Improve the Energy Efficiency of the Cooling System by Slide Regulating the Capacity of Refrigerator Compressors

A fundamental part of the electric consumption of the main industries of the food sector comes from the refrigeration production, needed in all production phases. Therefore, every measure that aims to optimize the electric consumption and increase the efficiency of centralized industrial refrigeration systems will help the energetic waste of the company, improving reliability and maintenance. Acting on the regulation of capacity of power compressors used can be a good way to save energy. This article shows a case studied by the authors in an industrial company in the meat industry in Spain, where the refrigeration systems have a great importance in the productive process. It displays the methodology used, the description of the taken actions and the results obtained. These combined measures brought about an improvement, with an energetic saving value reaching 400 MWh per year, leading to an equivalent in CO2 emission reduction of 147.9 tons(.)

Automated summary

Energy consumption in the main industries of the food sector is significantly contributed by refrigeration production, making it essential in all production phases. Implementing measures to optimize electricity consumption and improve the efficiency of centralized industrial refrigeration systems can lead to energy savings and enhanced reliability. Adjusting the capacity of power compressors and combining various measures can result in significant energy savings, as demonstrated in the case study in the meat industry discussed in the article.