Kettering University Energy Research on Refrigeration Units Discovers Way to Save Money and Reduce CO2 Emissions
ERC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- In what seems a counter-intuitive maneuver, Dr. Homayun Navaz, professor
of Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University in Flint, Mich.,
turned down the velocity of cold air and raised the temperature to 32
degrees to improve energy efficiency in a refrigerated display case.
Ironically, it worked, energy savings went up and the food got colder.
"You would think more air coming faster would work better, but the
decreased velocity improved infiltration, which resulted in the food
being one degree colder because the cold air was distributed more
efficiently," explained Navaz.
Using a machine called the "Proof of Concept Air Curtain" (POCAC),
designed and built at Kettering, a matrix of tests were performed and
the resulting 3,000 data was correlated through a computer program based
on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN).
By reducing the velocity by 30 percent, infiltration was reduced by 12
percent and the power required was reduced by 13 percent.
Infiltration represents 83 percent of the cooling load and is the
biggest energy draw for refrigerated display cases. Less energy use
equals real cost savings of about $13 million for the state of
California alone, according to Navaz, and less energy use also reduces
CO2 emissions that cause green house gases. The nationwide savings on
open vertical display cases is estimated at $170-200 million/year with
more than 500,000-ton reduction in carbon dioxide emission.
Manufacturers implementing changes based on the Kettering research are
already seeing better than predicted results and so far it hasn't cost
them anything to implement the recommended changes.
The Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission and Edison
underwrote the research project that began 1998. The total cost of the
project came in just under $500,000, Navaz said.
Partnering organizations for the project included: The Technology Test
Center (TTC) at Edison; Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) at
California Energy Commission.
"Imagine if we could save 10 to 15 percent in all refrigeration units,
what an impact what would make on energy consumption world wide." Navaz
is currently attempting to form a consortium to expand the research and
create jobs in Michigan by starting a center for Efficient Refrigeration
Technology.
See more at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2868
SOURCE: Kettering University
Kettering University
Dawn Hibbard
810-762-9865
dhibbard@kettering.edu
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