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Project Info COMPLETE Project Title

Electronic Refrigerant Injection Control

Project Number ET13SCE7210 Organization SCE End-use Process Loads Sector Industrial Project Year(s) 2013 - 2015
Description
This system eliminates the central engine room, long piping runs and associated parasitic losses with a traditional ammonia-based system. All components are energy optimized, fully automated, remotely monitored and auto DR ready. This assessment looks at low temperature (-15'F) refrigerated warehouse applications and will validate manufacturer performance claims
Project Results
Refrigerated Warehouses throughout the US have a constant issue in handling the growing challenge regarding the ‘typical’ large amounts of ammonia refrigerant located in their facilities. There is a market movement towards low charge systems to help with growing regulations, safety and a need for ever increasing energy efficiency. The technology that is the focus of this assessment can be described as a packaged refrigeration system the uses natural refrigerant, ammonia. It can be configured as either a rooftop or ground mount unit ranging in size from 25TR to 150TR. It is also in the category of an “ultra-low charge” system because the ammonia charge is measured in “ounces per ton” of refrigeration supplied (TR). It has the market brand name of NXTCOLD. The packaged system also includes a patented refrigeration control system1 that measures and governs the refrigerant quality and consistency within the evaporator coil. The typical available temperature ranges are from 60°F to -60°F. Another aspect of the field assessment is consideration that the unit is a “natural refrigerant” system. There is a growing national and California push to find cost-effective alternatives to synthetic refrigerants, which include increasing regulations and costs. Even within the wide current use of ammonia as a natural refrigerant, there is a growing awareness regarding the quantity of ammonia at a facility and a desire to reduce it as much as possible by balancing new technology, increasing regulation and environmental/safety stewardship. There are growing regulatory groups focused on ammonia charge itself as well as regulating or phasing out traditional synthetic refrigerants and their consequent greenhouse gas effects. These include: -U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) -California Accidental Release Prevention (CALARP)
Project Report Document
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Industry
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The ETCC is funded in part by ratepayer dollars and the California IOU Emerging Technologies Program, the IOU Codes & Standards Planning & Coordination Subprograms, and the Demand Response Emerging Technologies (DRET) Collaborative programs under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The municipal portion of this program is funded and administered by Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.