Japanese OEM Panasonic has provided a compact and lightweight CO2 condensing unit that Greencold, a U.K. refrigeration and air-conditioning firm, has installed in a mobile demonstration trailer that it is also renting out.
Greencold has identified the trailer as an efficient educational tool that it can take out to customers to prove that a “CO2 cooling system is nothing to be frightened about,” according to a release on Panasonic’s website.
“We had always wanted a large cold-room test facility in our premises to enable us to carry out product testing for our customers for both chill and freeze temperatures,” said Simon Andrew, Director of Greencold, in the release, “However, due to limited space inside our workshop we decided that it would be a better idea to construct a mobile CO2 cooling system in a refrigerated box trailer.”
This could then be parked both on our premises and also taken to our customers site to test their products locally or demonstrate the technology,” added Andrew. “Panasonic worked with us to develop a perfect solution.”
Aiming to utilize the income potential of its new mobile refrigerated trailer, Greencold has set up a sister company, QuickFreeze, which rents it out to events, hospitality functions and pop-up stalls, and as emergency back-up for food and pharmaceutical companies with refrigeration needs. The trailer can help avoid logistical challenges faced when using a standard-sized truck, which is not always convenient for smaller drop-off locations, noted the Panasonic release.
One of QuickFreeze’s customers is a youth football (soccer) club that used the trailer for a tournament, where it was parked on-site next to a portacabin where food was being prepared for the players.
“We commissioned QuickFreeze to set up the trailer for chilled conditions which enabled us to serve the food and replenish the stocks quickly,” said Chris Terry, Team Chairman of FC Aztec Youth. “The event ran trouble free for the whole of the tournament from Friday to Saturday evening and made our life a lot easier.”
“The CO2 branding on the trailer also caused a few heads to turn and brought attention to the visiting public and showed the importance of green refrigerant technology,” Terry added.
The compact Panasonic CO2 condensing unit is a single two-stage temperature system measuring 93x80x35cm (36.6×31.5×13.8 inches) and weighing 67kg (147.7lbs). It is also quiet, with a noise level of 35-36 dB(A), said Panasonic. Based on monitoring data, the units deliver 16% energy savings for refrigeration, and a 25% saving for freezing applications, compared to traditional units using R404A, according to Panasonic.
“The Panasonic range has been specifically developed for small to medium capacity applications within the refrigerated retail and food service sectors,” said Paul Taylor, UK Sales Manager for Panasonic. “Furthermore, by combining reliability and efficiency with the natural refrigerant CO2, the range removes any risk of future costs associated with the f-gas refrigerant phase out whilst also minimizing energy use and operating costs.”
Carrier Transicold, a U.S.-based refrigerated transport company, also markets a transcritical CO2 container refrigeration unit for ocean transport and trucks.
