Distribution centre in Rotterdam with CO₂ refrigerant
Maersk, the global leader in shipping services, has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art distribution centre designed to meet the precise cooling needs of a wide array of temperature-sensitive goods, such as medical products. Built with a strong focus on sustainability, the project includes 44 BITZER ECOLINE reciprocating compressors. It incorporates renewable energy and advanced cooling and heating technologies.
Project overview
The new distribution centre spans an impressive 35,000 square metres and features 6.6 kilometres of pipework and more than 34,000 pallet positions. It includes 16 cold rooms with temperatures ranging from –25°C to +20°C. The facility is designed to meet the specific cooling requirements of a diverse range of products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and pharmaceutical products.
Advanced climate solution by Advansor
For this project, Maersk partnered with Advansor, a leading provider of sustainable climate solutions. Advansor supplied the SteelXL, a comprehensive system that delivers cooling, freezing and heating in one integrated solution. This approach eliminates the need for separate fossil fuel burners, enhancing both efficiency and sustainability.
Medium temperature application
The medium temperature application provides 2.4 MW of cooling at an evaporating temperature of –3.0°C. Each of the four SteelXL units includes seven 6-cylinder ECOLINE+ reciprocating compressors equipped with line start permanent magnet (LSPM) motor technology. This technology improves energy savings by fully exploiting the motor’s high efficiency and the low heat input of the CO₂ refrigerant (R744). To meet the specific temperature requirements, especially for cooling pharmaceutical products, the system is combined with a glycol cycle.
Low temperature application
The low temperature application provides 700 kW of freezing capacity at an evaporating temperature of –33.0°C. Each of the two SteelXL units in this application is composed of eight compressors: one 4-cylinder, three 6-cylinder ECOLINE ME reciprocating compressors, and four 6-cylinder ECOLINE+ reciprocating compressors. The ECOLINE ME reciprocating compressors are specifically designed for subcritical CO₂ applications, offering high standstill pressure. These compressors were chosen for their high performance and reliability.
Renewable energy and heat recovery
One of the standout features of this project is its use of renewable energy. The facility is among others powered by solar panels, and includes a heat recovery system that benefits neighbouring facilities.
Installation by Van Kempen Koudetechniek b.v.
The installation of the climate solution was carried out by Van Kempen Koudetechniek b.v., a Dutch specialist in refrigeration. Their expertise ensured that the system was installed to the highest standards, maximising efficiency and performance.
Sustainable application with natural refrigerant CO₂
The project is an example of how ECOLINE CO₂ compressors contribute to green development by combining the low global warming potential of natural refrigerants with exceptional performance, reliability and efficiency.
