Temporary chiller and power hire for a food distribution centre in Perth was required while planned modifications were undertaken on the site’s permanent ammonia refrigeration infrastructure.
The project involved changes to the refrigeration plant and cooling tower infrastructure. During scheduled shutdowns, the permanent system would be unavailable but refrigerated areas within the distribution centre still required cooling.
Aircon Rentals supplied six air-cooled chillers together with pumps, temporary power generation, fuel storage, switchboards, pipework and technical support for the shutdown program.
Temporary chillers installed to maintain cooling during scheduled refrigeration shutdown works at a Perth distribution centre.
Project Overview
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Industry: Cold Chain, Storage & Logistics
- Application: Distribution centre refrigeration
- Project Type: Planned refrigeration plant shutdown
- Equipment: 6 temporary air-cooled chillers (negative temperature chillers) plus temporary power generator
- Project Duration: Approximately 4 to 5 weeks
- Operating Requirement: Temporary cooling during scheduled shutdown periods
Equipment Supplied
- 6 x 200kW air-cooled chillers(negative temperature chillers)
- Temporary circulation pumps
- Diesel generator equipment
- Temporary fuel storage
- Temporary switchboards
- Power cabling
- Flexible hoses
- Rigid temporary pipework
- Supporting connection equipment
The Challenge
The distribution centre was undertaking modifications to its existing ammonia refrigeration plant and cooling infrastructure.
During scheduled shutdown periods, sections of the permanent refrigeration and electrical infrastructure would be unavailable. Temporary process cooling was therefore required to keep the necessary refrigeration load supported while the work was completed.
The temporary system also needed to operate independently of the permanent plant during these windows.
The location of the rental equipment created another challenge, with equipment positioning and site logistics needing to work around normal distribution centre movements.
The chillers needed to be positioned near an active truck access route, and the temporary glycol supply and return pipework had to cross the vehicle path without preventing trucks from moving through the distribution centre.
The Temporary Cooling and Power Solution
Aircon Rentals supplied six chillers connected into the facility’s existing glycol distribution system.
Unlike the other Perth distribution centre project, available site power could not simply be used to operate the complete temporary system during shutdown.
Temporary generator equipment, fuel storage and electrical switchboards were therefore included as part of the installation.
This created a standalone temporary cooling system capable of operating while the facility’s permanent refrigeration and supporting infrastructure were shut down.
Temporary power generation and fuel storage supplied to support the chiller plant during scheduled refrigeration shutdowns.
Maintaining Truck Access
The glycol supply and return lines needed to cross an active truck driveway between the temporary chillers and the existing refrigeration plant.
Running temporary hoses directly across the road would have interfered with distribution centre traffic and exposed the connections to heavy vehicle movements.
The pipe route was therefore planned before installation.
The site prepared a protected crossing through the truck access route, allowing rigid temporary pipework to pass beneath the vehicle path.
The pipework was protected before truck access resumed, with connection points provided on either side.
Aircon Rentals could then connect the chillers using flexible hoses without blocking the normal vehicle route.
Installation and Commissioning
The six chillers were installed in parallel with pumps, temporary pipework, electrical distribution and generator equipment.
Aircon Rentals technicians completed the temporary connections and commissioned the chillers before the planned shutdown program began.
The equipment remained at the facility for approximately four to five weeks.
Unlike a continuous emergency installation, the rental chillers were primarily required when the permanent refrigeration plant was shut down.
When each shutdown began, the temporary cooling and power equipment operated to maintain cooling through the facility’s glycol circuit.
Once the shutdown work was complete, the permanent refrigeration plant returned to operation.
Technician Support During Shutdowns
The facility also required Aircon Rentals technicians to be present during critical shutdown periods.
One shutdown began at approximately 7:00am and continued until around 3:00am the following morning.
During these windows, technicians monitored the temporary system and responded to operating conditions including flow faults and chiller trips.
Having technical support on site meant issues could be assessed immediately while the permanent refrigeration system remained unavailable.
The Outcome
The temporary installation provided both cooling and power during the distribution centre’s planned refrigeration shutdowns.
The six chillers connected into the existing glycol system, while temporary generators and electrical distribution allowed the equipment to operate independently during the shutdown periods.
The protected pipe crossing also allowed trucks to continue moving through the site without the temporary chilled glycol connections blocking the access route.
The complete system remained available across the four to five week maintenance program and was operated during each required shutdown.
Project Results
- 6 temporary 200kW air-cooled chillers installed (negative temperature chillers)
- Temporary generation and fuel storage supplied
- Standalone temporary electrical distribution provided
- Existing glycol system used to distribute cooling
- Active truck access maintained
- Protected temporary pipe crossing installed
- Technician support provided during critical shutdown windows
- Temporary equipment retained for approximately 4 to 5 weeks
- Planned refrigeration modifications able to proceed while temporary cooling was available
Need Temporary Chiller and Power Hire for a Planned Shutdown?
Temporary cooling during a major refrigeration shutdown can require more than chillers alone.
Aircon Rentals can supply chillers, pumps, generators, fuel tanks, electrical distribution, temporary pipework and technical support as one coordinated rental solution.
For projects in Western Australia, learn more about our chiller hire services in Perth.
Call 1800 626 996 or contact Aircon Rentals to discuss your planned shutdown requirements.