Training Module

SPEAKERS NOTES

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT ANALYSIS FOR SUPERMARKETS AND ARENAS

CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT ANALYSIS COURSE
This document provides a transcription of the oral presentation (Voice & Slides) for this training module and it can be used as speaker's notes. The oral presentation includes a background of project considerations and provides an overview of the RETScreen Model. The training material is available free-of-charge at the RETScreen International Clean Energy Decision Support Centre Website: www.retscreen.net.

SLIDE 1: Energy Efficiency Project Analysis for Supermarkets and Arenas This is the Energy Efficiency Project Analysis for Supermarkets and Arenas Training Module of the RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Course. In this presentation, we examine advanced approaches to refrigeration and energy efficiency in supermarkets and arenas.

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SLIDE 2: Objectives This module has three objectives. First, to review the basics of advanced refrigeration systems and energy efficiency measures for supermarkets, ice rinks (arenas), and curling rinks. Second, to illustrate key considerations in energy efficiency project analysis for supermarkets and arenas. And third, to introduce the RETScreen Energy Efficient Arena and Supermarket Project Model.

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SLIDE 3: What do efficiency measures and advanced refrigeration systems provide? The ensemble of measures discussed in this presentation target the provision of refrigeration, cooling, space heating, ventilation air heating, water heating and dehumidification in supermarkets and arenas. While this is their raison dtre, they are associated with a range of secondary benefits, including reduced energy consumption, reduced power demand charges, reduced refrigerant leaks, reduced greenhouse gas emission, reduced maintenance costs, and improved occupant comfort.

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SLIDE 4: Supermarkets: Background Supermarkets use more energy per unit area than most commercial buildings. A large supermarket will consume 5,000 MWh of electricity per year, and there are over 5,000 such large supermarkets in Canada. Together, this represents electricity consumption of around 25 TWh per year, or the output of about three large power plants. Refrigeration systems typically account for around 50% of a supermarkets energy costs, and lighting around 25%; in terms of energy consumed, these figures would be slightly lower. This translates into $150,000 per year in energy costs for refrigeration in a large supermarket. To put this in context, energy costs are equivalent to roughly 1% of supermarket sales. This is very significant, considering that the average net profit margin for a supermarket is also approximately 1%. That means that all other things being equal, a 10% reduction in energy costs increases profits by about 10%! So supermarkets, and their refrigeration systems in particular, are major consumers of energy, and the cost of providing this energy strongly influences store profitability. But there is another aspect of supermarkets that merits attention: they are also responsible for the release of large quantities of the greenhouse gases linked to global climate change. Supermarket greenhouse gas emissions stem not just from the production of the energy they consume, but also from leaked synthetic refrigerant. Conventional supermarket refrigeration systems contain very large refrigerant charges: an average large store will have 1,300 kg of refrigerant. This refrigerant circulates in long piping runs connecting display cases, distributed around the supermarket, to the mechanical room. These long piping runs, with their joints and connections, permit annual leakage of 10 to 30% of the refrigerant charge. Because synthetic refrigerants are potent greenhouses gases, with many having over 3,000 times the effect of carbon dioxide, the leaking refrigerant of a typical large supermarket is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 100 to 200 cars and light trucks.

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SLIDE 5: Arenas: Background Ice rinks (arenas), which for this presentation comprises skating rinks and curling rinks, are major consumers of energy. A typical skating rink, were it to use only electricity, would consume around 1,500 MWh per year; in reality, many rinks use natural gas to provide some of this energy. Curling rinks use around one quarter to one half as much energy as skating rinks, in part because they require less frequent ice resurfacing. As shown by the pie chart on this slide, refrigeration, heating, and hot water together account for around 75% of the energy consumed by the rink; refrigeration alone uses about 45%. The annual cost of providing energy to a skating rink is around $100,000; this is a significant expenditure for the municipalities operating these facilities. In Canada, there are roughly 2,300 skating rinks and 1,300 curling rinks. These consume around 4 TWh of energy annually; were it to be provided solely in the form electricity, this would be equivalent to the output of several moderate-size power plants. Ice rinks (arenas) release significant quantities of greenhouse gases. This arises not just from the production of the energy consumed by the rink, but also from leaked synthetic refrigerant. Conventional ice rink (arena) refrigeration systems contain very large refrigerant charges: an average skating rink will have 500 kg of refrigerant. The use of open compressors results in significant leakage. Because synthetic refrigerants are potent greenhouses gases, with many having over 3000 times the effect of carbon dioxide, these leaks result in serious greenhouse gas emissions.
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SLIDE 6: The building as a system When attempting to reduce the energy consumption, power demand, and environmental impacts of a supermarket or ice rink (arena), it is helpful to think about the building as a system. Supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas) can be described as systems requiring purchased energy inputs, such as electricity and natural gas, to satisfy simultaneous, or nearly simultaneous, heating and refrigeration loads. In this, they are similar to many other buildings. Their distinguishing characteristic is that the heating and refrigeration loads occur in warm and cold zones that are in close proximity, such that heat from the warm zone can drain into the cold zone. For example, in a supermarket refrigerated display cases will line an aisle where the air should be kept around 20C, and in an ice rink (arena) stands at, say, 15C will overlook an ice surface at 6C.

