Evaporative system helps pickers keep their cool
September 1st 2007

The cooling of two large mezzanines at Clarks Shoes' warehouse in Somerset has been achieved using EcoCooling evaporative coolers. A total of 12 units, providing up to 400kW of cooling capacity, form part of a cross-flow ventilation scheme.

The distribution centre covers an area equivalent to six football pitches. The two mezzanines total 11 000m2 and form the main picking area. Conditions were proving uncomfortable for personnel.

Barry Mosley, Clarks' group facilities manager, wanted an environmentally-friendly, low cost solution to the cooling of this area.

He comments "Clarks has a strong environmental ethos while still requiring commercially sound investments. Evaporative cooling has only 15% of the carbon impact compared with conventional refrigeration-based air conditioning and, in addition, EcoCoolers do not use potentially harmful refrigerants." The top discharge coolers were installed in four banks of three. Five speed EcoCoolers can run in either ventilation or cooling modes. Each is controlled by a Hygro-thermostat which automatically sets the fan speed and the cooling mode.

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