How expensive is energy optimization for commercial refrigeration?
February 7, 2019
Commercial refrigeration is often one of the most expensive aspects of the industries that use it. This is usually due to the amount of power it takes to operate commercial refrigeration systems. This is unfortunate because the amount of energy that your refrigeration units consume doesn’t need to be so high.
You can bring in energy professionals to optimize the energy performance of your commercial refrigeration system. As you can imagine, energy solutions like this are not free, but you’ll find the cost of energy optimization offsets the cost of running poorly performing equipment.
The cost-effective decision of energy optimization
Commercial refrigeration can run up to 60 percent of your operating budget in manufacturing facilities. This is quite a large chunk of your budget. You can reduce this portion of your budget by bringing in an energy professional who can optimize each component of your system.
He or she will make sure that all your components are working in sync at a minimal energy consumption rate. The cost of this kind of energy optimization looks different for each individual facility, but it is generally a cost-effective decision.
Energy optimization not only saves you money in energy consumption, but it also saves you money on your system itself. Energy optimization can improve the lifespan of your components and entire systems, which spares you the trouble of frequently replacing parts.
Different ways to optimize the energy of your commercial refrigeration
- Install variable-frequency drives (VFDs) — VFDs (also known as AC drives) can be installed on your compressors and motors to control their power consumption. They work by adjusting the frequency and voltage of the power that runs your motors and compressors. This ensures that your compressors and motors do not consume more energy than necessary to do their tasks.
- Use electronically communicated motors (ECMs) — Fans in your refrigeration systems help propel air across the evaporators to keep your refrigeration units cool. Typically, the motors are shaded pole motors or permanent split capacitors that require a lot of power to operate.
An ECM can replace these motors to accomplish the same goal but with much less energy consumption. ECMs also last longer since they do not have a high heat output that wears out its components. - Adjust your pressure settings — Your condensing pressure and suction pressure should be set to runas low as possible while still achieving their goals of producing the right temperature. Small changes to these pressures can result in large savings in the long run.
Improve your commercial refrigeration with Energy Optimization
Our team of highly trained energy engineers develops energy optimization solutions for a number of industries. One of our team members can visit your facilities to determine the best ways to optimize your commercial refrigeration systems. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a consultation.
