Apache Junction, Ariz., is one of the harshest and hottest climates in the United States. Last winter Burke Alford, maintenance manager for the Safeway supermarkets, was faced with the dilemma of replacing another evaporative condenser. The company decided to consider a new hybrid condenser technology.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Institute (AHRTI) has completed a research project on performance standards for walk-in refrigerator and freezer systems.
My Point of View in the April FROSTlines was about a movie called “Inuk” that was shown at the Beloit International Film Festival. Now, I suppose I should mention another movie (one of four we saw at that same festival) — one completely different from “Inuk” but one that had a refrigeration aspect.
Highly-efficient AK/AJ condensing units have been added to the Celseon® line of products. Each unit has an ultra-reliable, single-phase, PSC (permanent split-capacitor) motor, which does not require a starter (115V 60Hz and 208-230V 60Hz are available).
From a global perspective, there is a lot of interest in the wider use of R-744 (CO2), especially in supermarket refrigeration. Recently, a number of international studies and seminars have reported some of the latest developments regarding R-744.
One of the basic components selected when installing a walk-in cooler/freezer or any field-assembled refrigeration system is the metering device, typically the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV). The TXV needs to be selected to match the Btu capacity of the system’s evaporator and compressor.
The amount of condenser subcooling needed is system dependent. The more pressure drops — friction and static — associated with the lines and accessories that carry the liquid in the system, the more need there will be for liquid subcooling to prevent liquid line flash gas.
Although overall standards of refrigeration maintenance remain high, at many facilities there is still room for improvement. Upgrading your company’s rotating-equipment maintenance procedures and eliminating unsound practices will help reduce the risk of failures that can lead to process shutdowns or spoilage of refrigerated product.
Purdue University will host three concurrent conferences with HVACR emphasis July 16-19. The concurrent conferences are the 21st International Compressor Engineering Conference, the 14th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference, and the 2nd International High Performance Buildings Conference.