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SLIDE 7: Heating and refrigeration loads Within the supermarket or ice rink (arena) building system, a number of heat gains and losses influence the total heating and refrigeration load. In common with other buildings, these include gains from and losses to the environment, occupants, equipment, and processes. As in other buildings, reducing the unwanted portion of these gains and losses is one avenue to energy efficiency. But in supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas), these gains and losses are often minor in comparison to the heat transferred from the warm zone to the cool zone. This is, therefore, an even richer vein of potential energy savings.

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SLIDE 8: Where are improvements possible? As suggested by the preceding analysis of the building as a system, energy savings, decreases in power demand charges and reductions in environmental impact can be achieved through a number of approaches. Perhaps the easiest is to decrease the energy requirement by controlling lighting and temperature according to building activity, occupancy, and environmental conditions. Then heating and refrigeration loads can be tackled by reducing the heat transfer from the warm to cold zones and decreasing other unwanted gains and losses, as in other buildings. Having reduced the amount of heat and refrigeration that must be supplied, measures that supply this in a more intelligent way can be implemented. Here very significant savings can be achieved through process integration. That is, viewing the building as a system, the heating and refrigeration systems are integrated such that the heat withdrawn from the cool zone is used to heat the warm zone, rather than being dumped to the environment. Incremental energy savings will result from the use of more efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. On the other hand, certain equipment choices can radically reduce the refrigerant charge and leakage, resulting in enormous reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In the following slides, we will examine some specific measures, starting with the ones that are most widely applicable and having the most impact. But first, a quick review of the vapour compression cycle at the heart of most refrigeration equipment.

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SLIDE 9: Review of vapour-compression refrigeration cycle Most refrigeration equipment in supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas) relies on the vapourcompression refrigeration cycle. In this cycle, heat is extracted from a cold zone and rejected to a warmer zone. The evaporator is a heat exchanger that is in contact, directly or indirectly, with the cold zone. A flow of cold refrigerant, mostly in the liquid state, passes through the evaporator. Since the refrigerant is even colder than the temperature of the cold zone, heat flows from the cold zone into the refrigerant. This heat causes the liquid refrigerant to evaporate; its temperature changes little, however. The gaseous, low pressure and low temperature refrigerant exits the evaporator and then passes into a compressor, typically driven by an electric motor. The compressor drastically raises the refrigerants pressure and, as a consequence, its temperature. The high temperature, high pressure gaseous output of the compressor is then fed into a second heat exchanger, called the condenser, where heat is extracted. The refrigerant entering the condenser is warmer than the air or heat transfer fluid on the other side of the condenser, so heat flows out of the refrigerant. As it loses heat, the refrigerants temperature drops somewhat and it condenses. This high temperature liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve. The valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, and as a result, its temperature falls. This low temperature liquid is then fed into the evaporator, and the cycle repeats.
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SLIDE 10: Supermarkets and Arenas: Problem: Heat transfer from warm to cool zones As explained in earlier slides, the heat lost from the warm zone to the nearby cold zone is a major energy flow in many supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas). In fact, it usually accounts for the majority of the refrigeration load in these buildings. In conventional refrigeration systems, heat flows in an open loop: it is furnished to the warm zone by the heating system, lost to the cool zone, extracted by the refrigeration system, and then dumped to the outside air by the condenser. Thus, much of the heat being rejected to the outside air was provided by the heating system, and the heating system must supply an equivalent amount of heat to the warm zone to make up for this loss. Because the heating load for the warm zone is mainly caused by losses to the cold zone, in supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas) the heat rejected by the refrigeration system will nearly always exceed the heating load. The energy supplied to the refrigeration system, as well as heat gains to the cold zone from the occupants, the environment, and equipment, add to the quantity of rejected heat, and result in a surplus, compared to the heating load. This is illustrated by this graph showing heat load and rejected heat for a typical Canadian skating rink. During every month, the refrigeration system rejects heat in excess of the heat load. Although during winter, there may be periods of days or even weeks when there is a net demand for heat. For supermarkets, the surplus of rejected heat is even more pronounced, and the rejected heat will, in many cases, always exceed the heat load, at least on a daily basis.

