Fast solutions for fast food giants
THE saying goes that virtually “every” suburb has a McDonalds and almost every second suburb boasts a KFC. Temperzone has been servicing the fast food giants for many years, ensuring that their air conditioning needs are accommodated all-year-round.
Temperzone Queensland branch manager Shane McBride spoke to Temperzone News about the unique challenges involved in servicing Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), while his NSW counterpart, Gordon Stewart, gave us his take on Temperzone’s relationship with McDonald’s.
Diverse environment
McBride: Temperzone provides climate control equipment and solutions to KFC stores nationwide. The stores are located in a diverse range of environments: from dusty rural main roads to squeaky clean suburban shopping centres. It’s our brief to ensure that air conditioning units are designed and built to deal with the challenges provided by those environments. The units are expected to keep staff and customers comfortable all-year-round but many variables determine how we go about doing so in the most efficient and economical manner.
KFC stores are often located in built-up areas where Temperzone must negotiate noise and space issues to satisfy customer and regulatory bodies alike. For units located in enclosures, we protect the coils from damage by using condenser coil guards.
The Temperzone OUC (outdoor unit controller) enables the unit’s fans to operate at slower speeds and reduced noise levels. The controller incorporates modulating head pressure control that ensures fans operate at slower speeds and reduced noise levels during low-load and off-peak periods or in cooler weather (typically at night).
Stewart: Many McDonald’s outlets are located in some “weird and wonderful” places, therefore reliability and serviceability is a must. Temperzone design and build their units so that customers aren’t forced to wait for the arrival of a specific electronic component. Instead, major componentry is available at the local refrigeration parts shop, making life as simple as possible for all concerned, including McDonald’s.
Often in builtup areas, noise and space are serious issues that need to be addressed. Units tucked away in enclosures in built-up areas facing noise and space issues are the bane of our existence. But Temperzone can work with contractors to install facades that are functional and allow the unit to work correctly.
Many of the issues we face at McDonald’s stores are climatic, whether they be extremes in operating temperatures, or locational, such as red bull dust, etc clogging up units. Temperzone offers custom-made condenser coils to alleviate the threat of dust.
Maintenance
McBride: Maintenance is critical at outlets located on busy, dusty and dirty roads, therefore regular maintenance is a must.
Stewart: Because many McDonald’s outlets are located on busy and dusty roads, regular maintenance is essential, not only for the installing or maintaining contractor, but for the end user. If equipment is poorly maintained the reputation of both the installer and contractor is at stake. McDonald’s stores are generally used 24/7 and customers and staff alike have an expectation of being comfortable when inside. We need to ensure that happens.
Warranty
McBride: Our warranty gives the end user (KFC) the comfort that Temperzone, which carries parts for units in excess of 25-years-old, has the capabilities to provide after sales support for the product.
Stewart: Basically, if the customer (McDonald’s) doesn’t keep up maintenance on their equipment, there’s no warranty. No maintenance, no warranty. It can be embarrassing and very costly for an end-user to find they have not had their equipment routinely maintained as per the manufacturer’s requirements.
Desuperheater
McBride: Desuperheater is factory-installed in the unit’s refrigeration system (discharge line of the stage one compressor at the rear of house units) and is used in fast food chains for preheating of hot water for kitchens. The kitchen’s unit runs continuously and when needed, enables 40kW of heat to be transferred into the kitchen’s water.
Stewart: The desuperheaters can be fitted inside the condensing section. McDonald’s has found massive savings in the amount of energy being used for hot water usage.
Repair or replace?
Stewart: This is a hard one and comes down to whether the existing unit is cost efficient to operate. Obviously anything manufactured over the last couple of years is going to be more energy efficient than previous ranges.
| e.g. |
Previous Model |
OPA 920 |
EER of 2.64 |
Nominal Capacity of 92.0 kW |
| |
New Model |
OPA 960 |
EER of 2.80 |
Nominal Capacity of 96.0 kW |
Advantages 4.3% increase in capacity and approx 6% less energy used to achieve more cooling.
Many end users , builders and developers don’t look hard enough at running costs and energy efficiency when selecting plant, and approving equipment.
On being green
Stewart: Large corporations such as McDonald’s have a mandate to be green. With increased capacities, and better EER figures, Temperzone can assist with energy saving and is presently researching methods of better energy efficiency
