Asda Distribution Centre

Beginning in 2002, the British supermarket chain Asda has had Star Refrigeration replace all refrigeration units which use the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) R22 at its distribution centres, as part of a long-term modernisation programme. Star Refrigeration implemented an ammonia and carbon dioxide cascade facility for the refrigerated warehouse at one of its major distribution centres in Lutterworth, UK.

Requirements

A system to provide efficient refrigeration for the 270,000m³ premises. Areas requiring refrigeration were: a frozen food cold store at -25°C and several chill rooms at temperatures between 1°C and 13°C.

Solution

Star Refrigeration designed a central refrigeration system which supplies liquid carbon dioxide at -31°C to six air coolers in the cold store. It also supplies carbon dioxide as a volatile secondary refrigerant at -5°C to 20 air coolers in three chill rooms. The cascade facility’s low temperature circuit yields a refrigerating capacity of 820 kW, while the high temperature circuit produces 2,700 kW.