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The Beast

Having previously worked with McDonald's to improve the energy efficiency of existing air handling units and demonstrated worthwhile savings, when it came to replacing units, McDonald's staff suggested we work with Climatech who have a maintenance contract for a number of restaurants.

Climatech were in the process of developing a new air handling unit with specific benefits for McDonald's and ECOsystems focused on digital control and energy efficiency.

Efficiency

By working together, we identified a novel approach and applied for development funding from the Foundation for Research and Technology to help develop our concept. The Beast integrates the restaurants ventilation, freezer, and space heating and cooling with water heating. Rather than have separate units on the roof, they are all built into one. We improved efficiency by installing speed drives on the compressors to match the load and recover waste heat from the refrigeration process to pre heat the hot water required in the restaurant.

Controls

We also built in digital controls so that alarms can be sent via text messaging, ensuring service staff get to the unit before the restaurant staff know there is a problem and access is available, via the Internet, from anywhere in the world.

Using smart programming, we optimise the use of fresh air for cooling (which has reduced energy consumption by around 40%) but when air needs to be heated before entering the restaurant it takes heat from the hot water system.

Results

Previously instant gas water heaters were used to heat the water for the kitchen. Now the heat recovered from the refrigeration system pre heats the 'cold' water supply to the instant gas heaters from around 16 degrees to as high as 67 degrees C. Free heat -saving energy and the environment!

The end result is a unit that reduces the number of compressors, reducing maintenance costs, has the latest digital controls which enables the unit to be managed for energy efficiency, proactively sends text messages to service people if any maintenance is required and recovers waste heat to pre heat the restaurants water.

View graph of water temperature showing good results

EnergyWise News Issue 86
An interesting case study profiling “The Beast” (The Best Energy Automation System Today).
view (548KB)

Energy Saving Air Conditioning Systems
A case study of how ECOsystems used the Beast to make outstanding energy savings for McDonalds Restaurants.
view (627KB)

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ECOsystems Limited, Level 2, 17 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt, NEW ZEALAND