Roundy's, grocer in the Midwest of the US opened its first CO2 transcritical store, the Pick 'n Save supermarket in Menomonee Falls, on 14 January 2014. The store is one of the nation’s greenest supermarkets. Its Hillphoenix Advansor CO2 booster system is expected to yield a total carbon footprint reduction of around 11,793 tonnes over 10 years.
Our system is the first of its kind in Wisconsin to use carbon dioxide as its refrigerant," said James Hyland, Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for Roundy's. The adoption of the CO2 transcritical refrigeration system is an example of Roundy's commitment to shift towards using natural refrigerants.
State-of-the-art refrigeration technologies
The Menomonee Falls Pick n’ Save runs on Hillphoenix’s Advansor transcritical booster system that entirely eliminates the use of HFCs. Roundy’s is using the new store to test an array of energy efficient and green technologies including Hillphoenix cases and Clearvoyant™ LEDs, and a Micro Thermo full case controller and Micro Thermo transcritical rack controller designed by Parker Sporlan specifically for CO2 systems, which optimise the Hillphoenix Advansor system by ensuring precise control over case operation, leading to lower energy usage and reducing temperature shocks to food.
From building materials to energy management systems and even operational efficiencies, the new store has many sustainable features.
Advantages of the transcritical CO2 system
- The Hillphoenix Advansor transcritical CO2 booster system utilises CO2 as the only refrigerant, covering both medium-temperature and low-temperature loads.
- CO2 has a high temperature heat of rejection, making it ideal for heat reclamation applications and efficient hot gas defrosting.
- CO2 systems operate under much higher pressures than conventional HFC-based systems. Many CO2 systems require steel piping throughout and could carry a higher risk of pressure-related system breakdowns. The Hillphoenix Advansor system eliminates those concerns by perfecting the use of pressure reducing valves so that everything inside of the store operates under lower pressure, as it would with an HFC-based system. Contractors can use copper piping and retailers can rest knowing that their system maintains pressures within a range normally found in traditional DX systems.
- Hillphoenix R&D capabilities ensure that CO2 technology is a viable option for every merchandising configuration. From walk-ins to custom specialty cases, Advansor technology is available across all Hillphoenix product lines.
Green technologies help to reduce costs
Pick ‘n Save’s CO2 system is expected to yield a total carbon footprint reduction of 25,999,997 lbs. (around 11,793 tonnes) over 10 years — the equivalent of removing more than 430,000 cars from the road for per year. In addition to the green appeal of CO2, it’s a much less expensive alternative to HFC refrigerants.
“The technology does cost more money, but the installation cost is lower than for similar systems we’re using elsewhere. Also, CO2 is cheaper on the operation side compared to glycol and other refrigerants,” said James Hyland, Roundy’s VP of investor and corporate communications.
We will be conducting an energy analysis through all four seasons,” Hyland added. “We know what to expect from the system, and it appears the cost of the system balances out with comparable systems due to lower installation and operating costs.”
Industry acceptance expected to increase as more CO2 systems are built
In the USA, CO2 transcritical systems are still relatively new to supermarket applications, and some question the higher capital cost involved with such technology. Nevertheless as companies like Roundy’s demonstrate the advantages of CO2, industry acceptance will no doubt increase.
About Roundy’s
Roundy’s is a leading grocer in the Midwest of USA with nearly $4.0 billion (€2.97 bn) in sales and more than 20,000 employees. Founded in Milwaukee in 1872, Roundy’s operates 163 retail grocery stores and 101 pharmacies under the Pick ‘n Save, Rainbow, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano’s retail banners in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.
About Hillphoenix
Hillphoenix Inc., a Dover Company, is based in Conyers, Ga. The company designs and manufactures commercial refrigerated display cases and specialty products, refrigeration systems, integrated power distribution systems and walk-in coolers and freezers and also specialises in training and design through its Learning and Design Centres.
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By Huiting Jia
Feb 04, 2014, 17:17
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