Introduction to Industrial Refrigeration Best Practices

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite origins dating to the late 19th century, industrial refrigeration has been slow to adopt aggressive energy efficiency strategies reflective of today's energy climate. This is partially due to a traditional, slow-moving industry that prefers proven designs and components, particularly when associated with critical applications in the food processing and storage sectors. Combined with relatively low electrical energy rates throughout the 20th century, it was well into the 1990s before efficiency became a major design criteria. Slowly, industrial refrigeration system designers, vendors, contractors, and end-users have begun focusing on ways to implement energy efficiency into major equipment components, system design, and advanced features offered by computer control and variable frequency drive (VFD) technology. This article is a brief introduction to the applications of industrial refrigeration, primary components, and the methods of implementing energy efficiency, both in new construction...