In a first for the European refrigeration market, a new packaged condensing unit (PCU) with ten outdoor fans, designed and built by J & E Hall, has been installed at the premises of a leading Scottish ice cream manufacturer.
The system will significantly reduce electricity bills for Mackies ice cream of Aberdeenshire – a company priding itself on its energy efficiency. The ten-fan version of J & E Hall’s twin compressor PCU is needed to help maintain a temperature of -40°C in a blast freezer where the ice cream is frozen.
The PCUs are the largest of their kind manufactured by J & E Hall and in this installation are capable of an output of 120kW.
Mackies ice cream is made with fresh milk and cream to produce what the company describes is a unique smooth and creamy taste. The ice cream is made on the fourth-generation family farm at Westertown, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire.
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The new Halls packaged condensing unit was installed in four days, starting on a Thursday and continuing over a weekend. “We had it all up and running on Monday morning,” explained Jason. “All the HCFC refrigeration systems have been replaced with HFCs, now coming under the F-Gas regulations. The new Halls’ system running on R404A is very energy efficient. The savings made in energy costs will pay for the installation costs within ten years.”
A team of 70 work in the ice cream dairy, supported by 500 Jersey and Holstein Friesian cows on the farm. Mackies rely on renewable energy – the business is powered by three wind turbines – so having a cost effective and energy efficient refrigeration system to match is important to the company.
In the freezer, the cooler blasts cold air straight on to the ice cream. Jason Fraser, Managing Director of installer Advanced Refrigeration, said that with the freezing of ice cream, time is of the essence: “The quicker heat is removed from the product, the better. This happens because a quick freeze reduces the number of ice structures. This makes for smoother and better tasting ice cream.” The new J & E Hall PCU replaces a system based on a Halls V178 compound compressor, which with regular servicing had been running happily for more than 40 years.
The new Halls packaged condensing unit was installed in four days, starting on a Thursday and continuing over a weekend. “We had it all up and running on Monday morning,” explained Jason. “All the HCFC refrigeration systems have been replaced with HFCs, now coming under the F-Gas regulations. The new Halls’ system running on R404A is very energy efficient. The savings made in energy costs will pay for the installation costs within ten years.” Energy use is reduced by the inverter-driven Halls’ compressor. This means that the system is not running flat-out 24 hours a day and can adapt to the peaks and troughs of use. The condenser fan motors are also inverter-driven – less energy is needed during start-up and operation.
The new PCUs from Halls are perfect for cold stores, blast chillers, blast freezers, food processing, food distribution centres and supermarkets
