Danfoss recognises CO2 chiller manufacturer
26th August 2022
USA: Danfoss has named Washington-based chiller manufacturer Pro Refrigeration as its 13th EnVisioneer of the Year.
The annual EnVisioneer of the Year award competition recognises North American OEMs, building owners, municipalities, contractors and end users that have introduced a new product, opened a new facility or invested in a building or system upgrade in the past 18 months using Danfoss products or solutions to realise significant energy and environmental savings.
Pro Refrigeration uses Danfoss refrigeration control on its PROGreen CO2 Chiller system. Introduced last year this 100hp uses parallel 50hp CO2 compressors.
The Danfoss components utilised in the PROGreen CO2 Chiller include the AK-SM850A system manager, AK-CC 750A case controller, AK-PC781A pack controller, as well as the CCM 20 and CCMT 30 electric regulating valves, BC 5100 pressure switches, pressure and temperature sensors, and other accessories such as AK-PS 250 power supply and GDC gas detector.
All of the parts work together to monitor the cooling system, gather data from the sensors, control when the compressors cycle on and off and ensure the fans and expansion valves are working correctly.
“The Danfoss components provide the brains of the system,” explained Jim VanderGiessen, Pro Refrigeration’s co-founder and CEO. “They keep the system running in an optimal manner.” As part of its constant monitoring and adjustment to external conditions, the system manager generates alerts and alarms, so that the facilities staff can immediately identify and address potential mechanical problems. The refrigeration control system also allows Pro Refrigeration engineers to access the data remotely for improved customer support and troubleshooting capabilities.
The first installation at a California dairy farm has maintained a average milk temperature of 37.1ºF (2.8ºC), whereas the dairy’s previous chiller was unable to cool below 40ºF (4.4ºC). As a result, the farm was able to earn a quality bonus from milk processors and see revenue increases in the range of $1,400 to $2,800 per day.
The chiller also recovers the waste heat from the chiller system to heat the wash water, heating 3000 gallons of well water per day from 70ºF to 170ºF (21ºC to 76.6ºC) and eliminating the need to use fossil fuels, in this case propane, as a heating source. Monthly energy savings are said to be about $2,100.
“Pro Refrigeration is a worthy recipient of the EnVisioneer of the Year award,” said Rick Sporrer, president of Danfoss North America. “The PROGreen CO2 Chiller is an example of using technical innovation to benefit both the end user and society as a whole. Combining low-GWP refrigerant with heat recovery technology provides twice the benefit, both for the environment and the customer. With the need to adopt environmentally friendly refrigerants in the wake of HFC phasedown, Pro Refrigeration shows that reducing carbon emissions and achieving business success go hand in hand.”
The award was presented to Pro Refrigeration on August 24 at its Mocksville, North Carolina facility.
