Packhouse cooling & crop storage: a commercial demonstration & economic evaluation of ground sink refrigeration

This project forms part of the Defra Warwick HRI Innovation Network. One area highlighted was the challenge of meeting increasing demand for locally grown produce and the growing energy requirement of cooling equipment. This, set against the background of rising ambient temperatures and the consequential reduction in the efficiency of conventional, air cooled refrigeration units was identified as an increasing problem. A need was identified for more efficient refrigeration systems able to maintain their efficiency even when the ambient temperature is high. Following consultation with industry partners and engineers at energy consultants FEC Services Ltd, ground sink refrigeration (GSR) was identified as a possible solution.