The technology used in snow goggles could be an alternative to increase the energy efficiency of supermarkets

Investing in technologies used in one of the most innocent everyday actions – something that people usually don’t notice – can save grocery store and supermarket owners a lot of money.

Display freezers consume an absurd amount of energy, and this is inevitable – the very fact that they have glass doors has already reduced the number of times consumers open and close the doors. But there is a subtle energy efficiency measure that can be innovative and reduce energy consumption even further: eliminating the condensation that obstructs the view of the products inside.

The longer a refrigerator door is kept closed, the more benefits it brings to everyone: it is more comfortable for consumers, who generally do not like the cold air coming from freezers that have been opened several times, and it is economical for store owners, who pay for all the cold air that escapes while people decide with the doors open what products to take.

On the global stage, the United States Department of Energy is constantly trying to impose limits on commercial refrigeration. So finding smart ways to reduce energy consumption at each stage of refrigeration is in line with these facilities.

The problem is that keeping refrigerator doors free of condensation is not such a simple task. The challenge is even greater when the consumer keeps the door open for a few minutes and another customer arrives shortly after.

This is when condensation – when external moisture reaches the glass and turns into water droplets – prevents the second consumer from being able to see inside clearly. He then has to reopen the door, which causes the problem to repeat itself. This is a common occurrence in supermarkets and grocery stores.

HOW TO MAKE SUPERMARKET FREEZERS ENERGY EFFICIENT?

The current market solution to combat condensation is to simply use a type of heater to reduce the occurrence of the process. However, generating heat in a deliberately cold environment to keep products visible is not a very practical – nor very logical – solution. Producing heat costs money in itself, increases the heat in the cabin even more and makes it harder to maintain the necessary low temperature.

Clear Energy, in partnership with Celanese Corp., claims to have a better idea to solve the problem, called Clarifoil. This is a cellulose acetate tape that adheres to the inside of the glass door.

The company says that the technology – used in other products, such as helmet visors and ski goggles – allows moisture to be absorbed and, by acting on hydrophilic surfaces, spreads the condensation into thin transparent layers.

Current equipment manufacturers use a film coating as an alternative to be energy efficient. This is, however, a technical flaw, since the coating is damaged even by a single application of glass cleaner products. In this sense, this opens up a retrofit opportunity for the market.

That is precisely how difficult this method can be to save. The study was based on a five-door display freezer with a total surface area of 5.6 m². The installation cost was $984.

The researchers calculated electricity costs at $0.137/kWh and found savings of about $428 per year with a payback time of about 2.3 years.

The challenge of avoiding condensation is most extreme in humid climates, which is where most of the company’s prototypes are located. Implementation projects are underway with four store chains in New York, North Carolina, New Jersey and California.

Source: Energy Manager Today