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SLIDE 11: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Process Integration makes use of heat rejected by refrigeration system Since, as discussed in the previous slide, the heat rejected by the refrigeration system will generally exceed the heating load, why not make use of it and reduce the consumption of energy for heating purposes? In short, why not close the loop and return the heat extracted from the cold zone back to the warm zone whence it came? This can be achieved by capturing heat from the refrigeration system in a secondary loop, or closed loop circulating a heat transfer fluid that is in thermal contact with but otherwise isolated from the refrigeration systems refrigerant. It is possible to recover the heat rejected by the refrigeration system without using a secondary loop, but the secondary loop facilitates the distribution of heat to the various heat loads, and, as will be seen in the next slide, is environmentally advantageous. The rejected heat is recovered at the outlet of the compressor. One fairly conventional technology, already in use in some supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas), is a desuperheater. The compressor normally raises the temperature of the refrigerant above that at which it evaporates; the desuperheater extracts heat but only in quantities that keep the refrigerant at temperatures above where it will condense. Since these temperatures are fairly high, a desuperheater is good for generating hot water. It recovers only around 15% of the heat that must be rejected, however. Further heat exchangers downstream of the desuperheater can recover the remainder of this heat. Since this will cause the refrigerant to condense, the temperature of this extracted heat is fairly low. Nevertheless, it can serve for space heating, ventilation air heating, and further water heating. If necessary for a particular application, a heat pump can raise the temperature of heat available from the secondary loop. The heat rejected by the refrigeration system will generally be in excess of that required for heating loads. If the building includes heat storage, this excess can be stored for later use, as will be discussed in upcoming slides. In ice rinks (arenas), the heat can be productively used to heat under the ice rink (arena) slab, thus preventing the ground from freezing and heaving, or can be used for melting the snow pit. In both supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas), the heat can be exported to nearby buildings for heating purposes, or used to heat sidewalks, parking lots, or streets, thus keeping them free of snow and ice in winter. Any surplus that remains can be dumped to the outside air. In the figure on this slide, the red loop indicates the secondary loop on the condenser side of the refrigeration system. Heat is recovered from the loop by heat exchangers shown to be within the mechanical room. If there is heat in excess of the demand, it is rejected to the environment.

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SLIDE 12: Measures for Supermarkets: Minimize refrigerant leaks with secondary loops Supermarket refrigeration loads are typically distributed around the building. In a conventional system, long loops of piping filled with synthetic refrigerant connect these loads to the mechanical room, and further loops connect to the condenser. Leaks in the joints and connections of these pipes account for 50% of the supermarkets greenhouse gas emissions.

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SLIDE 12: Measures for Supermarkets: Minimize refrigerant leaks with secondary loops (cont.) These emissions can, therefore, be drastically reduced by the use of cold and hot secondary loops. In the place of synthetic refrigerant, these loops contain water, a glycol mix, brine, carbon dioxide, methanol, or some other heat transfer fluid that has low or no global warming potential. Synthetic refrigerant is still used by the refrigeration system, but it is contained in a hermetic unit with a minimal refrigerant charge, located in the mechanical room. The figure on this slide shows the condenser side secondary loop in red, as before, and the evaporator side secondary loop in blue. The latter loop circulates a suitably cold heat transfer fluid between the low temperature display cases and the refrigeration system. For very low temperature loads, such as freezers, two approaches are possible. One is to use two or more cold-side secondary loops, each operating at a different temperature. Another is to use autonomous refrigeration sub-units, contained within the freezers themselves, that reject their heat to a cold-side secondary loop that is nevertheless not cold enough for direct use in the freezer. This permits heat recovery and good efficiency while isolating the small refrigerant charge within the freezer.

