MTL Cool to demonstrate energy-saving HCR188C/ R441A hydrocarbon-blend coolant in refrigerated display unit at FMI Connect

June 04, 2015

MTL Cool, a Canadian manufacturer of refrigerated point-of-purchase display systems, will be show-casing a two-door cooler unit now running at 18% greater energy efficiency since switching to use of HCR188C/R441A hydrocarbon-blend refrigerant.

MTL Cool, a Quebec, Canada-based manufacturer of refrigerated point-of-purchase display systems, will be demonstrating an energy-saving display unit operating with HCR188C/R441A hydrocarbon-blend refrigerant during FMI Connect 2015. Hosted by the Food Marketing Institute, this global food/retail experience is the industry’s focal event, running from June 8 to 11 at McCormick Place, Chicago and attracting retailers, wholesalers, merchandisers and operations staff.

MTL Cool, whose clients include General Mills, Kroger, Con Agra and Kraft, continually searches for technology supporting higher efficiency operation of its full range of refrigerated display systems. In April 2015, the company began testing HCR188C/R441A, a pure hydrocarbon blend refrigerant, in a standard commercial 46-inch-wide, two-door unit. To do so, technicians replaced the original Tecumseh compressor, rated for R134 (a coolant being phased out worldwide due to its high global-warming-potential (GWP)), with an equal-capacity compressor rated for R290 (the traditional coolant commonly known as propane), then filled the system with the new HCR188C/R441A blend.

The refrigerated display case has now been running non-stop at rated temperature for more than a month, with test results already showing significant material-cost- and energy-savings compared to operation with propane. On display at the FMI Connect show is a second, larger unit (46.5 inches wide), also running with HCR188C/R441A.

Mark Bedard, MTL Cool president, says, “We found that the unit only needed 3.9 ounces of HCR188C/R441A compared to 4.9 ounces of R290, saving more than 20 percent in charge rate amounts. In addition, power drawn was down an amazing 18 percent.” He adds that the system’s evaporator can now be optimized for use with HCR188C/R441A. “An advantage of this blend,” Bedard explains, “is that we can reduce component size – specifically the evaporator and condenser, using smaller diameter coils – as well as the air volume needed across the coils. This all results in lower build-pricing and lower operating costs, both great customer benefits.”

Plans are underway to also evaluate HCR188C/R441A as a replacement in display units that currently operate with R404 (another coolant on a phase-out path, with even higher GWP than R134), using optimized evaporator sub-systems.

Source: www.hydrocarbons21.com