ATMOsphere Australia 2016 is delighted to announce a second round of case study selections for the event on 16 May in Melbourne.

Crossing parallel commercial and industrial sessions we’d like to congratulate BITZER, KAV Consulting (Australia), CRS (South Africa), EcoChill (NZ), Danfoss, Dorin, JCH Refrigeration Consulting (Australia) and The Natural refrigerants company (Australia), who will present the following case studies at ATMOsphere Australia 2016.

Transcritical CO₂ Combined Cooling System, Ian Suffield, Bitzer
The presentation will review Bitzer’s Transcritical CO₂ Combined Cooling Packages, delivered to Coles for their new store in Melbourne’s Coburg North. As part of this project, Bitzer designed, manufactured and supplied two identical triple temperature systems to supply 100% of the store’s low and medium temperature refrigeration requirements, as well as the store’s air conditioning and heating requirements via a CO₂ transcritical booster system with parallel compression. The system is a first for any commercial retail environment in Australasia.  Since opening in August 2015, the store has achieved significant energy savings compared to its business as usual R134a/ CO₂ hybrid systems, instantly becoming one of the most efficient stores in Coles’ fleet of supermarkets.

Applying CO₂ for all HVACR Applications Based on Energy Consumption of 800 Australian Supermarkets, Klaas Visser, KAV Consulting
The data obtained from 800 supermarkets charts their energy consumption/m2 of floor space across different climate zones in Australia. In his presentation, Visser will compare conventional HFC systems and CO₂/HFC cascade systems to CO₂ transcritical systems, including actual metered electrical energy consumption for air conditioning (AC), mid temperature (MT) and low temperature (LT) refrigeration and lighting. Analysing state-by-state across three different store sizes: up to 1,500 m2, 2,000-2,750 m2 and 3,000 m2, the study intends to show the benefits of applying CO₂ for all fixtures including AC, MT and LT refrigeration and heating in the cooler climates. Visser argues that supermarkets use seven times as much energy/m2 than Melbourne office spaces, and three times/m2 that of Melbourne hospitals and that CO₂ systems are far more energy efficient than HFC systems due to reduced refrigerant leakage.

CO₂ Transcritical Systems Operating in High Ambients, Wynand Groenewald, Commercial Refrigeration Services
Commercial Refrigeration Services has installed over 50 CO₂ transcritical systems in South Africa, that’s more than China, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand combined. In February 2016 CRS opened the first CO₂ training and R&D facility in Africa to train technicians and contractors on using and maintaining CO₂ systems such as the company’s CO₂ chillers, heat pumps and condensing units. The facility includes a section that resembles a small supermarket fitted with CO₂ cabinets and freezers. CRS has worked successfully for six years to prove the efficiency of CO₂ transcritical systems in a high ambient climate and with its close affiliation with Woolworths South Africa, hopes to soon bring its technology to Australian and New Zealand shores.

Comparison of Synthetic and Hydrocarbon System for Kiwifruit Cold Store, Matthew Darby, EcoChill
The technical paper compares a synthetic refrigeration system with a next-generation EcoChill hydrocarbon system for a Turners & Growers kiwifruit store in Kerikeri, New Zealand. The highly efficient hydrocarbon system includes a drastically reduced refrigerant charge. EcoChill is the leading manufacturer and supplier of commercial chiller systems using hydrocarbons and have also worked on the North Islands first subcritical CO₂ (2010), and transcritical CO₂ store (2012) for the New World supermarket chain.

CO₂ Plant Evolution of F. Mayer Distribution Centre, Ian Wilson, Strathbrook Industrial Services (Danfoss)
Strathbrook Industrial Services has operated in NSW for over 20 years. In the past 10, Strathbrook has shifted its focus to CO₂ systems for commercial refrigeration. F. Mayer is an importer of premium gourmet foods and a key supplier in the Australian market place. Six years ago Mayer expanded its distribution centre and turned to Strathbrook’s for the system Design. Since then, F. Mayer has expanded additional plants in Sydney and Melbourne with the case study comparing the three plants and the increase in energy efficiency over the past six years.

Transcritical CO₂ Compressor for Economised Cycle, Massimo Casini, Dorin
The case study examines the installation of a 4-cylinder CO₂ transcritical compressor to mitigate the presence of fluids at high temperature at the inlet of the gas cooler, which can lead to reduced cooling capacities and poor energy efficiency. The adoption of economised cycles is one of the most common methods for improving such performances, but these systems are more complicated and need the installation of two different compressors and devices for oil distribution. The 4-cylinder compressor has been specifically designed for such applications and this presentation showcases the results of an installation in a 50 kW air-to-water heat pump for high temperature water production.

R744 Claims the Middle Ground, Julian Hudson, JCH Refrigeration Consulting
The presentation covers the daunting proposition users of refrigeration are faced with when choosing which type of refrigeration system to choose. As the global phase down of HFCs continues the area of greatest concern, the presentation asserts, is the heavy commercial/light industrial sector (50kW-500kW) as this capacity range has typically used large quantities of HFCs (200kg-1000kg). These systems also use vast amounts of electricity, which further contribute to indirect CO₂ emissions. The comparative study contrasts several different system options for large commercial distribution centres among them R744 in cascade set-up with ammonia, CO₂ transcritical, ammonia two-stage and ammonia liquid recirculation systems, and HFC refrigerants.

Opportunities for hydrocarbon chillers in Australia, Ian Tuena, The Natural refrigerants company
The presentation puts forward hydrocarbon chillers with minimal charges as a practical solution for small chilled water or glycol systems, for multitude of system applications. Whether it be providing condensor cooling for CO₂ systems or chilled water for air conditioning and process applications, hydrocarbon systems are the logical final refrigerant solution for light commercial applications. Ideally suited for high ambient temperatures, hydrocarbons are energy efficient and carbon neutral, offering the Australian market a truly natural, future-proof solution.

Mayekawa Australia, Scantec Refrigeration Technologies, Gordon Brothers Industries, SCM Frigo, Carter Retail Equipment and Heatcraft Australia were all accepted during the first round of case study selections.

About ATMOsphere Australia 2016

The ATMO events are not only growing in size, but also conquering new territory, as the first ATMOsphere Australia 2016 will be held in Melbourne on 16 May. Established as a significant forum for discussions on the business case for natural refrigerants in several regions, the focus will now shift to Australia and New Zealand. The ATMOsphere Australia 2016 participants will discover emerging trends in commercial and industrial refrigeration as well as air conditioning with natural refrigerants.

The conference will consist of a full programme of end user and supplier panels, policy, market trends and technology case study sessions, without forgetting the unparalleled networking opportunities. An exclusive reception will be the perfect ending to this information-packed one-day event. ATMOsphere Australia 2016 is a truly unique opportunity to meet and build lasting partnerships with leading end users, contractors, suppliers and government representatives.

To register for the event, click here.

View the preliminary programme.

For more information about ATMOsphere Australia 2016, please visit http://www.atmo.org/australia2016.