A C Goatham have previous experience with the SRS secondary refrigeration systems – which will in time replace all other existing DX refrigeration systems which have a much more harmful effect on the environment – at Howt Green Farm, where Paddock Wood based ICA had built 12 similar Hycool SRS cold stores for the company 2 years ago.
“We have seen our electricity bills fall by between 35 and 40%”, said senior partner Clive Goatham. “This is more than ICA originally claimed for the system and is very impressive”.
While the Frigadon Hycool secondary system is much cheaper to run, that is not its main appeal. “It’s a benefit, certainly, but the real advantage is that it has such a fast product temp pull down that the fruit can be stored in peak condition because
the field heat is removed so quickly”, Clive explained.
“The capital cost of the system is greater, but in the future, it is possible that DX systems may be gradually phased out, so growers will have to carefully consider the option of Secondary Refrigerant Systems to future proof their businesses. In the meantime the fast pull down and the electricity savings are impressive and the fruit, even after 9-12 months storage, is as fresh and crispy as the day it was harvested”
The new stores feature ICA’s gas-tight sliding doors with double glazed inspection
windows and are constructed from the latest Kingspan PIR panel system, approved by all major insurers.
2 x 350kW Frigadon Hycool Chillers, Lake Breeze Fruit Farm, USA
The stores will be gas proof-ed using the Ribbfill system. The Secondary Refrigerant System installed by STS Ltd at Goatham’s boasts two externally – sited chillers encased in Stainless Steel and housing the primary refrigerant plant, which consists of Bitzer compressors using Propylene (propene) R1270 as the primary refrigerant. Propylene is a natural gas with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) rating of 3 and an
ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) of nil.
The Hycool heat transfer fluids are also Zero GWP and Zero ODP.
This development is a tribute to the joint efforts between fruit growers and SRS Frigadon who provide all the Secondary Refrigeration System equipment and designs utilising the biodegradable, food safe and non-toxic Hycool potassium formate heat transfer fluids.
The high volumetric efficiencies associated with HYCOOL compared with other fluids will insure minimal energy consumption. The rapid removal of product field heat is
achieved by using HYCOOL as the circulating heat transfer fluid and is the key to the long term preservation of quality and flavour of the fruit through long term chill storage.
In addition to the second successful SRS installation for A C Goatham Fruit Growers
other examples of using SRS Frigadon energy efficient HYCOOL fluid systerms
incorporating the SRS ‘BTL’ Blow through fruit coils is clearly demonstrated by many
other fruit growers in the UK and the USA namely:
- Cherry Lawns, New York State.
- Lake Breeze, New York State.
- Wye Fruits, Hereford, UK
- Cawston, British Columbia
- A C Goatham’s, Kent, UK
Such Refrigeration System Engineering for the fruit grower will be on display at the forthcoming Fruit Logistica Show in Berlin, 7th- 8th Feb. Please visit SRS-Frigadon Ltd Stand B13, Hall 6.
For more information:SRS Frigadon Ltd
Tel: +44(0)1789 450 982
Email: info@srs-frigadon.com
www.srs-frigadon.com