The ammonia refrigeration industry, which already uses one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally benign refrigerants available, does not have to worry about energy conservation initiatives, right? Wrong.
Refrigerated warehouses have been the subject of numerous energy performance analyses.
A lot of research studies use specific energy consumption (SEC) as an indicator of the progress of improved energy efficiency and it has proven very useful in ascertaining what energy may be saved for a refrigerated site.
At Scantec Refrigeration, we use SEC as part of our design process. SEC helps us to optimise energy efficiency and it acts as a KPI (key performance indicator). While it is not proof of the outcome of the actual energy consumption, it serves as an important indicator of energy performance.
SEC in kWh/m³ per year is calculated by dividing the total annual energy consumption (kWh) of the refrigeration system by the refrigerated volume (m³).
Published Scantec SEC-values are based on actual energy performance records. Modelling of these results using polynomial regression analyses is used for the prediction of SEC-values for proposed new facilities. Statistical certainty of these predictions is improved constantly as and when new facilities are completed.
There's been criticism around the use of SEC’s, but they have been found to be useful benchmarks for the comparison of our designs with others. Energy performances of designs employing low charge ammonia technology are more predictable and often exceed our expectations to the delight of our clients. Our Managing Director Stefan Jensen, has written a detailed article on SEC which can be found in the IIAR Condenser Magazine (on page 20). Click here to view the online magazine.
As designers and installers of the most energy-efficient centralized low charge NH₃ plants globally, at Scantec, we have an excellent track record of low temperature, centralized low charge NH₃ refrigeration plants globally and with the most extensive record of energy performance measurements in such systems.
We pioneered the first low charge NH₃ based air conditioning system in a public administration building in Australia; this has been in operation now for close to a decade. It has exceeded all expectations in terms of energy consumption and maintenance costs.
Scantec Refrigeration are the only industrial refrigeration outfit with the ability to model the performances of tube/fin evaporators/air coolers in house using an internally developed software package - this is one of the foundations for the progress that has been made in centralized, low charge NH₃ refrigeration plant.
We are also the first company globally to demonstrate, by way of energy performance records, the significant energy performance penalty associated with liquid overfeed as compared with dry expansion in a large ammonia refrigeration plant.
We are the holder of the US Patent for the LOGAS defrost system enabling a further reduction of ammonia inventories and further energy efficiency improvement and refrigeration plant safety.
As an industry leader in the design and delivery of industrial refrigeration and freezing systems, we are confident that our innovative, low charge NH₃ designs will achieve a 30-70% reduction in annual energy consumption compared with industry-standard, air-cooled HFC based systems and conventional liquid overfeed plant employing NH₃ refrigerant.
Talk to us about a refrigeration solution today. Click here to contact us.
