Centre for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies

e n e r g y e ff i c i e n c y

IEA
OECD

The objectives of this project
were to demonstrate the
operating performance and
increased condensation
capacity of the Phenex
Terminator technology on an
existing refrigeration system.
Since early 1994, tests have
been carried out to evaluate
actual performance in practice.
The improvement in overall
productivity of refrigeration
systems and the beneficial
effects to the environment are
the two main characteristics of
this technology. The Terminator
makes it possible to:
• reduce the amount of CFC
required for effective
operation of refrigeration
systems;
• reduce the power demand;
• lower operating costs;
• extend the life of the
equipment.

In a refrigeration cycle, gas is
compressed and then condensed
at a higher temperature,
forming a liquid. In the
process, heat is removed from
the object to be cooled. The
pressure is relieved and, as a
consequence, reduces causing
the liquid to evaporate back
into a gas. Operating parameters
are chosen with a
relatively wide safety margin to
prevent the liquid entering the
compressor and causing
damage. Installing the Terminator,
which acts as a secondary
internal condenser, is a way of
reducing these parameter
settings so that the refrigeration
cycle is optimised. Figure 1
shows the main operating
principles of the Terminator.

Installation of the Terminator
required replacing the check
valve which prevents the liquid
from flowing down from the
condenser. In addition, control
of the condenser fans was
needed to cycle the fans,
according to demand and the
outside temperature. With the
Terminator installed, the overtemperature
settings of the
pressure-release valves had to
be read and adjusted to enable
the evaporator performance to
be improved under the new
operating conditions. In practice,
one pressure-release valve
had to be replaced as it could
not sustain the prescribed overtemperature.
In addition, a
malfunctioning oil pressure
gauge was changed. The
operating parameters were
continually reset to obtain the
desired level of cooling, about
32

Without With Reduction with
Terminator Terminator Terminator
Average current (A) 18.58 15.72 15.4%
Average power used (kW) 4.62 4.02 13.0%
Average electrical power consumption (kWh) 110.83 96.43 13.0%
Refrigerant charge (kg) 30 23 23.1%

Saturated
mixture from
condenser
Saturated
liquid
towards
evaporator

4

Saturated liquid
towards
thermostatic valve

2
3
1

Gauge
Thermostatic valve
Saturated
liquid towards
the secondary
internal
condenser
Terminator

The first system, No. 2221,
consisted of a 5.6 kW (7.5 HP)
compressor, developing a
capacity of 15.5 kW (53,000
BTU/hour), and two 3.66 m
(12-foot) freezers. The second
system, No. 2222, used a
2.25 kW (3.0 HP) compressor
developing 7.8 kW (26,600
BTU/hour), and an additional
3.66 m (12-foot) freezer. Both
systems operated on CFC R-12
supplied by an exterior
condenser.
Thermco Canada carried out
two case studies, firstly by
installing the Terminator on the
existing 2221 system alone,
and secondly with the addition
of the freezer from the 2222
system. Tables 1 and 2 show
changes to the operating
parameters, after optimisation,
for the two cases.
The addition of the extra
freezer increased the load on
the 2221 system somewhat,
although it remained under its
limit of 5.6 kW (7.5 HP). In
theory, a power of 5.28 kW
corresponds to a 7.08 HP
compressor, which means that,
without the technology, the
compressor would have had an
induced overload of more than
5.6 kW (7.5 HP).
As the motor is now operating
near its maximum load, it is
more efficient. Prior to
installation of the system, the
COP for the refrigeration
Without With Reduction with
Terminator Terminator Terminator
Average current (A) 26.58 20.37 21.3%
Average power used (kW) 6.71 5.28 21.3%
Average electrical power consumption (kWh) 161.24 126.71 21.4%
Refrigerant charge (kg) 52 29 43.5%

system was 4.47. After installation,
however, this
increased to 5.62, an increase
of 26%, which means improved
efficiency and a higher performance
system. Consequently,
installation of the
Phenex Terminator technology
increases the condensation
capacity of the system to a
significant degree and in a
beneficial way.
Additionally, the 2.25 kW
(3.0 HP) compressor of the
2222 system could be shut
down, resulting in savings in
energy and maintenance.
Figure 2 shows a diagram of
the liquid line system with the
Terminator installed.
Originally marketed as the
Thermco Terminater,
Phenex Refrigeration Inc.
aquired all rights to the product
which now carries the name
Phenex Terminator

Founded in 1926, IGA (International
Grocers Alliance) is
the world’s largest supermarket
network. Through its global
alliance of 3,600 supermarkets,
IGA has an annual turnover of
CAD 16.8 billion. IGA
currently has operations in

5
2
1
3
6

High pressured
saturated gas/
liquid mixture 40

The IEA was established in 1974 within the
framework of the OECD to implement an
International Energy Programme. A basic
aim of the IEA is to foster co-operation
among the 23 IEA Participating Countries to
increase energy security through energy
conservation, development of alternative
energy sources, new energy technology, and
research and development (R&D).
This is achieved, in part, through a
programme of energy technology and R&D
collaboration currently within the framework
of 39 Implementing Agreements, containing
a total of over 70 separate collaboration
projects.

Swentiboldstraat 21,
6137 AE Sittard,
P.O. Box 17, 6130 AA Sittard,
The Netherlands,
Telephone: +31-46-420-2224,
Telefax: +31-46-451-0389,
E-mail: nlnovcce*ibmmail.com
Internet: http://www.caddet-ee.org

* IEA: International Energy Agency
OECD: Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development

CADDET functions as the IEA Centre for
Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated
Energy Technologies. Currently, the Energy
Efficiency programme is active in 15
member countries.
This project can now be repeated in
CADDET Energy Efficiency member
countries. Parties interested in adopting this
process can contact their National Team or
CADDET Energy Efficiency.
Demonstrations are a vital link between
R&D or pilot studies and the end-use market.
Projects are published as a CADDET Energy
Efficiency 'Demo' or 'Result' respectively, for
on-going and finalised projects.

Neither CADDET Energy Efficiency, nor
any person acting on their behalf:
(a) makes any warranty or representation,
express or implied, with respect to the
information contained in this
brochure; or
(b) assumes any liabilities with respect to
the use of this information.
It is permissible to make a copy of this
publication as long as the source is
acknowledged.

*

e n e r g y e ff i c i e n c y
IEA
OECD

Refrigerant 7,500
Equipment 6,000
Energy 1,200

50 states and 21 other
countries, commonwealths and
territories. IGA Inc. is owned
by 19 marketing and
distribution companies.
The André Bilodeau IGA
supermarket has a sales area of
13,500 m

The investment required to
install the Terminator
technology at IGA was
CAD 49,000 for 37 units. The
savings generated by the installation
are about CAD 22,000
for the first year and approximately
CAD 15,000 for each
year thereafter. The savings
from this project will make the
investment profitable in 3.5
years.