FEATURE |
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
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Image by aleksandarlittlewolf | on Freepik
cutting-edge tools and resources , they remain largely unused on the shop floor . The clash between our potential and the reality of underutilisation creates a significant conflict . On one hand , corporate buyers recognise the value of our solutions and seek them out . On the other hand , those on the shop floor fail to perform the necessary maintenance .
“ Smaller businesses , like the corner cafe , would typically opt for basic , entrylevel offerings . However , even these simplified cooldrink displays are equipped with essential functionalities . With proper installation , adequate ventilation , and periodic cleaning of the condenser , these units can effortlessly last for two decades without causing a minute of trouble . The
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question then arises : Can store owners handle these simple maintenance tasks themselves ? The answer is yes – for our coolers we provide instructional videos on YouTube and comprehensive manuals that guide them through the process .”
BIG ENERGY CUTS AT DANISH SUPERMARKET A busy Danish supermarket reduced its annual heating bill by 89.7 % and its CO₂ footprint by 6.7 tons a year by making use of the waste heat from its refrigeration system . Instead of letting the heat simply dissipate , as most supermarkets still do , a Danfoss Heat Recovery Unit ( HRU ) now recycles it to heat the store ’ s 1 900 m 2 and provide plenty of hot tap water year-round .
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In a modern supermarket with aisles full of refrigerators and freezers , the amount of heat is significant — and enough to heat the entire supermarket and its hot water if it can be properly recycled .
According to Morten Birkebæk , store manager at MENY ’ s Fredericia supermarket in Denmark , making better use of waste heat was a ‘ win-win ’. “ As a merchant with responsibility for the store ’ s bottom line , I ’ m of course interested in cutting unnecessary costs wherever possible ,” he explains . “ But if we can reduce our carbon footprint at the same time and do it all in a way that is hassle-free for our customers and employees , then count me in .”
The business case for recycling heat from the store ’ s CO₂ refrigeration system was clear . “ The calculations were straightforward ,” Birkebæk recalls . “ We knew how many kWh we needed to heat the store and provide it with hot water , and we knew what we were paying the district heating company for that energy . Danfoss and the installer , Dansk Varmegenvinding , proposed a turnkey solution that included everything : the hardware , connections , installation , and a service agreement . With their help , we calculated the payback period for the investment , and it was good . My only concern was making sure that the installation and operation of the heat recovery unit would not complicate the lives of my staff .”
After a full year of operations , Birkebæk can now see precisely how much energy , money , and CO₂ the store has saved . During the first year , MENY in Fredericia reduced
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its energy consumption by 135 MWh in total , with 56 MWh coming directly from the Danfoss Heat Recovery Unit ( HRU ) and 79 mWh through a year-ong Danfoss EnergyTrimTM contract . What ’ s more , the store reduced its carbon footprint by 6.7 tons of CO₂ , close to that of a car driving around the equator .
The best part , according to store manager Morten Birkebæk , not one of his 55 employees noticed a thing during installation or the first year of operation . CLA
MENY Fredericia Cooling pack : CO₂ system with 165 MT and 25 LT kWh from Knudsen Køling / EPTA HRU installed : DSA HRU 2 HE 85D CO₂ 100 S Store size : 1 900 m 2
REFERENCE :
1 . Various articles on Danfoss website
2 . Unido : https :// www . unido . org / ourfocus-safeguarding-environmentimplementation-multilateral-environmentalagreements-montreal-protocol / retail-sector-refrigeration-and-energyefficiency
Challenges still arise in effectively utilising the gathered data and incorporating it into internal processes .
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