When Lindsay Fresh Logistics (a division of Lindsay
Australia) Chief Executive Glen Lindsay approached
Bruce Townsend, a Director of Cool Dynamics (QLD),
about updating their primary distribution warehouse
at the Brisbane Markets, Bruce immediately got
BITZER involved as he held confidence they would be
able to assist by providing him with the best advice
and the right solution for Lindsay Fresh Logistics.
Lindsay Fresh Logistics needed to update their
refrigeration at the Brisbane Markets to handle
increased product throughput, different operating
conditions and deliver improved operating efficiency.
The Brisbane Markets site had performed reliably
over the last twenty years using BITZER open drive
screw racks, BUFFALO TRIDENT LDV condensers and
Thermfresh air handlers, however this system no
longer suited the proposed operating requirements.
It also utilised an operating charge in excess of
2,000 Kilograms of R22, contained in just three
systems, and was going to become dramatically
more expensive to keep operational in the future.
As the site needed to keep operating while the
plant was upgraded, swapping the open drive screw
racks with semi hermetic screw racks central plant
operating on R134a was eventually dismissed.
Thinking outside of the box and following on-site
discussions between Lindsay Fresh Logistics, Cool
Dynamics (QLD) and BITZER, it was decided that
each room would have its own dedicated small
charge system which would allow for the other
rooms to continue operating on the existing plant as
each new system was installed and commissioned.
For efficiency the site went with:
A) Four BITZER Commech screw sets,
B) Two semi hermetic racks with Varispeed lead
compressors,
C) Two Varispeed basic units and
D) One semi-hermetic basic unit.
All were selected to operate on R134a and combined
with Buffalo FMC condensers featuring EC fans.
These were mounted remotely on a condenser
platform engineered and installed by SBP Australia
on the warehouse roof and designed to ensure
optimal condensing temperatures could be easily
maintained regardless of ambient temperature.
Evaporators to replace the existing Thermfresh air
handlers were the new Buffalo BBM series designed
for optimal humidity and air fl ow. All of the BITZER
compressor sets were supplied pre-wired with Carel
control systems which were then connected via
BACnet to a custom Innotech BMS system to allow
for remote communication.
The project was completed over six months with the
majority of the work, including the infilled cool room
panel by SBP Australia, completed in November,
and Lindsay Fresh Logistics were pleased to share
with Cool Dynamics (QLD) their first power bill
for December that reflected a 29% power saving
compared to the previous December period.
As the last of the new equipment was commissioned
and the old plant decommissioned the power
savings continued to improve, with March showing
a 37% decrease from the previous period even with
building additions of three fumigation Rooms, 1 DAF
(Department of Agriculture & Fisheries) Conditioned
facility and 3 Fast Cooler Rooms.
Lindsay Fresh Logistics // Brisbane Markets
Old condensers and plant area
Old screws
UR-1601 // 3
have added rooms, plus our water consumption
would have also decreased with the removal of the
Thermfresh units.”
Lindsay Transport Adelaide refrigeration upgrade
was also very successful and 2016 is looking to
be a great year for Lindsay Fresh Logistics, in the
Brisbane Markets, with the additional cold storage
to handle their export market growth, plus an
estimated average 32% power saving and continued
to be fully supported by Cool Dynamics (QLD) and
BITZER Australia.
Project Contacts:
Glen Stubberfield, BITZER Queensland
Bruce Townsend, Cool Dynamics (QLD)
Max Burns, SBP Australia
In February we encountered a slight anomaly with
temperatures an average of 3 degrees warmer during
this month than in February 2015, so the power
saving dropped from 37% to 22%, however the
new equipment cruised through the heat providing
optimal COP effi ciency.
Bob McMillan, General Manager of Rocklea Markets
site quoted, “The equipment changeover took place
with minimal disruption to our operation due to the
great communication from Cool Dynamics (QLD)
during all stages of this project. This allowed us to
plan for the shutdown of rooms based on product
fl ow so that Cool Dynamics (QLD) could ensure that
they had the rooms we needed operating when we
required them. We have since noticed a considerable
drop off in power consumption even though we
have added rooms, plus our water consumption
would have also decreased with the removal of the
Thermfresh units.”
Lindsay Transport Adelaide refrigeration upgrade
was also very successful and 2016 is looking to
be a great year for Lindsay Fresh Logistics, in the
Brisbane Markets, with the additional cold storage
to handle their export market growth, plus an
estimated average 32% power saving and continued
to be fully supported by Cool Dynamics (QLD) and
BITZER Australia.
