CO2 refrigeration system heat recovery and thermal storage modelling for space heating provision in supermarkets: An integrated approach
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Georgios, Maouris
Emilio Jose, Sarabia
Acha Izquierdo, Salvador
Shah, Nilay
Markides, Christos
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The large amount of recoverable heat from CO2 refrigeration systems has led UK food retailers to examine the prospect of using refrigeration integrated heating and cooling systems to provide both the space heating and cooling to food cabinets in supermarkets. This study assesses the performance of a refrigeration integrated heating and cooling system installation with thermal storage in a UK supermarket. This is achieved by developing a thermal storage model and integrating it into a pre-existing CO2 booster refrigeration model. Five scenarios involving different configurations and operation strategies are assessed to understand the techo-economic implications. The results indicate that the integrated heating and cooling system with thermal storage has the potential to reduce energy consumption by 17–18% and GHG emissions by 12–13% compared to conventional systems using a gas boiler for space heating. These reductions are achieved despite a marginal increase of 2–3% in annual operating costs. The maximum amount of heat that can be stored and utilised is constrained by the refrigeration system compressor capacity. These findings suggest that refrigeration integrated heating and cooling systems with thermal storage are a viable heating and cooling strategy that can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of supermarket space heating provision and under the adequate circumstances can forsake the use of conventional fossil-fuel (natural gas) boiler systems in food-retail buildings.
Date Issued
2020-04-15
Date Acceptance
2020-02-24
Citation
Applied Energy, 2020, 264
ISSN
0306-2619
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Applied Energy
Volume
264
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
CEPSE_P57236
EP/P004709/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Energy & Fuels
Engineering, Chemical
Engineering
CO2 refrigeration
Supermarkets
Heat recovery
Thermal storage
Natural refrigerants
Integrated heating and cooling
ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES
TANK
Energy
09 Engineering
14 Economics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 114722
Date Publish Online
2020-03-04