SLIDE 13: Measures for Arenas: Minimize refrigerant leaks with secondary loops In conventional ice rink (arena) refrigeration systems, an open compressor circulates hot refrigerant in a loop linking it to the condenser, which will normally be located at some distance from the mechanical room. Leakage of the resulting relatively large charge of synthetic refrigerant causes significant greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions can be greatly reduced by isolating the synthetic refrigerant in a hermetic unit located in the mechanical room; rejected heat is transported away from the unit in a warm side secondary loop containing water, a glycol mix, or some other heat transfer fluid having little or no global warming potential. The refrigerant charge is minimized, leaks are reduced, and heat distribution is facilitated. The figure on this slide shows the condenser side secondary loop in red and the evaporator side secondary loop in blue. Heat is rejected from the former and cooling is transported to the ice slab with the latter.

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SLIDE 14: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Tailoring HVAC&R equipment to cold climates Much of the refrigeration equipment installed in cold climate supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas) was designed for warm climates. In particular, equipment designers assumed that the outside air temperature would be high, so the condenser rejects heat at a high temperature. To achieve these high temperatures, unnecessary in cold climates for most of the year, the compressor must work hard to pressurize the refrigerant to the required level. This increases energy consumption and shortens the lifetime of the compressor.

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SLIDE 14: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Tailoring HVAC&R equipment to cold climates (cont) Now equipment is available that permits floating head pressure: the compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant only to the level necessary for heat rejection. During cold weather, the coefficient of performance can double, from 3 to 6, for example, and less energy is consumed per unit of cooling provided. The compressor operates at lower pressures for much of the year, and suffers less wear. Note that when the heat rejected by the refrigeration system is used for heating purposes, it will be less useful as its temperature drops. Additional energy will be consumed to supplement or upgrade the rejected heat. Thus, as shown by the figure on this slide, the combined refrigeration and heating load is minimized at a certain condensing temperature, even though the refrigeration system would be more efficient at lower condensing temperatures. The choice of condensing temperature thus becomes an optimization problem dependent on the heating load, refrigeration load, and outside air temperature.

SLIDE 15: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Mechanical/ambient refrigerant subcooling In typical supermarket and ice rink (arena) refrigeration systems, the liquid exiting the condenser at the condensing temperature feeds directly into an expansion valve. Subcooling, a technique for improving capacity and efficiency, involves inserting a heat exchanger between the condenser and the expansion valve, and cooling the refrigerant well below its condensing temperature. For the same mass flow rate of refrigerant, and thus the same work done by the compressor, more refrigeration is achieved. There are two approaches to extracting this additional heat. Ambient subcooling relies on cold outside air or, in the case of an ice rink (arena), the snow pit. For example, if the condensing temperature is 25Cwarm enough for the heat in the secondary loop to be usefulbut the outside air is at 0C, it is possible to subcool the refrigerant by around 20C. Without any additional compressor work, refrigeration equivalent to the sensible heat of a 20C drop in the refrigerant temperature occurs. The second approach, mechanical subcooling, uses a small, second refrigeration system to subcool the refrigerant. An obvious question is why such a second refrigeration system should be any more efficient than simply running the primary refrigeration unit a little more. The answer lies in the temperatures at which these two systems operate: the difference in the condenser and evaporator temperatures will be much smaller in the subcooling unit, so it can operate with a higher coefficient of performance than the primary system.

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SLIDE 16: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Thermal storage While the heat rejected by the refrigeration system will typically exceed the heat load on a monthly or even, in the case of supermarkets, daily basis, there will be short periods when the instantaneous heating load exceeds the rejected heat. This may be the case, for example, on very cold nights. Rather than operating a dedicated heating system for these periods, heat can be stored during times of surplus and withdrawn as needed. Not only does this reduce energy consumption, but it can also reduce peak demand charges in those areas where they are levied.

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SLIDE 16: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Thermal storage (cont.) Short term and long term storage is possible. Hot water, stored in tanks totalling 2,000 litres or so, can affordably provide storage sufficient for several hours of heating. The ground can be used for long term storage, including transfers from summer to winter. A buried horizontal or vertical ground heat exchanger extracts or rejects heat to the ground as necessary, as shown on this slide; the long distance to the surface and poor conductivity of the soil retain the heat in the vicinity of the heat exchanger. Ice rinks (arenas) can also store cold, generated during times of moderate or low refrigeration load, under the concrete slab or in a reservoir. Then, during peak refrigeration loads, cold is withdrawn from storage, reducing the load on the refrigeration equipment. Where they are levied, power demand charges may be decreased, and equipment of lesser capacity can be installed. Storage permits a heat pump to simultaneously generate heating and refrigeration with the same energy input, increasing the effective coefficient of performance. Consider an ice rink (arena) operating at a point in timefor example, at nightwhen the refrigeration load is low, and thus when rejected heat is in deficit of the heating load. A heat pump can extract heat from the cold storage in order to meet the heat load. The next day, during higher refrigeration loads, the cold storage will provide more cooling, due to this withdrawn heat, and the refrigeration equipment will operate less.

