PROJECT
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
CO 2 trans-critical installation— a processing plant first
By John Ackermann
A deep commitment to producing delicatessen products that are of the highest quality, safe to eat, and have the least impact on the environment, swayed the decision towards CO 2 refrigeration for the new BM Food Manufacturers plant in Montague Gardens.
To meet an increase in the demand for their popular range of Mediterranean Delicacies branded products, BM Food Manufacturers opted to completely revamp their 18-year-old plant in Montague Gardens, Cape Town. The interior of the 1 200m 2 building, with its simplex R22 refrigeration units, was totally gutted. The new plant needed to meet EU standards, be energy efficient, and have minimal impact on the environment. In the processing of readyto-eat soups and prepared meals, the refrigeration plant consumes the largest portion of power.
As the long-standing refrigeration contractor to BM Food Manufacturers, Richard Drinkrow of Mainstream Refrigeration was asked to design a plant that would meet all the requirements and place Mediterranean ahead of future market trends. A plant with a refrigerant that would not be threatened by international environmental agreements was a key consideration. Of all the refrigerants available, natural refrigerants in the form of CO 2 and ammonia with a global warming potential of 1 and 0, have the least impact on the environment
The coil of the electronic‘ descaler’ is wrapped around the outside of the water feed pipe. Scaling is prevented by the ionisation of the water.
A pressure regulator maintains sufficient pressure at all the takeoff points of hot water when any tap is opened.
Photos by John Ackermann
The first building on the Montague Gardens site has administration offices, it stores finished products, and has a production area for dips and meze.
28 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2018