The North American division of Danish manufacturer Danfoss has unveiled a suite of components designed to support transcritical CO2 rack systems for small-format stores or partial retrofits of larger stores.
The product suite, called the CO2 MiniPack Solution, is suited to the growing number of small-format stores worldwide, particularly in urban areas. While propane (R290) self-contained cabinets are widely used in these stores, many small-format retailers are employing small-capacity CO2 booster rack systems or condensing units (the latter especially in Japan).
The CO2 MiniPack Solution consists of five new products:
- AK-PC 572 Pack Controller, a regulating unit for capacity control of compressors and gas cooler in small-capacity CO₂ booster systems, with capacities between 20 and 70kW (5.7 and 19.9TR).
- CCMT Light Stepper Valve, an electric pressure-regulating valve optimized for transcritical CO2 refrigeration. It can be used as a high pressure gas cooler control valve or as a gas bypass valve.
- EKE 1P, a stepper valve driver that can also be used as an extension module for other Danfoss controllers.
- VLT FC280 Refrigeration Drive, provides motor control for machine builders in the food and beverage, material handling and processing industries.
- EKE 2U – A backup power module designed to protect the compressor in case of power loss.
“The new CO2 MiniPack Solution makes it easy for the owners of small-format stores to harness the benefits of CO2,” said Danfoss in a statement.
The CO2 MiniPack Solution could be used with a small rack in a small-format store or a “retrofit of a run of cases or walk-ins” in a larger store, said Peter Dee, Sales & Services Director North America for Danfoss, in an interview with R744.com. “Everything Is designed to reduce cost for a smaller system.”
The AK-PC 572 Pack Controller, he noted, “takes our experience with larger racks and brings it to smaller systems.”
Two food retailers in California (U.S.) plan to install the CO2 MiniPack Solution this year in a “semi-retrofit, remodel scenario,” Dee said. Dee sees the market for transcritical CO2 systems growing across the U.S., “We are seeing end users who typically wouldn’t have focused on CO2 now moving to CO2, especially for new stores,” he said. “They say, ‘We just want to make sure to use natural refrigerants and not have to change in a number of years because of legislation.’ They are tired of it.”
“We are seeing end users who typically wouldn’t have focused on CO2 now moving to CO2, especially for new stores.”
Peter Dee, Danfoss
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