Energy-efficient cooling starts at the source

The chiller-freezer units in DC Lekkerland were supplied by Pool Koudetechniek, a specialist in custom projects. A freezer section and a refrigerated section were installed for DC Lekkerland, whereby the refrigerated section can later be converted to a freezer section. The loading docks were also refrigerated. The residual heat from the cooling/freezing installations is used for underfloor heating and wall heating, against condensation from the cooled storage section.

Refrigeration works on the basis of the natural refrigerant ammonia. In principle, refrigerated rooms are large consumers of energy. That is why they are designed both structurally and installation-wise to consume as little energy as possible, explains director René Siertsema of Pool Koudetechniek. "It starts at the source: preventing energy loss through good insulation. The cells are equipped with an insulated floor in combination with underfloor heating, as in this case. The rooms are insulated with 170 mm thick Quadcore panels."

Combination with solar roof

Most heat loss from the cold rooms normally occurs at the loading docks. To prevent this, these are equipped with double doors. Furthermore, the cooling system works in combination with sustainable generation: solar panels on the roofs. Siertsema: "The combination is ideal: when the panels generate the most energy, such as on hot days, the building usually needs the most cooling. Since you can no longer supply the generated energy back to the grid, using your own solar panels for building cooling is also future-proof."

Control Technology

"We make sure that the waste heat from the refrigerator-freezer system is reused. In this case, that is the underfloor heating, which prevents the ground under the freezer cell from freezing. We also always deliver the logistics centers we install ready to use. The installation is equipped with extensive and user-friendly management and registration systems, and energy consumption can be fully monitored. It is also ensured that the cooling system switches on and off as little as possible," Siertsema concludes.