Cold Systems LLC Vertical ammonia reciprocating compressor driven by a steam engine circa 1890. Atmospheric Condenser Ice sheet production facility circa 1900.

System Analysis

Industrial Refrigeration

Industrial refrigeration systems are often characterized by their requirement for a customized design to meet specific requirements. It is common to find systems designed and installed with various components manufactured by many sources.

Due to the inherent complexity of the systems, piping, and control systems it not unusual to find a system which is not operating in a fully optimized manner. The source of the most common problems can be related to the diversity of the components and the method of installation when applied to a normally dynamic situation.

Compounding this is the variability of the weather conditions and the type of facility. Most, if not all ammonia refrigeration systems are designed around a maximum set of operating conditions. These conditions are often only required for brief periods. It is the refrigeration systems response to these varying conditions that often present operation difficulties and/or excessive energy use.

The most common reasons for this are due to the range of operation that are expected from an industrial refrigeration system, i.e., full load operation in the summer or winter, and part load operation in the summer or winter.

In addition, some of the underlying concerns are inherent to the initial systems design. Such approaches as low first installed cost’s can ultimately be the most expensive to operate and maintain.

In some instances, the systems can be re-commissioned to provide significant benefits in operational concerns. In others, simple revisions can be determined to provide the best operational strategy while minimizing energy costs.

In essence, the refrigeration is the sum of the total components and piping. If all of the components do not work in a coordinated fashion, the total costs of operation can quickly increase. These must be verified by independent analysis for all operating conditions and variation in weather to achieve a flexible and cost effective refrigeration system.

Commercial Refrigeration

Commercial refrigeration is an area where significant energy savings can be accomplished. Traditional refrigeration systems used in supermarkets can account for a large portion of the energy use in a store. Common attempts for energy reduction often consist of special control systems and devices for:

In some circumstances these can contribute to decreasing the cooling capacity requirements of the refrigeration system. While these can provide reductions in energy use, it does not address one of the main requirements for power input, that of the refrigeration system itself.

Little attention is seldom given to the refrigeration system itself. The incorporation of proven and existing technologies can in some instances offer significant decreases in energy consumption.

For existing systems, simple modifications can be determined to provide lower energy use. The simple retrofitting of specific components can allow the system range of operation to be extended to take advantage of varying weather conditions.

For new systems or those being planned, some system configurations can present opportunities to enhance the stores profitability by decreasing energy use. Large systems may also benefit from the incorporation of industrial refrigeration technology. The use of this technology in commercial refrigeration systems is only limited by the application requirements and the desire to achieve lower energy costs.

There is research currently being performed for distributed systems and secondary circuits using heat transfer fluids to address large refrigerant charges. At the same time, other sources are developing new technology to use CO2 as a refrigerant in these systems.

Many opportunities exist for creative solutions to lowering the cost of operations in supermarkets. While many of these technologies are proprietary to specific manufacturers other solutions are available to meet a wide range of requirements.

We can assist you in determining a cost effective solution to your commercial refrigeration issues. By analyzing the existing requirements and utility costs an effective solution can be developed to address your concerns as a store owner.