SLIDE 17: Measures for Supermarkets and Arenas: Efficient lighting and daylighting Artificial lighting consumes energy twice. First, to make the lights come on, and second, to remove the heat that the lights generate. The augmentation of the refrigeration load is particularly severe in ice rinks (arenas). More efficient lighting technologies are, therefore, an attractive way to reduce energy consumption. There are additional ways to reduce lighting energy consumption, however. Artificial lighting requirements can be reduced by around 30% through the use of highly reflective ceilings. In ice rinks (arenas), aluminized materials with low emissivity, discussed in the next slide, achieve this purpose. Furthermore, controls can reduce lighting intensity according to the activity and occupancy. Ideally, this involves the use of lamps that can operate at multiple intensity levels. The number of operating lamps can also be varied, although care must be taken to avoid dark spots objectionable to occupants. A careful study may reveal that, when ceiling and wall reflectivity are taken into consideration, optimal placement of the lighting fixtures, and even lowering of the ceiling, permit further reductions in artificial lighting. Another option, creating an ambience pleasing to the occupants, is the use of natural lighting, as seen in the photo on this slide. Compared with artificial lighting, natural lighting generates less heat per unit of light, reducing the refrigeration load. But attention must be paid to avoiding glare, excessive heat gains and losses through windows and skylights, and unwanted solar gains, especially the admittance of direct solar radiation.

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SLIDE 18: Measures for Arenas: Ceilings that radiate less heat The ceiling of an ice rink (arena) tends to be quite warmcertainly at a temperature in excess of the ice surface. Heat emanating from artificial lighting and space heating of the stands tends to rise to the ceiling and raise its temperature; with poorly insulated ceilings, solar radiation on the roof also exerts a strong influence. A conventional ice rink (arena) ceiling surface, of wood or steel for example, will have a high emissivity index, perhaps 0.80 to 0.95, indicating that it radiates heat very well. Thus, the warm ceiling radiates heat to the ice surface and is responsible for up to 30% of the ice sheet refrigeration load. Installing a ceiling with a low emissivity, or low-e, surface can reduce the heat radiated from the ceiling to the ice surface. Low-e aluminized cloth has an emissivity of 0.03 to 0.08, meaning that at the same temperature, it radiates only one-thirtieth to one-tenth as much heat as a conventional ceiling material. Alternatively, aluminium-based low-e paint or other low-e paint can achieve reasonably low emissivity indices. Low-e ceilings have advantages beyond reduced ice sheet refrigeration load. Because the ceiling radiates less heat, it stays warmer and less condensation forms on the ceiling structure. Acoustics are often improved and, as mentioned in the previous slide, aluminized cloth ceilings are highly reflective, reducing artificial lighting requirements. The photo on this slide shows such a ceiling.

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SLIDE 19: Measures for Arenas: Reduce heat losses from stands Because the spectator stands of an ice rink (arena) are adjacent to the cold ice surface, space heating of the stands, especially by forced hot air systems, tends to add to the refrigeration load. The air temperature in the stands may be as high as 15 to 18Cover twenty degrees higher than the ice surface. This heat migrates from the stands to the refrigerated zone, adding 20% to the refrigeration load. The image on this slide shows simulated ice rink (arena) air temperature, with blue indicating cold and red hot, as heated air rises from the stands to the ceiling; it should be noted that the configuration shown here, with higher walls around the ice surface, was designed to minimize heat transfer to the ice. Using low temperature radiant slab heating can minimize the heat loss from the stands. This involves circulating a heat transfer fluid at, say, 32C or lower, in a piping network embedded in the floor and sometimes even the seats. The low temperature of the heat and limited rate of heat transfer from the slab to the air decreases heat losses to the ice surface. Furthermore, it is possible to use the low temperature heat rejected by the refrigeration system for this purpose. Best of all, warm radiant floors and seats are exceedingly comfortable: spectators feel warm, even when air temperatures are low. Simply reducing the temperatures in the stands will also reduce heating and refrigeration energy consumption. During unoccupied periods, this will have no impact on spectator comfort.

