A margarine manufacturer in the West African country of Guinea has chosen a transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration system for a new production facility, according to German OEM TEKO, which provided the rack.
However, the project isn’t yet complete because the parties ran into a somewhat unusual challenge part way through, in addition to the usual COVID-19 issues most projects have been dealing with in the past two years. In September of last year Guinea experienced a military coup, which upended normal business dealings, and for the moment the project is still on hold.
The reported advantages of the system would make it worth waiting for. “With CO2 the end user can get better product quality because of a smaller temperature difference between R744 and the cooled butter” than in other systems, TEKO said.
The CO2 system costs about the same as an equivalent ammonia system, according to TEKO.
The margarine producer, which has not been named, chose a G6 rack from TEKO with 344kW (97.8TR) cooling capacity. The system is equipped with parallel compressors, a controlled superheater for suction gas, and a liquid separator to raise the evaporation temperature. It also sports a liquid subcooler after the gas cooler to lower the gas cooler outlet temperature.
The rack includes Danfoss controls with a new AKSM System Manager, and a Modine gas cooler with special anti-corrosion Electro-fin coating. The system also features heat recovery.
The project was carried out in collaboration with Icelandic contractor Kaelitaekni doing design, consulting and installation of the refrigeration project. Kaelitaekni will also be doing servicing once the system is finished.
“With CO2 the end user can get better product quality because of a smaller temperature difference between R744 and the cooled butter”
TEKO
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