Don't Be Afraid of Energy Savings!
How can you save money in your plant?
Regular preventative maintenance
Clean Filters
Clean Oil
Stocking Common & Emergency Parts
We started with across the line starters. Then the industry moved to Wye Delta and Auto transformers to help with the inrush currents. Not too long ago, soft start starters were the next big advantage for energy savings holding starting inrush to approximately 200% FLA. Today, many facilities still choose soft start starters if there part load conditions are minimal and their compressors run closer to fully loaded most of the time. If you have conditions were your loads are variable and you run your equipment part loaded, then a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) comes in handy. If you need to run your motors less than full speed or if in-rush current is a challenge due to motor control center amperage limits, a VFD is a good fit for your need.
The Danfoss VLT® Refrigeration Drive optimizes efficiency by automatically adjusting fan / pump speed on condensers or evaporators. For condensers, by lowering condensing pressures and controlling to a given pressure, the performance will increase condensing capacity with lower power consumption. This works well with a floating head pressure control minimizing the fans / pumps required to operate to maintain a set head pressure. It also ensures the ability to run fewer compressors, reducing run hours on compressor, therefore less wear and tear. Using Danfoss VLT drive will also raise evaporator air temperature effects of evaporator according to fluctuations in ambient temperature and product load. Therefore enhancing atmosphere control by reducing evaporator fan speed according to the process needs. This saves energy, reduces product and efficiency losses. Therefore enhancing the dependable storage of perishables such as fruits, vegetables and meat products. The Danfoss VLT functionality optimizes refrigeration system on both air stream sides.
Based on a pumps given curve, an operating pump will normally consume more power the faster it runs. Other items also determine power requirements based on the chosen pump and application design. The No/low flow feature of the Danfoss VLT detects situations where the pump is running its normal speed, but is not fully loaded. This could indicate that fluid circulation has stopped (ie closed valve or all solenoids closed), the pump has run dry (pump supply valved off or liquid level too low), or a low load condition which may happen during the winter months. Another function, in the event of a leaks or a broken water pipe for example, an overload is prevented by reducing drive speed – and supply is secured at lower flow.
Automatic Energy Optimization (AEO) provides additional energy savings of up to 5%. The feature matches the input current to the actual motor speed and load. Therefore the motor draws only the amount of power necessary for motor operation at the current load, allowing thermal losses in the motor to be minimal. With efficiency, ratings up to 99% and a true power factor greater than 0.9, Danfoss AC drives are distinctly better than comparable devices. Many power losses such as chokes and filters are included in the rating. This reduces not only direct energy costs for the drive itself, but also the costs for refrigeration or the removal of additional heat.
With all you have to do, are you able to evaluate your refrigeration rounds or PM logs? Are there areas you are not able to give the attention needed within your facility? If you are having trouble with keeping up on your regular maintenance or would like an investigate energy saving opportunity, give our team a call. We will be glad to help you revise your existing maintenance or operation plan. We can assist you in catching up on repairs or with planned maintenance. Along with our service and engineering capabilities, we can also supply your shelves with spare parts or emergency orders for your site. By helping, we allow you to stay on top of your facility’s maintenance and overall operation/energy efficiency.
