HARRISBURG, Pa.— Refrigeration manufacturer Hill Phoenix, Conyers, Ga., announced this week that a Giant Food Stores outlet here is using a Second Nature secondary loop refrigeration system for its medium-temperature display cases and walk-in coolers.

The system uses a propylene glycol fluid as a cooling medium instead of R404A refrigerant, eliminating the circulation of high-pressure refrigerant throughout the store floor and achieving a 50% reduction in refrigerant charge. The system uses R407C, which has less than half the global warming potential of traditional HFC refrigerants, in the machine room.

The system “lets us contain refrigerant charge within the machine room and condenser circuit where it’s exposed to substantially fewer pipe joints and potential leaks,” said Tharon Gilreath, manager of energy and mechanical design for Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa. “Less piping, fewer valves and elimination of subsequent leaks that normally occur over time will reduce the refrigerant charge at the store. It will also lower costs with fewer maintenance calls.”

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