Software simulation cuts cost of refrigeration

Related tags London Thermodynamics

Food firms could save huge costs by using a new simulation software package that will help them optimise the energy consumption of their refrigeration systems and cold stores.

The package was developed by researchers at London South Bank University with the backing of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will be available free at a launch in London on April 21.

Food refrigeration accounts for around 11% of electricity consumption in the UK.

While simulation systems have been available for some time, existing food refrigeration models are not fully integrated and they either consider the process or the refrigeration system separately and not together, claim the developers of the new package.

The new software simulates process and refrigeration systems together and enables engineers and end users to investigate the effects of system design and control options on the energy consumption of refrigerated storage and process systems.

It calculates the behaviour of a refrigerated cold space. For example, it will calculate the varying energy consumption of a cold store when subjected to changes in product loading times.

For details email: Jessica Baldock at: baldocj3@lsbu.ac.uk