Supermarket Refrigeration

Volume 22, No.3/2004

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In this issue

Supermarkets are very energy-intensive and the energy supply system can get quite complex, as there are needs for cooling at different temperature levels, yet there can also be a simultaneous need for heating. Supermarket refrigeration systems received considerable attention during the 21st IIR Conference in Washington in 2003, where the Heat Pump Centre took part in a workshop on this topic. Points of particular interest in this field are the question about direct or indirect systems, energy-efficient components such as display cases, integration of systems, and also how to reduce refrigerant leakage which, according to several of the authors in this issue of the HPC Newsletter, is large.

Heat Pump News

China regulates air conditioner efficiency
With effect from March 2005, air conditioners on the Chinese market must meet a prescribed minimum efficiency if they are to be sold.
(p. 5)

Coca-Cola and McDonalds plan
to reduce the use of HFCs
In July, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Unilever announced that they plan to reduce the use of HFC refrigerants. (p. 11)

New Chinese production record
36 million air conditioning units were produced in China from September 2003 until May 2004: an output that exceeded that of the entire preceding year. (p. 9)

Publications

New publication policy for the HPC Newsletter
The HPC Newsletter will in future be freely available only to countries that are members of the Heat Pump Programme. (p. 12)

Results from research on CO2 in compression systems
The final report from the ‘Selected issues on CO2 in compression systems’ research project is now available from the Heat Pump Centre. (p. 12)

Topical Articles

Energy-efficient supermarket display cases
An improvement of 20-25 % in the energy efficiency of refrigerated display cabinets in shops - this is the objective of an American research project for supermarket refrigeration systems. (p. 14)

Comparative analysis of direct and indirect systems in commercial refrigeration
Heat transfer in heat exchangers in directly coupled refrigeration systems is much poorer than in heat exchangers in indirect systems. (p. 17)

Energy efficiency in Canadian supermarkets
Cooling in this demonstration project is supplied to display cabinets via an indirect system. The system is integrated with the shop's HVAC system, and also re-covers heat via a secondary loop. (p. 21)

Development of integrated “convenience pack” systems for cooling, freezing and air-conditioning
Energy consumption for refrigeration, freezing and air conditioning in convenience stores can be halved by combining the services into a single integrated whole instead of, as is common today, having three separate systems. (p. 24)

Non-topical Articles

Optimal control of vapour compression cycles
A global optimisation strategy can give major energy savings. (p. 27)