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SLIDE 20: Measures for Arenas: Optimize ice temperature Most ice rinks (arenas) keep the ice temperature constant, at around 6C, throughout the day and throughout the season. Permitting the ice temperature to vary depending on occupancy and occupant activity can reduce the energy consumed in refrigeration. For example, during figure skating, the system can be set to keep the ice at 3 to 4C, and during free skating, this can rise to 2 to 3C. During unoccupied periods, the refrigeration system and secondary fluid pump can be stopped; they need be restarted only when an infrared sensor indicates that a preset maximum temperature -1 to -2C for instance has been reached. Letting the ice temperature rise and stopping the secondary fluid pump reduce energy consumption.

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SLIDE 21: Measures for Arenas: Reduce refrigerant pumping energy The ice in an arena is cooled by the circulation of a cold secondary fluid in the concrete slab under the ice. Conventionally, a two pass layout is used: that is, a piping network transports the secondary fluid across the ice in one direction and then back to the header in the opposite direction. A constant speed pump forces the secondary fluid through this network. This pump often accounts for over 15% of the energy consumed by the refrigeration system; furthermore, the work done by the pump heats the secondary fluid, adding to the refrigeration load. There are two approaches to reducing the energy consumption of the secondary fluid pump and thus the refrigeration load. One is to reduce the secondary fluid flow rate according to a schedule, with, for example, lower flow rates at night. This can be achieved through the use of a two-speed pump, two separate pumps, or a variable speed pump. A second approach is to use a multi-pass piping network, such that the fluid makes four or more passes across the slab before returning to the header. Multipass layouts can halve the secondary fluid flow rate, reducing pumping power and the refrigeration load. The refrigeration system design will need to be adjusted to accommodate the reduced flow rate. Some people question the uniformity of the ice surface with a multipass layout, but it has been implemented successfully in a number of rinks.

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SLIDE 22: Measures for Arenas: Optimize ice and concrete slab thickness The secondary fluid circulating in the slab must be at a temperature low enough to result in heat transfer sufficient for the surface of the ice above it to be kept at a certain desired temperature. Thicker ice or a thicker layer of concrete above the embedded piping network reduces the heat transfer from the secondary fluid to the surface, forcing the refrigeration system to work harder. In most arenas, the ice is 25 to 40 mm thick, but in some ice rinks (arenas) with uneven slab surfaces, thickness approaches 75 mm. Ice rinks (arenas) generally embed the secondary fluid piping network with approximately 25 mm of concrete above the tubes, but there is some variation in this as well.

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SLIDE 22: Measures for Arenas: Optimize ice and concrete slab thickness (cont.) To ensure that heat transfer to the ice surface is not impeded, attention should be paid to maintaining the ice at its minimum acceptable thickness and, during construction or renovation, keeping the concrete layer above the secondary fluid tubes at 25 mm or less. In certain jurisdictions, regulations will dictate the minimum acceptable ice thickness; elsewhere, the ice should be 25 mm thick. These measures can reduce the required capacity of the refrigeration system, particularly when used in conjunction with under-slab cool storage. The cool storage moderates temperature swings in the slab, reducing peak refrigeration loads; this is especially important if thinner slabs, with less thermal mass, are used.

SLIDE 23: Measures for Arenas: Different dehumidification approaches To prevent excessive condensation on the ice and within the rink, arenas normally employ a stand-alone dehumidification unit. These devices, which must cool the air below its dew point in order to remove the humidity, typically reject their heat to the ice rink (arena) interior air. This adds to the load of the primary refrigeration system. An alternative that can reduce overall rink energy consumption is to reject the heat from the dehumidifier to the condenser-side (that is, the warm side) secondary loop of the principal refrigeration system. Then the rejected heat can be used for space heating, water heating, or other purposes. Another approach is desiccant dehumidification, which utilises a material that chemically or physically absorbs water vapour. Such materials are often used in a cycle of absorption and regeneration, during which a source of heat drives the absorbed water out of the material. In the past, high temperature heat, such as produced by gas combustion was required for regeneration, but recently desiccants that can be regenerated at low temperatures have begun to appear.

