Refrigeration systems for BREEAM 'Very Good'

Effective and energy efficient

For its new distribution center, AFL Barendrecht was looking for a specialist for the refrigeration system for storage and transshipment, trans- and packaging of fruit and vegetables and ripening of exotic fruit. This led them naturally to Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions.

For the design of the industrial refrigeration installation for the storage/transfer of the products and ripening of exotic fruit, Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions, in cooperation with AFL Barendrecht, first mapped out the requirements. Based on this, they designed the most optimal and energy-efficient cooling installation with a cooling capacity of 1.25 MW. The heat produced by the cooling installation is used to heat the ripening rooms and the floor heating of the freezer cells. As a member of the construction team, Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions made the design visual in BIM. In this way, all developments were always coordinated with the fellow construction team members and construction could proceed quickly and smoothly. 

Natural refrigerants

Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions works exclusively with the natural refrigerants ammonia (NH₃), CO2 and/or a combination of these. Owner Marc Paauw explains the designed refrigeration system, "We condition the cold rooms with an ammonia pump system. Ammonia has a Global Warming Potential of zero. In addition, for AFL we chose a combination of NH₃ and CO2. Two of the sixteen cold rooms can be used as freezing rooms; this freezing process is CO2-based. The CO2 freezing section is integrated into the central ammonia refrigeration system."

Fixed principles

Working with natural refrigerants is not an exception but the rule within Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions. "When designing installations, we apply two important principles," Paauw explains. "First, the installation must ensure that products are stored optimally. In addition, it must be as energy-efficient as possible. Naturally, this works out well for AFL. The refrigeration installation is the biggest energy consumer in this type of distribution center. What counts for us is the Global Warming Potential of zero. That's what we want! That's why we have specialized in this." 

Knowledge, skill and experience

Another example of enthusiasm is shown by Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions at the ripening rooms for exotic fruit. Knowledge, skill and experience flow together here. "The ripening chambers are filled with high-quality products, which the supplier wants to have ripened in a controlled and even manner. In this, our people are true specialists. With our advanced ripening control software, they can realize the optimum ripening of the product. The scope of the project is also in good hands with them. At AFL, we are talking about a capacity of 1.25 MW, but they have already successfully completed projects of up to 4 MW."