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DOWNSIZED TRANSCRITICAL UNIT LOWERS FIRST COST OF EQUIPMENT Hillphoenix’s AdvansorFlex rack uses less expensive components to bring the price closer to that of traditional HFC technology – By Michael Garry and Blanka Zoldi
AdvansorFlex People have often told us, ‘Look, if we could buy CO2 at the same price as [an HFC system], we would switch tomorrow,’” said Scott Martin, director of sustainable technologies for Conyers-Ga.-based Hillphoenix.
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Hillphoenix’s new CO2 transcritical system, the AdvansorFlex, designed for smaller-capacity stores, “is a step in that direction,” he added. Introduced in December 2015, AdvansorFlex is essentially a less expensive, downsized version of its predecessor, the Advansor, which has been widely installed in Europe and is making headway in the U.S. and Canada. The new model achieves this cost saving by incorporating smaller, lowercost components and a less expensive cabinet design than the traditional Advansor CO2 transcritical booster system. “AdvansorFlex is ideal for smaller retailers who want the environmental benefits and energy savings of CO2 refrigeration but don’t have the square footage for a full-sized system,” said Dustan Atkinson, product strategy manager for Hillphoenix. Discount retailer Aldi, which has traditional Advansor racks in several stores, is the first customer for AdvansorFlex. “The Flex does what they need for their particular size store,” said Martin. AdvansorFlex’s smaller footprint encompasses no more than three medium-temperature compressors (Bitzer reciprocating units) and two lowtemperature compressors (Copeland scrolls). That combination “is the most economical compressor solution,” said Martin. The AdvansorFlex’s capacity can’t exceed 150 KBTUH for low temperatures, and 450 KBTUH for medium temperatures. This makes the system more suited for smaller grocery stores or convenience stores, although multiple units could be combined in a larger store, Martin noted. Martin distinguished the AdvansorFlex from CO2 condensing units that are widely used in Japanese convenience stores and in Europe, describing them as having smaller capacity than the AdvansorFlex.
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However, like a condensing unit, the AdvansorFlex has an enclosure that allows for both inside and outdoor placement.
LOWER OPERATING COSTS In addition to lower first costs, the AdvansorFlex offers lower operating expenses. For example, like the Advansor, AdvansorFlex reduces energy costs by 5% to 18% compared to an HFC system, depending on the ambient climate, said Martin. Hillphoenix has installed AdvansorFlex units with an adiabatic condenser to improve efficiency in warmer climates, but has not yet added other technologies like ejectors that have a similar effect. Installation costs of the AdvansorFlex are 12% to 18% less than a standard HFC system owing to smaller copper tube sizes, less insulation, less wiring and less labor. According to Martin, the AdvansorFlex is easier to maintain, as it has fewer components to service. “But the high pressure considerations are all the same,” he added. Asked if it would be easier to retrofit an existing store with the AdvansorFlex, Martin said that it would, given the unit’s smaller size. “It would be easier to find a place for it while transitioning.” Martin observed that, in considering a CO2 transcritical rack, many retailers tend to look only at the first cost of the system, in isolation from the cost of cases, other components and installation, as well as energy and refrigerant costs, and the cost of regulation-induced refrigerant retrofits. If all of these costs are combined in a total cost of ownership calculation, “the price differential [with conventional equipment] is much less,” said Martin. “People haven’t been looking at the overall costs up until now, but it’s something that we have been trying to change. The more sophisticated buyers have always taken this holistic approach.” BZ & MG