But supermarkets do have a choice. There are alternative refrigeration
systems available which are environmentally much more responsible,
technically proven, and commercially available.
But supermarkets do have a choice. There are alternative refrigeration
systems available which are environmentally much more responsible,
technically proven, and commercially available.
Numerous environmentally concerned supermarkets throughout Europe have
already installed HCFC and HFC-free 'Greenfreeze' technologies, using
secondary cooling systems for both chilling and freezing capacity. In
some locations, although HFCs have not been completely eliminated, the
volume of HFCs used has been significantly reduced with the installation
of a secondary cooling system.
Secondary cooling systems use coolants such as water, brine, glycols,
silicon oils, or binary ice to circulate through the refrigeration
cabinets. The coolant itself is chilled, through a heat exchanger by a
primary refrigeration circuit using ammonia or hydrocarbons.
This means that there is no longer the need to circulate a primary
coolant, such as CFCs or HCFCs throughout the store and the volume of
primary coolant needed is significantly reduced. The primary circuit is
usually located in a safely isolated plant room in the back of the
store.
The ideal secondary coolant will have: (a) constant temperature to give
even cooling in a long circuit; (b) good heat transfer properties for
energy efficiency; (c) high energy density to reduce coolant volume; (d)
low cost and easy maintenance; (e) no adverse environmental impacts.
A new product, marketed under the trademark Flo-Ice by Integral
Technologie GmbH of Germany , reportedly meets these requirements by
using a suspension of small ice-crystals in a water/ethanol mixture as
the secondary coolant. Integral has Flo-Ice technology partners in
Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Norway and Switzerland.
The Danish company Danfoss and the Danish Technological Institute are
both actively engaged in the development of secondary refrigerants and
indirect refrigeration systems.
There is a rapidly growing list of environmentally conscious
supermarkets in Europe that have already installed or are in the
process of installing secondary cooling refrigeration. These include
Migros Stores (Switzerland); Sainsburys , Marks & Spencers (UK); Match,
Cactus, Knauf (Luxembourg); Obs! (Norway); Grosso, Edeka (Germany);
ADEG, KGM, (Austria); Albert Heijn Store (Holland).
Suppliers of secondary cooling equipment are widespread in Europe and
North America.
The decision supermarkets now face will have long term implications for
their shareholders, customers, the environment and future generations.
It is in the financial interest of shareholders that supermarkets invest
in technologies that are environmentally sustainable. HCFC and HFC
technologies are harmful to the environment. They are therefore obsolete
and a bad investment. Environmentally alert customers will want to be
assured that their favourite supermarkets use environmentally
responsible technologies. Investing in environmentally safer secondary
cooling systems therefore makes good business sense.
