PR 36726
30 March 2015

G&O Refrigeration counts on BITZER compact screw compressors for Planet Ice Rink refurbishment project

The four packages incorporate the latest BITZER compact screw compressor technology to provide the required cooling and energy efficient performance at this highly popular arena.

Selected by BAM Construction as specialist ice rink refrigeration contractors for the refurbishment of Planet Ice in Milton Keynes, G&O Refrigeration was able to draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience when designing the fully customised skid mounted chillers for the project. The four packages incorporate the latest BITZER compact screw compressor technology to provide the required cooling and energy efficient performance at this highly popular arena.

Planet Ice at Leisure Plaza reopened its doors in October 2014 after a £4 million refurbishment of its ageing structure has been completely transformed into a facility worthy of its position as one of Milton Keynes' premier leisure attractions and home to the renowned MK Lightning ice hockey team.

G&O Refrigeration were recommended to BAM Construction by other ice rinks for their refrigeration industry knowledge and technical expertise. The company, which also has expertise in chilled / cold stores and many other areas of industrial refrigeration, already maintain many other UK facilities of this type. It had also been responsible for the design and installation of the chillers in a number of high profile refurbishment projects including the Link Centre Arena in Swindon for The Ice Rink Company.

Initial contact with BAM Construction started in 2012 and G&O Director James Ogden had a good idea of how the Planet Ice project would be approached. "We take each installation individually, looking closely at the required energy efficiency and operational requirements, before recommending the most suitable solution. To date, some 99% of the time we have included BITZER compressors in our specification as they are usually the most suitable for the chiller packages that we design. BITZER has a good choice of highly reliable products and the company is always looking to develop new, even more efficient technology."

Once the Planet Ice project had got under way, new external factors had a major influence on the chiller technology that would be required. These included impending changes to the European F Gas Regulations, a demand for a more energy efficient installation to meet BREEAM standards for sustainable building design, a reassessment of budgets for the project and less space provision than originally ideally envisaged for the arena's plant room.

These all demanded a revised specification for the installation. Says James Ogden: "Again, we were able to fulfil the new performance criteria by utilising BITZER technology. The company had launched its new generation CSVH compact screw compressor range and we knew these products could help us meet the new demands for the installation. Not only that, but BITZER's UK operation is right on the doorstep of both Planet Ice and our own operation in nearby Bedford, so logistically BITZER was also a good choice of supplier."

The new generation BITZER CSVH semi-hermetic compressors for use with R134a include variable speed operation for optimum energy efficiency. A factory set frequency inverter provides infinite capacity modulation and ensures that the compressor continuously operates automatically within its application envelope.

With the shortest length and lowest weight of any compressor in its class, the design of the CSVH helped to decrease the physical dimensions of each of the four skid mounted chiller packages designed by G&O. These included two dedicated cold Glycol chillers, one chilled glycol for the arena's air handling system and one "swing" chiller package for both back up for both of the Glycol circuits.

The customised chillers were built at G&O Refrigeration's headquarters before being transported to Planet Ice. The company's engineers received specialist support and training as well as assistance in commissioning the installation from engineers flown in from BITZER's HQ in Germany.

Some five months down the line, the energy savings of the installation are well documented and the project's design and energy efficiency criteria have been fully met. Importantly for G&O Refrigeration they now have a number of future jobs of this kind where the template of the Planet Ice installation can be rolled out almost as a plug and play solution using BITZER compressors, subject to component swap outs and adjustments for individual project requirements. James Ogden concludes: "The Planet Ice project has more than exceeded our own expectations. That is attributable to many different factors, including the way the facility is run overall to achieve BREEAM standards, but also thanks to our own expertise, the support provided by BITZER and the capabilities of BITZER compressor technology."

For more information on BITZER UK LIMITED, please call +44 (0) 1908 642966, emailsales@bitzeruk.comof visitwww.bitzeruk.com.

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With compliments:- 
Philippa Worley 
Taylor Alden Ltd 
Unit 2 Temple Place 
247 The Broadway 
London 
SW19 1SD 
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8543 3866 
Email: philippa@tayloralden.co.uk