KrioFrost Creates Russia’s Largest Transcritical CO2 Hypermarket System Using Danfoss Solutions

Globus selected KrioFrost—a leading refrigeration provider, with experience of large and ambitious projects—to deliver the system. KrioFrost worked with Danfoss, to deliver solutions that would achieve the perfect balance between capacity and efficiency.

“A project like Globus Salaryevo is always the result of close cooperation with our partners,” says Alexander Kotlyar, General Director at KrioFrost. “Working together has allowed us to make the store more energy efficient and cost-effective for the customer. Globus Salaryevo is a project that we can and should be proud of.”

KrioFrost designed, manufactured, and installed two transcritical CO₂ refrigeration units to deliver the capacity needed at the new store.

By using the latest CO₂-qualified components, KrioFrost was able to take full advantage of the refrigerant’s high energy efficiency to reduce year-round running costs.

The solution uses parallel IT compressors that operate at a lower pressure ratio to reduce energy consumption.

The MT and IT compressors are fitted with two Danfoss VLT frequency converters for each temperature circuit. This boosts performance and efficiency by enabling the system to adapt capacity smoothly, precisely matching the required load with the smallest possible compressor.

The frequency converters further improve efficiency by smoothly controlling the gas coolers’ fan speed.

Each unit has a heat recovery system that uses energy from the discharge line to provide the store’s hot water and heating needs during warmer weather. This eliminates the external water heating systems during warmer weather and reduces energy consumption by least 400 kW.

In colder weather, the store’s system also uses a Danfoss MCX programmable controller, which has a free cooling mode to supply climate chambers and fresh produce preparation areas, helping to reduce compressor load and increase energy efficiency.

Despite the system’s wide-ranging capabilities and complex design, KrioFrost prioritized simple monitoring and control. The system uses a single Danfoss controller and extension modules, consolidated into one Danfoss SM720+UNIServer monitoring system.

“At Danfoss, producing energy efficient components and solutions is our key capability”, says Mikhail Shapiro, General Director of Danfoss LLC. “We’re proud that, together with KrioFrost, we helped Globus Salaryevo achieve 1 MW of cooling capacity using a transcritical CO₂ system. This technology is becoming increasingly important in Russia.”

“It’s impressive engineering, and much of it—from the heat recovery system that provides hot water and heating, to the variable speed control for compressors and fans—relies on Danfoss components.”

Overall, the transcritical CO₂ booster refrigeration system at Globus Salaryevo is estimated to use 25% less energy than an equivalent traditional design. For a hypermarket of its size, that’s an important saving.

“Refrigeration equipment that operates 24 hours a day makes a significant contribution to hypermarket energy consumption”, says Vitaly Belozertsev, Lead Engineer for Energy Efficiency and Refrigeration Equipment at Globus.

“That’s why reducing energy consumption is one of our top priorities. By using CO₂ at our Salaryevo store, we’ve reduced the installed capacity by 15% and achieved very efficient heat recovery. What’s more, CO₂ costs 20 times less than traditional refrigerants, it meets all modern environmental standards, and it’s produced in Russia.”

Not only does Globus Salaryevo now boast the largest transcritical CO₂ hypermarket solution in Russia, its refrigeration and heat recovery systems are helping Globus to slash its energy costs on a scale that would have been unimaginable using traditional solutions—and it’s helping to reduce the retailer’s impact on the environment, too.