Cold Link Africa Cold Link AfricaOctober 2018_digital | Page 31

PROJECT
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
1. Finished products are dispatched from
BM Foods in company-owned vehicles.
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2. At the heart of the system: two
low-temperature, three medium-
temperature, and two parallel semi-
hermetic Frascold compressors, all fitted
with VFDs.
3. Roof spaces are fitted with solar panels
to minimise grid power usage.
4. The three air-cooled water coolers are
piped in parallel and each have four
ebm-papst EC fans with speeds that
vary between 0 and 1 080rpm. In the far
background, on right, is the R22 plant
system of the first building on the site.
5. The rise in air temperature in the three-
stage blast chiller is minimal when a
trolley of hot product is added to the
other already cooled.
6. Air temperature in the dispatch area is
maintained between 0 and 3°C.
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and no likelihood of being phased out by
environmental laws or agreements.
Based on experience and emerging
international trends, Drinkrow
recommended CO 2 . “Because of the
high pressures and piping standards, we
expected the capital outlay to be much
higher than a conventional plant with
synthetic refrigerants. Although marginally
higher, the CO 2 plant had the benefit of a
higher efficiency, virtually zero direct global
warming, and a high production volume
of hot water. The high-pressure, high-
temperature CO 2 from the compressors,
pass through a plate heat exchanger and
heats cooled water to between 40 and
45°C,” says Drinkrow.
CONSTANT HOT WATER CUTS
PRODUCTION TIME
“Large volumes of hot water are needed
for hand washing, cleaning, and the
making of soups. With a constant supply of
hot water, the production time of soup has
been halved. Hand washing, hygiene, and
productivity is better than ever, and all our
instant gas and electrical water heaters
have been removed. The high power bill for
heating water has been vastly reduced,”
says Costas Vayanos, CEO of BM Food
Manufacturers.
The Mediterranean Delicacies plant in
Montague Gardens has three refrigeration
circuits housed in different buildings. The
office and admin block have a R22-charged
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COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2018
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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