Azanechiller 2.0 Sets New Benchmark in Air Cooled Ammonia Chiller Performance
Star Refrigeration’s latest air-cooled Azanechiller 2.0 range raises the bar in chiller efficiency. Headline seasonal efficiency figures are 50% higher than the Eco-Design Directive requirement, with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 5.6 for comfort cooling applications and Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) of 7.59 for process cooling.
Natural cooling specialists Star Refrigeration has re-engineered their new Azanechiller range to help customers reduce energy costs, avoid the uncertainty of synthetic f-gas refrigerants and invest in a future proof solution that will deliver reliable cooling for 20+ years. The company set about developing Azanechiller 2.0 by focusing on a chiller design and key components that would mark a new era in chiller efficiency. Through the combination of variable speed reciprocating compressors technology, EC fans, close approach evaporator design and in-house PLC software, Azanechiller delivers an efficiency that is 51% higher than the Eco-Directive and 20% higher than competing high efficiency chiller solutions.
Angus Gillies, Design Director at Star Refrigeration, explains: “The advent of inverted drive technology significantly enhances the efficiency and extends the maintenance interval of the compressor. This is a key factor in bringing reciprocating compressor into the new chiller.”
“With COP’s up to 3.63 at 100% load and 350C ambient, increasing to 11.9 at 50% load and typical UK ambient temperatures of 100C, the new Azanechiller 2.0 is 15% more efficient than its screw compressor counterpart at design conditions.”
During the development stages Star’s specialists engineering teams, including design, manufacture and maintenance departments worked together to manufacture a cooling system that would have reduced operating costs throughout its entire life cycle building on the company’s 4 decades of experience of innovation in ammonia refrigeration.
A low charge design uses a combined evaporator/separator to achieve refrigerant volumes as little as 0.18kg/kW. As ammonia has zero global warming potential, the chiller does not fall under the European f-gas regulation, unlike alternative technology using HFC refrigerants such as R134a and R410A.
Alan Walkinshaw, Director of Sales at Star Refrigeration, says: “We are very excited about the capabilities of the new and enhanced air-cooled Azanechiller 2.0. When setting out to develop the next generation of Azanechiller, we focused on meeting the demands of our customers for increased efficiency, lower refrigerant charge and improved capital cost. The Azanechiller 2.0 technology represents a new era for packaged ammonia systems in the chiller industry.”
“Azanechiller 2.0 has been brilliantly engineered to deliver consistent efficiency and reliability in highly demanding environments. It offers a 39% reduction in chiller weight compared to the previous model range and a 16 % improvement in seasonal running costs. This is achieved with an ammonia charge as little as 61kg.”
Each Azanechiller package is manufactured, charged, commissioned and run tested at Star Refrigeration’s production facility in Glasgow, Scotland. When delivered to site, installation and commissioning time is reduced to a matter of days based on the chiller’s plug and play design.
The Azanechiller 2.0 features two separate model ranges for high and medium temperature applications. This makes it suitable for a wide variety of end user markets including temperature controlled storage, food processing, beverage production, process cooling, HVAC, data centres, ice rinks, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries.
The high and medium temperature Azanechiller family supply cooling capacities ranging from 200kW to 1200kW for secondary fluid supply temperatures from -10C to +10C. Each chiller features a variable speed reciprocating compressor with IE3 drive motor, low profile air-cooled condenser with EC fans, compact plate and shell evaporator with integrated separator, PLC control and stainless panels. Options are available for remote access and alarm reporting, a second variable speed compressor and motor, Axitop condenser fans, heat recovery and witnessed performance testing.
To find more about making the natural choice with the enhance range of Azanechillers 2.0 visit www.star-ref.co.uk
