Australia: cutting edge compressor technology drives results

The installation of computer-controlled variable speed drives on refrigerating plant compressors at a warehouse in Sydney, Australia, has enabled Swire Cold Storage to reduce its energy consumption by over 15% during the cooler months.
The installation of computer-controlled variable speed drives on refrigerating plant compressors at a warehouse in Sydney, Australia, has enabled Swire Cold Storage – a major Australian blast-freezing and refrigerated warehouse provider with 17 facilities occupying over 2 million m3 – to reduce its energy consumption by over 15% during the cooler months.

Swire’s general manager of engineering services explained that “the large capacity rotary screw compressors work very efficiently during the warmer months but don’t perform at their best between April and September, when they are required to move lower volumes of gas at low load periods.”

The company has saved around 786 MWh per year and will see a payback in 4.5 years.

Climate Control News
, August 2012