Usually, CO2 contributes to global warming, but in the new stores at Opticool, part of Agro Merchants, in the port of Rotterdam, CO2 actually contributes to cooling apples, pears and grapes. The new Opticool cooling installation uses CO2 as a natural coolant (CO2 is naturally present in the air, after all) instead of synthetic coolants like R404A, R134A, R407F, etc.
Plug 'n' play installation
The installation is built in a shipping container, so it can be moved easily. In June 2015, Unitherm started using the new cooling installation based on natural coolants. The installation consists of a 45 container set up outside, in and on which the entire ammonia / CO2 cooling station is built. Two industrial screw compressors, with a cascade condenser, handle the cooling of CO2. The cold CO2 is circulated under high pressure to all coolers in the various fruit cells.
Residual heat
The cooling installation contains another novelty: defrosting the air coolers is done with 100% residual heat, instead of electrical heating elements that devour electricity. With the new cooling installation, Opticool is taking an important step toward its ambition to realize a smaller carbon footprint through lower energy use combined with natural coolants.
In addition to an eco-friendly installation, Opticool's most important wishes were:
- Low energy use
- Reuse residual heat
- Suitable to cool up to -2°C for storing apples, pears, grapes and other products
- Optimal air circulation for an even distribution among all the racks
- Modern control through PLC, which can also be operated by smartphone
- Cooling station that can be easily moved in future
Roelof Spaans
Unitherm
Mob: +31(0)6 1440 3009
Roelof@unitherm.nl
www.unitherm.nl