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Energy Savings of a Cold Brine Heat Pump Compared to Conventional Cold Storage Makeup Air Systems
Conference paper   Peer reviewed

Energy Savings of a Cold Brine Heat Pump Compared to Conventional Cold Storage Makeup Air Systems

Lavanya Jakka, John Hammond, Tom Backman and Eric Ashenfelter
ASHRAE transactions, v 132(1), pp 778-786
01 Jan 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63044/w26jak102

Abstract

Air conditioning Brines Capital costs Clean energy Cold storage Complex systems Contaminants Cooling Cost control Dehumidification Desiccants Dew point Empirical analysis Energy costs Evaporators Heat exchangers Heat pumps Humidity Indoor air quality Moisture control Perishable goods Temperature Ventilation Air Pollution Air Quality Energy Consumption Energy Efficiency Green Buildings HVAC
Occupied cold storage and cold room applications rely on precise temperature and humidity control to preserve perishable goods, requiring air conditioning and dehumidification systems to maintain optimal and safe conditions. Desired outcomes include the avoidance of condensation that can lead to mold formation, requiring downtime to clean, or slipping hazards for workers. Additionally, the quality of the supply air must be pristine to avoid the introduction of contaminants. Traditional cooling methods often involve multiple components or process steps, such as evaporator coils and desiccant wheels, resulting in high energy consumption and complex system integration. These conventional setups also introduce operational challenges and typically require frequent defrost cycles, further increasing energy usage. This paper aims to evaluate the energy efficiency and supply air quality of a novel Cold Brine Heat Pump designed for cold room/storage applications. This study will discuss how the system achieves direct cooling with supply air well below 50°F, reaching temperatures as low as 38°F in a single pass, without requiring defrost cycles. This process also results in a dew point depression of 10°F or higher, providing unsaturated, dry, clean air. Comparative energy analysis will be reviewed against conventional cold room/storage cooling methods through empirical analysis, and the results will be compared with experimental data from the Cold Brine Heat Pump system. This paper provides experimental results and valuable insights into improving cold room/storage cooling by showcasing the Cold Brine Heat Pump as an innovative solution for increasing efficiency and reducing operating energy costs by 40%.

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