By Kent Penning, Founder of Cold Craft, Inc.

Cold Craft, Inc. works in the bay area on commercial and residential heating, cooling and refrigeration.  The firm recently upgraded frozen equipment for a family owned super market in Sunnyvale, CA.

The project consisted of:

• Installing new Zero Zone Cases the most energy efficient cases available.
• Conversion of the refrigerant to an more environmentally friendly gas (from R-22 to R-404A)
• Replacement of the compressor with the more modern, energy efficient Bitzer compressor.

This story really is a focus on the compressor, since it is carrying the load for the new cases.  The original compressor, a 3HP Copeland was replaced with a smaller 2HP Bitzer compressor.  There are a number of reasons why a smaller more energy efficient compressor could be used:

• First the original compressor was larger than what was needed for the job. We find this quite often with HVACR equipment where the equipment is oversized and sometimes the size of the equipment is what causes problems in the operation of the equipment.
• The new cases are dramatically more energy efficient than the old replaced cases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this equipment is used for food it is important to run continuously throughout the day with a total running time of 16 to 18 hours a day. Reducing the horsepower on the compressor to cool these cases by 1 horsepower is one way to reduce energy consumption.  The changing of the refrigerant helps in this area too.  The old refrigerant required that a head cooling fan run and the new Bitzer compressor does not need this head cooling fan with this refrigerant.  The lower horsepower and refrigerant change is resulting in the grocer experiencing lower energy consumption and thus lower operating expense.

Pete Russell, the Bitzer Compressor Rep promoted how smooth and well balanced the Bitzer compressors are.  As with all sales claims, we didn’t believe that there would be much of a difference compared to other compressors.  The technician and I were impressed as to how smooth the Bitzer compressor was, actually because it was so quiet we were skeptical if the unit was operating, so we placed our hand on the compressor to verify that it was indeed running.

Oil pressure protection is important with compressors.  The older model Copeland did not have a method for oil pressure protection. This smaller Bitzer unit however has an optical oil protection accessory to verify that the compressor has oil.  This is a nice upgrade.

I am very impressed with the Bitzer compressor, the smooth quiet operation and energy efficiency.  The quiet operation was welcomed by the grocer but the energy efficiency really matters their bottom line.

Grocers in the San Francisco Bay Area looking to lower operating expenses can call Cold Craft, Inc. at 408.374.7292 or email us at [email protected]

If you need help with temperature, contact Cold Craft, Inc.

408.374.7292 or [email protected]