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SLIDE 24: Supermarkets: Costs of efficiency measures The cost of implementing efficiency measures in a supermarket will depend on the package of measures applied. Certain measures, such as night time setbacks of lighting and temperature, may be implemented at essentially no cost. A full package of process integration, secondary loops, and other measures may cost 40% more than comparable conventional approaches. For a large Canadian supermarket, this might add $250,000 to the cost of construction or major renovation. While these measures can generate significant savings, supermarket owners and operators demand quick paybacks, often around 3 years or less. The net initial costs decrease, and therefore the simple payback improves, if the integrated heating and refrigeration system eliminates the need for a dedicated combustion heating system.

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SLIDE 25: Arenas: Costs of efficiency measures Ice rinks (arenas) require a major renovation roughly every 25 years. An integrated heating and refrigeration system with a warm side secondary loop and other major efficiency measures will typically add $175,000 to the cost of a single pad renovation and $200,000 to the cost of a multipad renovation. For comparison, the total cost of such a renovation might be around $700,000. Rink owners and operators typically demand a simple payback period of 5 to 8 years. An integrated heating and refrigeration system with secondary loops has a 3 year payback in new construction, and a 5 to 8 year payback as a retrofit. Efficiency measures that require only minor investments include better controls for lighting and temperature, the use of night time setbacks, and the optimisation of ice thickness. Desuperheaters, dehumidification, snow pits, and electrical power factor correction (not discussed in this presentation) require a moderate investment of capital. Measures requiring a major investment of capital, and having paybacks typically in excess of five years, include low emissivity ceilings, efficient lighting, multipass circulation of secondary fluid, refrigerant subcooling, fully integrated heating and refrigeration systems with secondary loops, floating head pressure, and thermal storage.

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SLIDE 26: Supermarkets: Project Considerations There are a number of considerations particular to the implementation of energy efficiency projects in supermarkets. Paramount among these is the need for a system with proven reliability. This is key when unconventional technologies are being promoted: the cost to the supermarket of even a one day failure of their refrigeration system is very high, and decision-makers are risk averse as a consequence. Efficiency measures requiring moderate or major investments will be most attractive when incorporated into new construction or major equipment overhauls. Fortunately, supermarket refrigeration systems are overhauled every 8 years on average, providing numerous opportunities for improvements and the introduction of new technologies. Supermarkets operate year round, without a convenient shutdown period during which equipment can be upgraded. It must be possible, therefore, to install and bring on-line new refrigeration systems and efficiency measures without interrupting regular supermarket activities. A large supermarkets refrigeration system typically rejects heat in excess of the heating load throughout the year. A simple and convincing argument for an integrated heating and refrigeration system is the possibility of entirely eliminating combustion heating.

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SLIDE 27: Arenas: Project Considerations There are a number of considerations particular to the implementation of energy efficiency projects in ice rinks (arenas). Among these is the long period between arena overhauls. Efficiency measures requiring moderate or major investments will be most attractive when incorporated into new construction or during major equipment overhauls,

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SLIDE 27: Arenas: Project Considerations (cont.) but a rink need be overhauled only every 25 years. On the other hand, 30 to 40% of Canadian rinks are presently operating beyond their projected life span, so there are significant opportunities for improvements. Many arenas close for one or two months during the summer, facilitating retrofits. A typical ice rink (arena) refrigeration system rejects, on an annual basis, three times the rinks requirements for heating. This bodes well for integrated heating and refrigeration systems. In Canada there are, however, periods of days or weeks during winter when the heat load may exceed the rejected heat. These are the key design conditions for the system. In some Canadian provinces, electricity tariffs include charges for the maximum power demanded by a consumer. These peak power demand charges can account for as much as 40% of electricity costs in an arena. In these provinces, the power demand reduction associated with an efficiency measure should be considered.

Slide 28: Example: Quebec, Canada Repentigny supermarket The Loblaws supermarket in Repentigny, just northeast of Montreal, is a 10,000 m2 showcase of energy efficiency measures. Secondary loops are used on both the cold and warm sides of the refrigeration system. The medium temperature refrigeration system rejects heat to a loop providing up to 250 kW of space and air heating. The low temperature refrigeration system provides up to 220 kW of heat, upgraded by heat pumps that can serve as air conditioners if so required. A desuperheater supplies the buildings hot water. Mechanical subcooling is used on the low temperature refrigeration system, with the subcooling provided by the medium temperature refrigeration system secondary loop. In addition, the head pressure, and therefore the condenser temperature, is adjusted in response to the building heating requirements and the outside air temperature.

