Introducing a case study of using the natural refrigerant refrigeration unit "NewTon", one of Mayekawa (Thailand)'s core products, in Thailand. In this article, we will introduce the background and benefits of the installation of this system in the newly built frozen/chilled warehouse of BANGKOK COLD STORAGE SERVICE, LTD.
BCS Warehouse No. 3, a large frozen/chilled storage operated by Kawasaki Kisen Group
BCS, whose parent company is Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE), a major Japanese integrated logistics company, was established in Thailand in 1989 and has been providing high-quality frozen/chilled logistics services and logistics solutions for the Thai market. The company completed construction of its third cold storage, BCS3, in July 2023.
▲ Exterior of BCS3
BCS3 is a state-of-the-art frozen/chilled warehouse that employs ASRS (automated storage and retrieval systems: a retrieval system that automates storage, sorting, collection, and picking operations) inside the freezer. Mobile racks are used in the chilled and temperature-controlled storage areas to speed up loading and unloading operations. The warehouse is also equipped with two process rooms for food processing, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of customers.
▲ ASRS equipment in BCS3
▲ The inside of BCS cold storage No. 3
At the heart of the frozen/chilled warehouse that is full of cutting-edge technology, Mayekawa's refrigeration unit "NewTon" was adopted as the refrigeration equipment.
High-efficiency compressor for environmentally friendly ammonia refrigerant that can operate with small amounts of ammonia
Mayekawa's NewTon has been used at CLK Cold Storage Company Limited, a group company of Kawasaki Kisen in Vietnam, and its excellent energy-saving effects were highly evaluated, which led to the decision to use it in BCS3.
▲ NewTon installed in BCS3
Ammonia refrigerant is an excellent refrigerant with a high heat value obtained per unit power. The impact on global warming is extremely small, and the burden on the environment is kept to a minimum. NewTon deploys an indirect cooling method using the natural refrigerant ammonia to cool CO₂. Ammonia circulates only in the unit installed in the machine room, and CO₂ cooled with ammonia is sent to the unit cooler in the freezer/chiller. This keeps the amount of ammonia charged to the minimum necessary.
Unlike conventional ammonia systems, the oil-dissolved refrigerant does not circulate to the freezer/chiller, so oil does not accumulate in the coils of the unit coolers inside the freezer/chiller. Therefore, high performance can be maintained without degrading the performance of the unit cooler due to aging. Additionally, there is no risk of damage to the cargo due to ammonia leakage, which is an important point when storing the precious cargo of our customers.
▲ Hermetic screw compressor mounted on NewTon
Overhaul and various maintenance carried out in Thailand Reliable after-sales service provided by Mayekawa
NewTon requires only an oil change at the time of overhaul, and does not require oil draining as in conventional ammonia equipment. The newly developed screw compressor with its hermetic structure integrating compressor with motor, eliminates concerns about refrigerant leakage from mechanical seals as with conventional types. Such a maintenance-free system with ammonia can be said to be a technology unique to Mayekawa.
