The best cooling performance at the lowest energy cost

Freezing, cooling and heating

In refrigeration technology, Van Kempen Koudetechniek has already taken on many challenges. After all, its ambition is to realize all of its clients' wishes. At Damco-Maersk Coldstore and Warehouse, the challenge lies in the mega size. The entire area had to be equipped with refrigeration technology using CO2 as the natural refrigerant.

We are talking about colossal refrigeration and freezer cells, each eighteen meters high, in which room temperatures of +15 to -20°C are guaranteed with CO2 refrigeration systems. To minimize the moisture load of the freezer cells, the expeditions are equipped with refrigeration technology that also allows drying. "That brings the total capacity of the freezer cells to 700 kW and that of the refrigeration cells to 2,400 kW," says Frank Boeijen, sales manager at Van Kempen Koudetechniek. 

Heating and cooling with glycol

The expeditions, cold rooms, processing areas and air handling units are cooled with glycol. Boeijen: "We use cold or hot glycol for the cooling and heating of the cooling section, with which we can defrost, heat and dry. This makes maximum use of the waste heat from the refrigeration units. The adjacent cross dock is also heated with the waste heat from the refrigeration plants. Only when the waste heat cannot be used indoors do we dispose of it."

Heating and cooling of the glycol is done in the central machine room with four central cooling units for the cooling section and two for the freezing section. 

VK Dynamics system 

The control of the installations is done with the VK Dynamics system. This system was developed entirely within Van Kempen Koudetechniek. It guarantees the best cooling performance at the lowest energy costs and remotely monitors this performance 24/7.

Subsidiary of Unica

The execution of a project of this size requires thorough preparation. Right now, the engineering department is running at full speed to work out the installations in 3D, with the October 2024 deadline creating considerable time pressure. "Fortunately, we are part of Unica; that gives the customer financial security. We can also call on Unica for additional know-how and manpower if necessary."