French supermarkets turn to ice slurries

- Carrefour 's Collégien, France, hypermarket is using indirect refrigeration for over 6100 m 2 out of a total 15 000 m 2 surface area: CO 2 (in a 4-loop system) for temperatures below 0°C (refrigerating capacity: 232 kW) and ice slurries (generated at night and used during the day) for temperatures above 0°C (refrigerating capacity: 872 kW). The refrigerant used is R-404A. The ice-slurry plant requires 3.5 times less refrigerant than previously used systems, requires less defrosting and is costing less thanks to lower power consumption (peaking capacity: 324 kW instead of 462 kW in a classic direct-expansion system). - An ice-slurry system involving nocturnal slurry production is enabling Auchan to achieve peak shaving in its hypermarket in St. Etienne , France . Refrigerating systems account for 40-70% of total power consumption in hypermarkets and daytime use of slurry produced at night generates considerable savings. The ice-slurry loop remains at a relatively stable temperature of -6°C. Another energy-saving feature: all refrigerating systems can be automatically turned off when other systems such as the bakery ovens raise power consumption. HK Refrigeration designed and installed the systems used in both hypermarkets.