Makro, the well-known cash-and-carry wholesale and retail chain, applied THERMAL-XR® graphene coating to an air-cooled chiller at one of its stores in Thailand and measured a 14.53% reduction in energy use, translating to an estimated saving of 598,404 THB per year and a return on investment of under 1 year.
Case at a glance
| Customer | Makro |
|---|---|
| Location | Thailand |
| Site type | Wholesale store (cash and carry) |
| Equipment | Air-Cooled Chiller |
| Brand | Trane |
| Capacity | 275 tons |
| Model | RTAC275 |
| Equipment age | 12 years |
| Energy savings | 14.53% |
| Cooling efficiency | 1.538 → 1.315 kW/ton |
| Annual cost saving | 598,404 THB/year |
| Return on investment | < 1 year |
Background
Air conditioning is one of the largest electricity costs for a large-format store, where wide sales floors must stay cool for shoppers and staff throughout long trading hours. Over time, condenser coils lose heat transfer efficiency, which forces compressors to work harder and increases energy consumption. At this Makro store, the cooling load is carried by a Trane air-cooled chiller with a capacity of 275 tons, which has been in service for 12 years.
The solution: THERMAL-XR®
THERMAL-XR® is a graphene-enhanced coating from Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG), designed to deliver superior heat transfer and protection for heat exchanger coils. The coating was spray-applied to the condenser coils of the air-cooled chiller, with no change to the equipment itself.
Results
Energy use was compared before and after coating:
- Electricity usage: 2,288 kWh/day before coating vs 1,956 kWh/day after
- Electricity cost: 343,200 THB/month before coating vs 293,333 THB/month after
- Carbon emissions: 372 tons CO2/year before coating vs 318 tons CO2/year after
- Cooling efficiency: 1.538 kW/ton before coating vs 1.315 kW/ton after
- Annual saving: 598,404 THB per year
- ROI: < 1 year
These results equal an energy saving of 14.53%, with the chiller using about 15% less power for every ton of cooling it delivers.
Takeaway
The Makro case shows that coating an existing air-cooled chiller can cut a large store’s electricity costs by nearly 600,000 THB a year without replacing equipment, paying for itself in under a year on a unit that has been running for 12 years.
Want similar results at your site?
Get in touch with GMG to discuss your cooling equipment, or find a THERMAL-XR® applicator near you.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +61 7 3063 6638
- Find an applicator: graphenemg.com/graphene-products/THERMAL-XR®/find-an-applicator
Measured energy savings presented in this case study are not predictors of future installation results. Estimated savings should be considered as estimates. Standard GMG disclaimer applies. All contents copyright © Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.