In this installation EPTA achieved a new level of system optimization, by fully satisfying refrigeration and AC load of an hypermarket in Victoria, Australia.
The combined AC and refrigeration system foresees two separated packs, one for refrigeration and one for AC, but highly integrated:
- single receiver, sized to manage the whole refrigeration charge
- single high pressure valve HPV and single high pressure line, to deliver high efficiency in every ambient conditions
- single gas cooler, to reduce installation costs
- direct expansion AC evaporators feeding through dedicated transcritical expansion valves
- ETE technology, to reduce overall energy consumption and guarantee high reliability in extreme conditions
- ECO2Giant pack
- ETE technology
- AC separate module
- MT design load 165 kW
- LT design load 31 kW
- AC design load: 188 kW
- Store surface: 3000 m2
The most relevant benefit for the final customer is represented by the use of a single natural refrigerant, CO2, throughout the entire store, while maintaining high energy performance also in AC mode, thanks to the absence of secondary water circuits.
In fact, direct expansion AC evaporators are installed into the Air Handling Unit, and protected by automatic shutoff valves to prevent CO2 charge release in case of leakage.
Moreover, the system footprint is significantly lower compared to a dedicated AC unit, significantly reducing the installation time and costs.
The graph shows the most relevant variables of the system, highlighting the operational stability of the AC during the activation and the non-affect on the regular function of the remote cabinet refrigeration cycle.
When the ETE system activates, the gas cooler outlet temperature decreases thanks to the sub-cooler, and so the efficiency increases (15 to 35% at temperatures higher than 25°C), all without affecting the regular function of the AC cycle.
The data confirms that activating the ETE system boosts efficiency by reducing the gas cooler outlet temperature, all while maintaining full AC stability and without affecting the refrigeration cycle.
