Refrigeration Condenser Project
Whilst carrying out routine maintenance at Arla Foods, we made the client aware that their ageing refrigeration condenser. The Friga-Bohn condensers were reaching the end of their and replacement before they failed completely.
As a critical item in their production process up-time is paramount. Arla produce milk and cream. These dairy products need to be kept at strictly controlled temperatures.
Benefits of Pressure Control
We informed Arla that their refrigeration condenser technology was outdated. We recommended installing a pressure control panel. The benefits are:
- As temperatures drop at night, it allows the fans to run at a lower speed. This lowers the noise of the unit and also lowers the running costs.
- Daytime temperatures will generally be lower than 35 degrees C, ambient throughout the year. This ensures the fans will run at a lower speed rather than full speed.
- The pressure sensor sends a 0-10 volt signal to the control panel which subsequently adjusts the fan speeds automatically. This effectively deals with changes in environmental conditions.
As an energy saving option Arla were happy to proceed with our recommendations.
Replacing the Refrigeration Condenser
Thermalair set about putting together a programme to replace the refrigeration condenser without causing disruption to Arla. Thermalair and Arla worked together during the planning process. This involved setting a date which suited the client. In addition, we worked with a supplier of temporary cooling so during the decommissioning of the original condensers, a source of temporary cooling was already in place.
Another issue to overcome was the location of the units. They were in the middle of the roof of the high level building. We had to use a crane to carry out the lifting tasks. To minimise the cost of crane hire, Thermalair came up with a work schedule. This meant the lifting we carried out the lifting work in less than a day. Despite poor weather, Thermalair achieved this objective.
From decommissioning through to installation of the new condensers, Thermalair were constantly on site ensuring all aspects of the plan came together. As a result of detailed planning, the whole job went very smoothly, as expected. Thermalair completed the entire job within a week.
The client was delighted with how the project went and the new condensers are now operating and chilling the relevant areas much more efficiently. They are achieving this with a lower power consumption that previously.