This AHU hire for supermarket refrigeration project kept a supermarket’s refrigeration system supported while its permanent dry coolers were relocated within a multi-storey CBD building.
The existing dry coolers had to be taken offline for 48 hours. Because they served the supermarket’s refrigerated storage, the refrigeration load still needed somewhere to reject heat throughout the planned work.
Site access made a standard temporary setup difficult. The only available position for the rental equipment was inside a basement loading dock with restricted vehicle height and limited air circulation.
Aircon Rentals configured two air handling units as temporary dry coolers, connected them to the existing condenser-water loop and completed a two-hour proof-of-concept test before the permanent equipment was isolated.
Project Overview
Location: Multi-storey CBD building
Industry: Supermarket and retail refrigeration
Application: Temporary heat rejection for supermarket refrigeration
Project type: Planned relocation of permanent dry coolers
Temporary operating period: 48 hours
Proof-of-concept window: Two hours
Equipment position: Basement loading dock
Existing equipment location: Level 8
Permanent equipment destination: Ground floor
Equipment Supplied
- One 150 kW air handling unit
- One 200 kW air handling unit
- Temporary flexible hoses
- Temporary cables
- Specially designed control system
- Equipment required to connect to the existing condenser-water loop
The Challenge
The permanent dry coolers were installed on level eight of the building and needed to be relocated to the ground floor.
Taking them offline would remove the heat-rejection capacity supporting the supermarket’s refrigeration system. The contractors needed a temporary system that could carry the load while the relocation work was completed.
Finding a position for that system was the first problem.
The only available area was the basement loading dock. Before equipment could be selected, the Aircon Rentals team had to assess:
- The space available in the loading dock
- Vehicle and equipment height restrictions
- Access through the basement
- The distance to the existing plant room
- Connection points on the condenser-water loop
- Air movement within the basement
- The heat the temporary equipment would discharge
- The control requirements of the refrigeration system
The temporary setup also had to be installed, tested and proven before the existing dry coolers could be disconnected.
Why Air Handling Units Were Used as Temporary Dry Coolers
Air handling units normally move air across a heating or cooling coil as part of an HVAC system. For this project, Aircon Rentals adapted two AHUs to perform a different role.
The coils were connected to the supermarket refrigeration system’s condenser-water loop. The AHU fans moved basement air across the coils, allowing heat from the water circuit to be transferred into the surrounding air.
This allowed the units to perform the heat-rejection function normally handled by the permanent dry coolers.
Using a 150 kW and a 200 kW AHU gave the project team a temporary system that could be positioned within the available basement area and integrated with the existing refrigeration infrastructure.
The setup was designed specifically for this site. It was not a standard AHU installation, and it required the equipment, controls, water connections and available basement airflow to work as one system.
Managing Basement Access and Air Circulation
Before delivery, the team checked that the transport vehicle and temporary equipment could pass through the basement entrance and remain within the loading dock’s height restrictions.
Air circulation also needed careful consideration.
The AHUs required a reliable supply of air across their coils. They would then release the heat removed from the condenser-water circuit back into the basement.
The team assessed the available air movement to confirm that the units could draw in enough air and discharge heat without undermining the temporary system’s performance.
Equipment placement was planned around:
- Clear airflow into and out of each unit
- Safe access through the loading dock
- Vehicle movements
- Hose and cable routes
- The location of the basement plant room
- Access for commissioning and monitoring
This planning allowed the two AHUs to operate in a space that was never originally designed to house temporary dry-cooling equipment.
The Temporary Supermarket Refrigeration Solution
Aircon Rentals positioned the 150 kW and 200 kW AHUs in the basement loading dock and connected them to the existing condenser-water loop through the basement plant room.
Temporary hoses carried condenser water between the existing system and the AHU coils. Cables and a specially designed control system were installed to manage the temporary equipment and maintain the refrigeration system at the required condensing temperature.
The temporary arrangement had to respond as a complete system. Water flow, air movement and controls all needed to remain stable while the permanent dry coolers were offline.
This was particularly important for a supermarket, where a refrigeration interruption could affect stored products and normal retail operations.
Proof of Concept and Commissioning
The project team had a two-hour window to demonstrate that the temporary design would work before moving ahead with the full relocation.
During the proof-of-concept test, Aircon Rentals installed the temporary hoses, cables and control system and operated the AHUs against the live refrigeration load.
The test confirmed that the temporary equipment could maintain the required condensing conditions and support the refrigeration system.
Once the project stakeholders approved the setup, the team prepared the units to carry the refrigeration load for the full 48-hour relocation period.
The Outcome
The two temporary AHUs carried the supermarket refrigeration load while contractors relocated the permanent dry coolers.
The temporary system remained connected and operating for 48 hours, giving the contractors the time they needed to complete the planned work.
Once the permanent dry coolers were ready to return to service, Aircon Rentals decommissioned the temporary system and removed the equipment from the basement loading dock.
The project was completed successfully, and stakeholders recognised the Aircon Rentals team for the design, installation and commissioning of an unusual temporary refrigeration solution.
Project Results
- Supermarket refrigeration supported during planned dry cooler relocation
- One 150 kW and one 200 kW AHU configured as temporary dry coolers
- Temporary equipment installed within a restricted basement loading dock
- Existing condenser-water loop used for the temporary connection
- Vehicle height and equipment access restrictions managed
- Basement air circulation assessed before operation
- Two-hour proof of concept completed successfully
- Specially designed control system installed
- Temporary system operated for 48 hours
- Equipment decommissioned and removed after the relocation
Why Aircon Rentals
This project needed more than standard equipment hire.
The permanent system, temporary equipment, basement conditions and relocation schedule all had to be assessed together. A system that worked on paper still had to fit through the loading dock, operate with the available airflow and connect safely to the existing condenser-water circuit.
Aircon Rentals designed the temporary arrangement, selected the equipment, planned the delivery, completed the connections and proved the system before the permanent dry coolers were taken offline.
That planning allowed the supermarket’s refrigeration system to remain supported while the building works moved ahead.
Need AHU Hire for Supermarket or Retail Refrigeration?
Aircon Rentals supplies air handling unit hire for supermarkets, shopping centres, retail stores, commercial buildings and refrigeration facilities across Australia.
Depending on the site and existing system, AHUs can support temporary airflow, cooling or heat-rejection requirements during:
- Planned refrigeration work
- Dry cooler or cooling tower relocation
- HVAC upgrades
- Equipment replacement
- Plant-room maintenance
- Retail refurbishments
- Temporary increases in cooling demand
- Unexpected HVAC or refrigeration outages
Aircon Rentals also supports cold-chain, storage and logistics operations requiring temporary HVAC, refrigeration and power equipment. The correct setup depends on the refrigeration load, required temperature, water flow, connection points, access, power and available space.
Call 1800 626 996, available 24/7, or request a hire quote.