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 Williams Advanced Engineering, part of the Formula One team, said
on Friday they had partnered with start-up Aerofoil Energy to
develop a device that will save money and energy by keeping more
cold air inside open-fronted refrigerators.
Such multi-deck appliances account for a significant proportion of
supermarket operating costs, with cold air spilling out into the
aisles.
Williams said their aerofoil system, modeled with computation fluid
dynamics and tested at their F1 factory in central England, can be
attached onto each shelf to redirect the air flow.
Sainsbury's, Britain's second largest supermarket chain with 1,100
stores, is among retailers testing the product.
 "Aerofoils help the airflow around Formula One cars and can improve
their performance -- and that’s exactly how they help the fridges in
our stores, by keeping the cold air in," said Sainsbury's head of
refrigeration John Skelton.
"This Formula One inspired innovation has already shown it can cut
carbon produced by major refrigerators."
Williams Advanced Engineering managing director Craig Wilson said
the Formula One derived technology had global potential.
"The savings in operational costs and emissions are extremely
promising," he added.
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Williams estimated that supermarkets and convenience stores
accounted for some five to 10 percent of Britain's total energy use,
with 60-70 percent of that energy consumed by refrigerators.
It said tests of the aerofoils had produced energy savings ranging
from 18 to 41.5 percent.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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