The project brief
The brief
Aerofoil Energy and WAE designed and developed the aerofoil with the task of delivering energy savings. Inspired by aerodynamics in Formula One, the design, which was applied to retrofittable shelves for open fronted refrigeration, diverted air over the products retaining the cool air in the fridge and reducing food waste by maintaining products at their optimal temperature. An additional benefit was keeping aisles warmer, benefiting both customers and staff.
The work
The scope of work involved designing and developing the shelf “wing” using CFD to validate design through simulations. The device attaches onto a supermarket refrigerator shelf, which is retrofittable to existing refrigerators as well as available for new build chiller cabinets. All the aluminium used for Aerofoil blades and blanking plates is made from 100% recycled material.
To date, aerofoil has been fitted in Sainsburys, Asda, Boots, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, WH Smith, SSP Group, Scott mid Co-op.
The outcome
15% energy savings
Each year, Aerofoil equipped fridges in Sainsbury’s deliver carbon saving of 8,783 tonnes of CO2 emissions
Annually saves the equivalent of a month’s worth of domestic CO2 emissions from a city the size of Manchester