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Slide 29: Example: Quebec, Canada Repentigny supermarket (results) The concept of using heat rejected by the refrigeration system to fully meet the supermarkets heating needs is proven by the simple fact that the Repentigny Loblaws has no combustion or backup heating system. On-going monitoring points to reductions in energy consumption of around 20%, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of around 75%. Greenhouse gas emissions reductions stem not just from reduced gas consumption, but, more importantly, from reduced refrigerant leaks. The system started without a glitch, required minimal commissioning, and has operated trouble-free since April 2004.

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RETScreen International

Slide 30: Example: Quebec, Canada Val-des-Monts recreational ice rink The recreational skating rink in Val-des-Monts, northeast of Ottawa, contains a wide range of measures addressing the buildings energy consumption and environmental impact. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system are tightly integrated, with the heat rejected by the refrigeration system recovered in a secondary loop. This provides low temperature radiant heating for the building and, through upgrading via a heat pump, service hot water and resurfacing water. Rejected heat is also used for under slab heating, snow pit melting, and excess can be stored or used for heating in a nearby community centre. The system incorporates three types of thermal storage: a 2,000 litre hot water reservoir and under pad cold storage operate over the short term, and a horizontal, closed loop ground heat exchanger makes use of the ground for seasonal storage. Two measures minimize the energy used to pump the secondary coolant. First, a five-pass, rather than two-pass, layout is employed. Second, six cascaded 3 horsepower pumps achieve variable secondary coolant flow rates in response to the slab refrigeration demand. The refrigeration system is designed for Val-des-Monts cold climate: floating heat pressure permits the condenser temperature to drop when it is cool outside. A highly reflective, low emissivity ceiling is complemented by optimally situated, highly efficient lighting; artificial lighting of 10.5 kW is thus sufficient where a conventional rink would require lighting of 25 kW.

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SLIDE 31: Example: Quebec, Canada Val-des-Monts recreational ice rink (results) The measures installed in the ice rink (arena) achieve significant cost savings for the municipality of Val-des-Monts and drastically reduce the buildings greenhouse gas emissions. Energy consumption is 60% lower than that of a Canadian model building code reference rink. This is illustrated by the figure on this slide comparing energy consumption at Val-des-Monts to the average energy consumption of 40 comparable Quebec ice rinks (arenas) over the course of the winter of 2001 and 2002. The Val-desMonts rink has 50% lower peak power demand than the average Quebec rink; annual savings in energy costs and power demand charges total $60,000. The use of sealed refrigeration units and secondary loops permitted the rink to use only 36 kg of synthetic refrigerant where a typical rink would use 500 kg. The result is a greater than 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to a typical rink. Furthermore, the synthetic refrigerant that was used does not impact the ozone layer. No special skills are required for autumn rink start-up and end-of-season shutdown, so outside contractors need not be called in unless required by law. Radiant slab heating of the spectator stands makes the Val-des-Mont rink exceptionally comfortable.

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Energy Efficiency Project Analysis For Supermarkets and Arenas Training Module

Slide 32: RETScreen Energy Efficient Arena & Supermarket Project Model The RETScreen Software estimates the energy savings, life-cycle costs, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions for supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas), permitting the user to investigate the impact of a wide range of advanced efficiency measures. These include the integration of the refrigeration and heating systems in order to achieve waste heat recovery, the use of secondary loops to distribute heat while reducing refrigerant leakage, lighting and ceiling improvements, floating head pressure, varying the thickness of the ice and layer of concrete above the embedded tubes, and other measures discussed in this presentation. The RETScreen Software permits the use of multiple currencies, operates in a choice of unit systems, and includes a number of useful auxiliary tools.

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SLIDE 33: Conclusions Supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas) are major consumers of energy. This presentation has shown that cost-effective energy efficiency measures and improvements to refrigeration systems in arenas and supermarkets can greatly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Through process integration, heat rejected by the refrigeration system can satisfy most or all of a supermarkets or arenas heating load and, in certain cases, even eliminate the need for combustion heating systems. RETScreen calculates the energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with a wide range of energy efficiency measures and refrigeration system improvements for supermarkets and ice rinks (arenas). In so doing, RETScreen provides significant preliminary feasibility study cost savings.

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SLIDE 34: Questions? This is the end of the Energy Efficiency Project Analysis for Supermarkets and Arenas Training Module of the RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Course.
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