Refrigeration

Refrigeration is used in industry for cooling and freezing of products, condensing vapours, maintaining environmental conditions and for cold storage. The number of different applications is huge and is a major consumer of electricity. In some sectors, particularly food, drink and chemicals it represents a significant proportion of overall site energy costs - up to 90% in the case of some cold storage facilities.

There are many opportunities to improve efficiencies and save money. A cost reduction of 20% may be achievable with a good return on any investment made.

These opportunities may be categorised as follows:

• Heat Loads - minimise the heat load, minimise the temperature lift. A 1oC reduction in temperature saves 3%.
• System Design - possible use of thermal storage, improving cycle design, allowing the head pressure to float
• Component Design - frost avoidance/removal, heat exchanger sizing, compressor selection.
• Operation/Maintenance - fouling in heat exchangers, oil in evaporators, lack of refrigerant, air in condensers all reduce the efficiency of the refrigeration system.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has produced the following case study on refrigeration:
Case Study 10 - Refrigeration Case Study