Pinneys switches to natural ammonia cooling system from Star Refrigeration

Scottish seafood processor Pinneys is now using a natural ammonia cooling system from Star Refrigeration, replacing the majority of its systems for chilling, freezing and cold storage, operated with synthetic refrigerant R22.

A major processor of Scottish smoked salmon, Pinneys needed a natural cooling solution for its facilities in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.

The synthetic refrigerant R22 in use by Pinneys was an ozone-depleting HCFC refrigerant that had to be phased out gradually as per EU directives as it has been banned in Europe from January 2015.

Pinneys approached Star Refrigeration to provide support in developing an R22 phase out strategy, which involved reviewing all multi-temperature cooling systems on site and assessing alternative solutions, including retrofit gases, installing new HFC refrigeration equipment and switching to natural refrigerants.

Conversion of a cold store, where frozen product is held at -25°C before further processing was a major element in this strategy. The storage chamber was cooled by two ageing R22 refrigeration systems, housed in separate plant rooms.

Star designed and installed an Azanefreezer system, an air-cooled, ammonia refrigeration plant for cold storage applications. Azanefreezer operates with a very low charge of natural refrigerant ammonia and features Star’s low pressure receiver and high efficiency EC condenser fan control technology.

Azanefreezer claims to deliver efficiencies up to 20% higher than a traditional HFC refrigeration system. It does not require a plant room and can be located at ground or roof level, on either a concrete plinth or steel frame.

Star Refrigeration key account manager Alex Henderson said : "Our packaged Azanefreezer avoided the need for a new plant room. We were able to position and commission the new coldstore refrigeration plant before decommissioning the existing equipment.

"Overall, we have reduced the amount of refrigeration equipment on-site and have improved both operating temperatures and efficiency."

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Image: Star Refrigeration’s Azanefreezer cooling system. Photo courtsey of Star Refrigeration.