“Smart” Components at Forefront of Move Toward Energy Efficient Design

Rising energy costs and a troubled economic climate have customers turning to energy-efficient refrigeration systems. The momentum of government regulation appears to be coming full circle now that circumstances have forced customers to be increasingly mindful of their bottom lines. Financial need, combined with the availability, performance and durability of energy-efficient technology, has elevated efficient design from a trend to an expectation.*

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products’ advancement in innovative refrigeration technologies has helped further the cause of efficient design. Enhanced coil technologies, electronically commutated (EC) motor offerings and the Smart Defrost Kit™ can help customers realize substantial energy and refrigerant savings and even earn energy-efficiency rebates.

HyperCore™ Microchannel Coil Technology
Heatcraft Refrigeration’s newly updated design for its ½ to 6 HP condensing units features all-aluminum, HyperCore microchannel coils. These coils are proven to last up to two times longer than traditional coated, round-tube, plate-fin coils. The condenser coil refrigerant charge may be reduced by up to 75 percent using HyperCore coils, leading to as much as a 35 percent reduction in initial refrigerant costs.

Variable Speed EC Motors
VSEC motors with Orbus™ Controller from InterLink™ control the speed of motors in response to loads. Choosing this option provides stable head pressure and quick response to load changes. This optimizes system performance, reduces energy consumption, provides improved compressor durability and improved product integrity.

Heatcraft Refrigeration’s optional variable speed EC (VSEC) condensing unit fan motor with Orbus Controller can help dramatically reduce energy consumption by controlling the speed of motors in response to loads. Choosing this option provides stable head pressure and quick response to load changes. Customers in the food service industry, who spend half of their energy dollars on the operation of refrigeration equipment, will also benefit from a quick payback period.

EC Motor (Fixed Speed)
As of January 1, 2009, EC motors are now federally mandated as part of the Federal Energy Independence and Securities Act for most new walk-in coolers and freezers under 3,000 square feet. EC motors emit less heat, reducing heat load inside the box, and are as much as 75 percent efficient. They represent a 51–59 percent increase in efficiency over shaded-pole motors and a 30–35 percent increase over permanent-split capacitor (PSC) motors.

Smart Defrost Kit™
The Smart Defrost Kit from InterLink™ helps eliminate unnecessary defrosts in commercial, electric defrost, walk-in refrigeration systems. Typically, a refrigeration system is set to defrost based on worst-case circumstances. In most cases, this means the system defrosts many more times than is actually needed. The Smart Defrost Kit predicts frost accumulation and allows the system to bypass unnecessary defrosts. Independent testing demonstrated skip rates as high as 44 percent on a typical system. This provides significant energy savings, resulting in substantial cost savings.

Ultimately, efficient design yields long-term maintenance and energy-expenditure savings. Transforming construction standards from expediency to efficiency will not only benefit the refrigeration industry and its customers, but also the economy at large. Heatcraft Refrigeration strives to offer new and innovative features and options that will save customers money. When purchasing equipment, it is always best to look for features and options that will be most beneficial in the long run.

For more information on these products and other energy-efficient products, visit www.heatcraftrpd.com.

Source:
*The Consultant, “Capturing Financial Savings through Energy Efficiency in Commercial Refrigeration,” Paul Nastari, First Quarter 2008