Sustainable Retail Outlet

ADA was tasked with the development of a new format in-town convenience store with serious restrictions. The project posed several challenges, including the site being a conservation area, tight planning and noise restrictions imposed by the local authority and landlord, and the need for natural refrigerant solutions to meet the client’s ESG requirements.

Problem:

ADA faced several issues while designing the refrigeration system for the convenience store. Firstly, the store was located in a conservation area, which meant that any modifications to the building had to be in line with the local authority’s guidelines. Secondly, the landlord imposed strict planning and noise restrictions upon the site. Thirdly, the client required the use of natural refrigerants to meet their ESG requirements. Fourthly, there was minimal external space for new refrigeration equipment, and the existing building was not built to facilitate the use of heavy refrigeration (Co² plant). Finally, there was a high risk of vibration transmission through the existing structure to residential properties.

Solution:

ADA devised a refrigeration solution that met all the constraints and challenges posed by the project. The solution included the following components:

Water-cooled chilled cabinets: All 27 chilled cabinets were water-cooled, utilising a glycol water loop connected to an external dry cooler. This allowed the cabinets to operate efficiently without being affected by the internal ambient flucuations of the sales area.

Air-cooled frozen integrals: Both frozen integrals were air-cooled 3 door integrals, which allowed for efficient cooling without the need for external water or high-pressure CO² services.

Water-cooled cold rooms: Four cold rooms were employed with water-cooled mono blocks, which were also linked to the external dry cooler.

Result:

The implementation of the solution devised by ADA yielded several positive outcomes. Firstly, the store achieved the client’s requirements, which included the use of natural refrigerants to meet their ESG requirements. Secondly, the local authority and landlord were happy with the installed solution, and there were no noise complaints from residential properties. Finally, the energy consumption and operational cost of the refrigeration system was estimated to be circa 20% lower than expected, resulting in cost savings for the client.

Conclusion:

ADA successfully designed and implemented a refrigeration solution that met the challenges posed by the development of a new format in-town convenience store. The use of water-cooled chilled cabinets and cold rooms, air-cooled frozen integrals, and the linking of the refrigeration system to an external dry cooler. The implementation of this solution resulted in cost savings for the client, met their ESG requirements, and satisfied the local authority and landlord’s requirements.