Development of a prototype Beer Cooler

Refrigerated storage

Kilkenny Cooling Systems is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated storage equipment for the dairy, brewing and food processing sectors. A sector they are particularly prominent in is the beverage cooling industry. Their equipment is currently installed in over 12,000 pubs, clubs, hotels, and restaurants houses throughout Ireland and abroad. The equipment currently used relies on ice as a phase change medium for stored cooling. This technology is simple, reliable and has been used for decades in their products for various cooling applications from beer chilling to food production systems.

Performance assessment

Through an Enterprise Ireland funded Innovation Voucher and Partnership Feasibility study, the Nimbus Gateway in CIT undertook a performance assessment of the company’s VS prototype beer cooler, and bench-marked it against competitor cooling systems such as a conventional ice bank system and a full glycol system. Parameters investigated included cooler performance co-efficient, dispense temperature variation and electricity consumption. Analysis of the comparative experimental data demonstrated the superior performance of the VS prototype in terms of thermal cooling and energy consumption performance.

Years in business

12,000

establishments supplied

prestigious innovation award shortlists

2 °C

dispense temperatures achieved

The Kilkenny Cooling Systems & Nimbus Gateway partnership

The Kilkenny VS Beer Cooling System went on to be shortlisted for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Award for Innovation in 2015 and the 2016 IBEC Environment Award for best new product, winning the latter. Further work by the Nimbus Gateway has outlined a plan for the development of the next generation of the Kilkenny VS prototype beer cooler, integrating increased functionality and intelligent control of the device to optimise its operational efficiency to achieve increased energy and cost reductions. Nimbus Gateway and Kilkenny Cooling are now in discussions to develop this technology further.

“The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher scheme played a key role in the progress of our VS Beer Cooler R&D project. I would strongly encourage any business considering undertaking their own R&D to avail of an EI Innovation Voucher. Having expertise on hand such as that provided by Nimbus was extremely helpful and definitely contributed to this project’s successful outcome.”

John Smee – Kilkenny Cooling Systems

Development of a prototype Beer Cooler

Refrigerated storage

Performance assessment

The Kilkenny Cooling Systems & Nimbus Gateway partnership

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