1998 ASHRAE Technology Awards: Refrigeration System Replacement in a Manufacturing Operation ✓ Most Recent

Describes an award-winning refrigeration system replacement project for a foam rubber manufacturing process in an industrial facility in the U.S. The refrigeration system produces -20degF (-29degC) glycol to freeze the latex, plus two intermediate-temperature glycols for 'free' preheating and precooling of moulds For the project, two 120 ton (422kW), 300hp (224kW) open screw compressor chillers totalling 240 tons (845kW) were installed to replace six chillers, improving the average full load efficiency from 2.8kW/ton to 1.95kW/ton. Ammonia was chosen as the chiller refrigerant for environmental reasons. Annual savings in operating costs and increased production give a simple payback of 3.29 years.