MEXICO:
Danfoss is helping to provide the right conditions for a colony of
Adélie penguins in Guadalajara’s humid subtropical climate.
The 12 Adélie penguins, acquired from a zoo in Tokyo, are a star attraction in Antarctica: the Kingdom of Penguins at Guadalajara Zoo.
In a city with a humid subtropical
climate, it fell to Danfoss to provide an environment more suited to the
penguins’ Antarctic homeland.
Guadalajara Zoo began the search earlier
this year for equipment that could adequately match the required areas
for the penguins: a quarantine zone, the public area, the penguins
habitat, a space to serve as a bedroom during the night and an ice
machine.
“The Zoo opted for Danfoss solutions, due
to several factors; one of them is the immediate availability of the
equipment, allowing the twelve penguins were in observation during a
period of quarantine, to rule out problems of health or adaptation
before being displayed,” explained Eduardo Luna, Danfoss Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Distribution sales manager.
The initial 80m³ quarantine area was
maintained at a temperature of 0ºC by a 5hp Danfoss condensing unit and
two evaporators. In the same area stood a 10.5m³ swimming pool, which
was kept refrigerated with another similar unit.
The 672m³ penguin area has also been
refrigerated at 0ºC. It initially was decided to install two 7hp
condensing units with scroll compressors, as well as four evaporators.
The evaporators are used alternately to avoid an increases in
temperature during defrost. A further 5hp unit was subsequently added
following a major installation of lamps which increased the heat load.
The 154m³ salt water pool is, kept at a
temperature of 5ºC by two chillers with two 20hp semi-hermetic
compressors, one of which serves as emergency backup. Danfoss electronic
controllers were also used.
While the visiting area does not need to
be refrigerated, it was important to maintain a suitable temperature to
avoid condensation and fogging of glasses. To maintain the temperature
of 15ºC in the 570m³ room, two 10hp hermetic condensing units, two air
handling units and two Danfoss EKC 202C electronic controllers were
used.
In addition, a machine was installed
outside the habitat to provide ice which should cover the plastic mesh
on the floor and dampen steps and jumps from birds and to keep their
feet in good condition. A 5hp semi-hermetic condensing unit is employed
to produce 1.5 tons of ice every day.
The penguins’ night area has dimensions
similar to the area of the now dismantled quarantine facility and a pool
of 18m3 which is being cooled with the equipment removed from the
quarantine area.
“With good initial results, we are proud
to be one of the companies where our products have collaborated so that
the Guadalajara Zoo expands its attractions positioning them as the only
institution in the country that offers the possibility to admire the
behaviour of a small community of Adélie penguins,” said Eduardo Luna.
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