the process cooling system, IsoCool retro-fitted a separate RFC air blast cooler to the chiller. This provides the cooling source during the times of the year when the ambient will allow partial and up to 100% direct air cooling, thus offloading the compressors and the inherent high operating costs.

According to Shaun, the benefits of an air blast cooler were clear: “An investigation into the weather conditions in Hertford showed that we could save a lot of money with free cooling. Our cooling system has an outlet temperature of 18^oC, and the ambient temperature in this area is below that for about 8 months of the year”.

IsoCool also identified that further energy savings could be achieved by installing inverters to the process pumps. Unlike standard process pumps, which work at either full capacity or are switched off in stages, inverters alter the speed of the pumps in direct response to demand. They also limit peaks in electrical usage. This keeps energy consumption and operating costs to a minimum.

Both IsoCool and Fluorocarbon were right to be confident in these energy saving technologies, as Shaun explained: “Our water chillers used to be on 24/7, 52 weeks of the year, they never shut down. Now thanks to the free cooler, the main chiller only comes on two to three months a year. The energy savings are massive”.

Results from the inverters have been equally impressive: “Our process pumps were a similar story – one of them was running all the time and we had a backup pump on stand-by. The inverters mean that we’re saving 25p an hour on the pump alone,” Shaun continued.

Based on the chilled water system running at 60% load factor, IsoCool calculated that the energy efficient upgrades would lower the running costs of the cooling system to approximately £6,800 – just a third of previous total. Factoring in the fees of the Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme, this gives the solution a payback of less than two years.

“We’ve been monitoring the energy consumption of our new system closely, and so far we’re right on track to achieving the savings which IsoCool predicted in their cost analysis. It’s basically a self-financing project – once the loan is paid back, we’ll be saving in excess of £13,000 every year,” explained Shaun.

Fluorocarbon is delighted with IsoCool’s work, as Shaun confirmed: “IsoCool did an excellent job with the installation. Because we run a 24/7 production, we can’t afford for the chillers to be shut down. IsoCool worked it so that there was no loss of production. Their site survey was extremely thorough too, and our savings forecast is spot on”.

Editors’ notes

Established in 2002 by Managing Director Nigel Hallett, IsoCool Ltd specialises in industrial cooling, designing, installing and maintaining energy-efficient cooling systems across a wide range of sectors, from plastics and packaging to engineering and food. IsoCool also provides high level environmental advice relating to the age and performance of existing cooling systems at client premises. For a full company profile or to arrange an interview with Nigel Hallett, please contact PrettyGood PR.

IsoCool: www.isocool.ltd.uk, info@isocool.ltd.uk, +44 (0)1376 328455.

With 50 years of experience and more than A 50% market share in global freezing and frozen food products, JBT FoodTech has the ability and knowledge to exactly meet customer requirements with the modular design of its Frigoscandia GYRoCOMPACT® chiller and freezer. Over the years, this technology has been generally accepted as the industry benchmark for quality, hygiene, operating simplicity and reliability.
Safe and efficient freezing with Frigoscandia
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foodtech.helsingborg@jbtc.com
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