Product category:
Building Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
News Release from: Emerson Climate Technologies | Subject: Energy costs
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 November 2006
Copeland help reduce energy costs
Exploiting the full potential of Copeland and Alco Technology reduces energy costs
One of Copeland's more recent activities has been to focus on extending compressor operating envelopes This is partly driven by the intent to harmonise the operating limits to ease product selection for customers, but also by the need to make products more reliable under exceptional operating conditions which they are exposed to in the field
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 16 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Another important aspect of widening the compressor operating envelope, is the extension of the lower condensing temperature limit which provides potential for substantial energy savings.
The potential savings that can be achieved by operating a refrigeration system at lower condensing temperatures than presently practised, have been extensively discussed in the past.
A system operating at 40C condensing temperature has a potential energy cost reduction of around 20% to 30% p.a.
when allowed to float down to 20C.
As condensing temperature usually depends on ambient air, this would be achievable for a large period during the year in many UK regions.
These benefits can easily be simulated by calculating the so called "Seasonal Efficiency" of a refrigeration system, for example by using Copeland Selection Software.
Traditional Technology Limitations.
The obvious question arises: why are systems not more frequently operated at these conditions? The reasons are related to limitations of refrigeration components that were valid in the past, but hold no longer true today.
For better understanding, these limitations are outlined below with respect to compressors and expansion valves.
Compressors and expansion valves behave in opposite ways to varying load conditions.
Compressor refrigeration capacity increases while expansion valve capacity decreases with falling condensing temperature (Fig 1).
The resulting increase in mass flow determines the lower condensing limit for the compressor, which is normally published in form of the compressor envelope.
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