02 May 2019
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 | Star Refrigeration says its new generation of industrial pre-packaged low charge ammonia freezers set a new benchmark in annual operating efficiency. Designed for food processing and temperature controlled storage applications, the Azanefreezer 2.0 is charged with as little as 0.52 kg/kW of ammonia. |
 | We’re really excited about the launch of Azanefreezer 2.0 because the stunning improvement in energy consumption sets a new benchmark landscape for freezer performance. A European study from the International Institute of Refrigeration showed average European energy consumption figures for chilled and frozen storage facilities across Europe were about 50% higher than the figure declared to be “Best Practice” by the UK Government. However, Star says that recent energy performance data analysis for Azanefreezer 2.0 indicates its annual energy usage is one-third of that of the UK’s ‘Best Practice’ guidelines. Rob Lamb, group sales and marketing director at Star Refrigeration, said: “We’re really excited about the launch of Azanefreezer 2.0 because the stunning improvement in energy consumption sets a new benchmark landscape for freezer performance. “As a pre-packaged low charge ammonia freezer, the Azanefreezer 2.0 is completely unique in the industry.” Low charge The Azanefreezer 2.0 uses onboard PLC hardware and software to deliver optimised system efficiency including compressor sequencing and condenser and evaporator EC fan speed control. It also takes advantage of the variable Vi capability of the compressor by using an air-cooled condenser and allowing the discharge pressure to drop extremely low in cold weather, thus improving the seasonal efficiency of the system. Additionally, Star’s patented 4-way valve also delivers a rapid reverse cycle defrost, using less energy than electric or hot gas systems. The low charge ammonia design of the Azanefreezer 2.0 reduces refrigerant charge by up to 96% compared to traditional ammonia systems and avoids the need for complex valve stations within the cold storage or food production facility. This removes the requirement for leak detection and ventilation, minimising health and safety concerns. Ammonia has no harmful global warming effect and delivers efficient operation across a wide range of operating conditions, helping end users to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. With UK government emission conversion factors of 283 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, data from a recent Azanefreezer 2.0 installation indicates the cold storage operator is set to cut carbon emissions by 453 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to the ‘Best Practice’ guidelines. This saving rises to 815 tonnes of CO2 per year when compared to the typical cooling demand of similar operational cold stores across Europe. Plug-and-play The Azanefreezer 2.0 is available in a range of capacities up to 650kW and delivers temperatures down to -40°C. For larger capacity installations, multiple units can be used for cold storage and blast and spiral freezing applications. The packaged freezer units’ portable design allows customers to easily relocate it should they need to expand their site or move premises, thereby reducing future costs. It is manufactured and pre-commissioned at Star’s production facilities in the UK. When delivered to site, installation and commissioning time is said to be reduced significantly due to the unit’s plug-and-play design. The Azanefreezer 2.0 is also available for the US and South American markets, where it is manufactured and sold through Star’s low charge ammonia business, Azane Inc. and joint venture CAz. www.star-ref.co.uk |
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