scope:

As the price of energy continues to rise, its fiscal impact on food production and storage facilities is of growing global concern. Because the operation of industrial refrigeration systems in these facilities represents a major energy consumer, end-users are increasingly seeking opportunities to improve their efficiency to control plant energy costs.

This Guidebook is intended to be a "desk reference" for refrigeration plant operators, engineers, utility managers, consulting engineers, and contractors with the information needed to identify, evaluate, and implement measures that will improve the energy efficiency of industrial refrigeration systems. In addition to the energy efficiency opportunities, the Guidebook discusses potential barriers that may block implementation of the efficiency improvement strategies. Understanding these barriers is a first step toward removing them and clearing a path for success.

The contents of the Guidebook are included in seven chapters. -Chapter 1. Introduction: the rationale for pursuing energy efficiency improvements -Chapter 2. Overview of Systems and Equipment: The operation and performance characteristics of major energy consumers in industrial refrigeration systems are reviewed along with common arrangements for industrial refrigeration systems. -Chapter 3. Evaluating Refrigeration System Performance: Because industrial refrigeration systems are custom-engineered, it is often difficult to know whether or not a particular system is efficient in its current state. This chapter presents principles and guidelines for characterizing the baseline performance or efficiency of a currently-operating refrigeration system. The established baseline then serves as a measure of comparison for post-implementation performance. -Chapter 4. High-Side Efficiency Improvements: This chapter covers energy efficiency improvements related to the high-pressure side of industrial refrigeration systems including both operational issues such as head pressure control as well as design issues that include condenser selection and piping. -Chapter 5. Low-Side Efficiency Improvements: This chapter considers the low-pressure side of systems with operation and design techniques to improve system efficiency. -Chapter 6. Compressors: This chapter covers both reciprocating and screw (single and twin) compressor technologies. Considerations for efficient selection and operation are presented and discussed. -Chapter 7. Other Considerations: Not every energy efficiency improvement tactic can be neatly categorized as a "high-side" or "low-side" opportunity. This chapter presents other opportunities that can deliver appreciable system energy improvements.