Performance Optimization of Industrial Refrigeration Systems

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Date
2000Author
Manske, Kyle A.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Show full item recordAbstract
Industrial refrigeration systems can be found in applications ranging from ice making to
food processing and preservation to industrial chemical processes. These systems
typically consist of many different components, each component may be produced by a
different manufacturer. The operational data provided by the different manufacturers for
each component is used by system designers to specify installation and operational
procedures of the system. Often times, the optimum control of an individual piece of
equipment results in sub-optimal system performance due to unforeseen interactions
between the different system components. It is important to identify and monitor key
parameters of the system, such as power consumption and refrigeration effect, in order to
optimize the performance.
The efforts of this research focused on modeling an operating, ammonia vapor
compression, refrigeration system serving a two-temperature food storage and
distribution facility located near Milwaukee, WI. This system utilized a combination of
both single-screw and reciprocating compressors operating under single-stage
compression, an evaporative condenser, and both liquid overfeed and direct expansion
evaporators. The model was verified with experimental data recorded from the system
and then used to identify alternative designs and operating techniques that lead to
optimum system performance.
Changes in system operation such as variable frequency (VFD) or multi-speed motor
control on condenser and evaporator fans, head pressure control, refrigerant temperature
control, and aspects of load sharing between compressors were investigated. Also, the
performance of several alternative system designs was investigated. The aspects of
alternative system design that were examined are condenser sizing, two-stage
compression, load separation by addition of another suction level, and thermosiphon.
A 31 percent reduction in annual energy usage and a 21 percent reduction in annual peak
electrical demand over the current system operation is predicted to be possible with the
most feasible of the optimization techniques and designs examined implemented.
Subject
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2000.
Dissertations Academic Mechanical Engineering.
University of Wisconsin--Madison. College of Engineering.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/7650Description
Under the supervision of Professors Sanford Klein and Douglas Reindl; 166pp.
Citation
Manske, K.A. (2000). Performance Optimization of Industrial Refrigeration Systems. Master's Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.