Savings for supermarkets

[Bobster.]

I've read of two initiatives now that reduce electricity costs (and thus C02 generation) in supermarkets. Interestingly both involve companies connected with motor racing (who usually have lots of aerodynamicists on their staff).

The first was a simple vane for fitting at the edge of open refrigerator shelves. By carefully managing the airflow over those edges they can redirect the cool air so that the customer doesn't get as cold and the fridge doesn't lose as much cold air.

Now Wirth Technologies have come up with a system that prevents air losses from inside the store to outside via the doors. The air is usually warmed in the winter and cooled in the summer, and if the conditioned air can be retained the savings are significant. Wirth estimate a savings of 1.5 billion pounds PA across all the stand alone supermarkets in the UK (factor in hospitals, malls etc and the potential saving of money and reduction of load on the grid is substantial).

I can't seem to post links here. So maybe start off by googling "Wirth Technologies AirDoor"".

BTW, I like this sort of application of technology. Appealing to a corporate's sense of responsibility and concern for the environment only gets you so far. Show them a reduction of costs (which will happen here) and they're going to get very interested.

[Youda]

8 minutes ago, Bobster said:

I can't seem to post links here.

Sometimes, when posting a link here, it displays a thumbnail of that page instead. If that's the case, then click the button that says "show as link".

 

 

[Bobster.]

Let's try to post a URL then

http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/design-engineering-news/invisible-door-adopted-by-waitrose-to-solve-1-5bn-retail-problem/215734/

[Guest]

While ago I saw, on hot days, where some shops here and there had a misting system at their entrance doors, on the outside.

Outside it was HOT, walk through the mist and the inside it was cool. I stopped actually, the difference was huge inside vs outside the doors. 

I was wondering at the time on how does that work, mist keeping the temp outside / inside? (would not work on a windy day though)

Maybe it was a "boer maak 'n plan" kinda attempt to do what the engineers in that article did with the Airdoor ... blerrie clever I have to say, open door yet the cool / hot air does not circulate.

Edited August 12, 2019 by Guest

[PJJ]

1 hour ago, The Terrible Triplett said:

While ago I saw, on hot days, where some shops here and there had a misting system at their entrance doors, on the outside.

Outside it was HOT, walk through the mist and the inside it was cool. I stopped actually, the difference was huge inside vs outside the doors. 

I was wondering at the time on how does that work, mist keeping the temp outside / inside? (would not work on a windy day though)

Maybe it was a "boer maak 'n plan" kinda attempt to do what the engineers in that article did with the Airdoor ... blerrie clever I have to say, open door yet the cool / hot air does not circulate.

How do you think people keep greenhouses cool in summer? 

Misters, wet walls and fans keep our greenhouses at 26C even in miserable summer days  

[Bobster.]

Demands in the UK are very different from here. Or I just don't read enough about these things.

Wirth did some simulation work for architects wanting to put up another big building in London. There were concerns voiced about winds being forced between buildings and adverse consequences for pedestrians. Wirth were able to simulate the airflow in the area, then work with the architects to improve the flow and eventually the council granted permission to build.

They also have a solution to tidy up airflow around pantechnicons to improve fuel efficiency. Sure, that idea is not new, but with CFD they can refine it more.

Interesting how F1 can be such a technology driver. Wirth's expertise is with CFD, but they started off in F1, designing cars and components for other teams. Another player in this area is the Williams team who also did work on controlling airflow around refrigerators and have licensed a flywheel energy recycling system that is being used in public transport. Williams are also big on batteries for electric cars.

McLaren are doing lots of work on predictive algorithms for use in public transport systems, monitoring trains and vehicles, anticipating need for repair, improving response to peaks in passenger demand.

One team (Red Bull?) worked with the RAF to speed up the time taken to refuel and rearm helicopters. This was necessary because

• A helicopter on the ground is an easy target
• If they can turn them around quicker, they have more firepower and more ability to extract without increasing the number of choppers.
   

The current F1 engines with all the ERS technology are amazing. They are the fastest F1 car ever, but the engines are now up to a very impressive 50% thermal efficiency (rumours say more for some engines) and so their fuel load is way down.

Lots of smart people hanging around that sport.

I recently watched a mini documentary on the Red Bull pit crew. They twice this year have turned a car around (changed 4 tyres since there is no refuelling these days) in less than 2 seconds. Their crew chief explained how they do it, including analysis which shows which sort of movements each crew member can perform well and thus which role he is best suited to.