A modular custom chiller for John Lewis in Glasgow
Overview
John Lewis & Partners, commonly known as John Lewis, is a British chain of high-end department stores offering premium brands, with a keen focus on environmental sustainability. With several locations across the United Kingdom, the Glasgow store in Scotland sought a new comfort cooling solution. For this project, John Lewis required a partner capable of addressing unique challenges and delivering exceptional energy efficiency, with minimal environmental impact.
Project
The Glasgow store needed to replace its old 1 MW screw chiller, which had been in operation for almost 20 years. However, the project presented a unique logistical challenge: the area surrounding the store had been significantly redeveloped since the previous installation, making it impossible to use traditional crane activity to replace the unit on the building’s rooftop. As a result, a lightweight, modular, and bespoke solution was required.
To tackle this challenging project, Geoclima’s R&D Department developed a unique solution in collaboration with Althermo, an innovative company within the Geoclima Group that specializes in the production remote condensers and dry coolers. What we came up with was a 1 MW chiller composed of three Geoclima condenserless units (TSE) and three Althermo round modular remote condensers (CRM). These units were designed to be disassembled into seven lightweight sections, each weighing under one tonne, allowing for seamless rooftop installation despite the restricted site access. The installation was carried out by our partner Klima-Therm, who also worked with the client to select the final design, and once assembled, the system went into operation as a single cohesive chiller.
Thanks to this innovative solution we not only managed to effectively overcome the installation challenges, but we also met all the other specific requirements. The chiller we provided features three oil-free Turbocor compressors with microchannel cylindrical remote condensers, a combination ensuring an incomparably high energy efficiency. While the cylindrical configuration increases the heat exchange surface by 45% compared to traditional V-shape heat exchangers, the Turbocor oil-free technology is well known for its low energy consumption, easy maintenance and lightweight design. Additionally, this compressor is also compatible with HFO-R1234ze, which was chosen for this project. This refrigerant ensures low environmental impact, as requested by the customer, thanks to a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 6 and an ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) of 0.
Results
The solution provided by Geoclima and Althermo managed to drastically increase energy efficiency compared to the old screw-compressor unit, with an EER of 3.7 W/W, further reducing environmental impact. This has been allowing for significant energy and maintenance cost savings, ensuring a strong return on investment. Benefits are not only economic and environmental, but also include easier maintenance, improved reliability, reduced dimensions and weight. Despite its 10m length and 12 EC fans, installation was efficient and straightforward. Additionally, this AHRI-certified unit is equipped with a remote monitoring system, full sequence control and energy optimization, underscoring Geoclima’s attention to details.
This complete bespoke solution also highlights our uniqueness: Geoclima was the only manufacturer able to offer a 1 MW chiller in an exceptionally lightweight, 7-section modular design, while achieving outstanding energy efficiency and low environmental impact – perfectly aligning with John Lewis’s commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. Our project set a new standard for high-efficiency cooling solutions tailored to complex installation scenarios.
