Process Cooling and Refrigeration

I Overview
Refrigeration systems cool air below ambient temperatures, and in some applications will produce temperatures well below freezing. They are functionally the same as engine-driven chillers for air conditioning purposes, although they will generally cool far less air than a similarly sized engine-driven chiller (as more energy is required to achieve the lower temperature).

II Applications
Cold storage, food processing and ice rinks are some of the common applications for commercial and industrial refrigeration.

III Equipment Options
Refrigeration systems are sized according to their operating temperature and pressure range, and the total refrigeration load they will be required to move. The most common refrigeration compressor is a reciprocating piston. This type of compressor responds well to a variable speed drive, and therefore works well with both electric motor drives and natural gas engine drives.

Refrigeration systems are custom-made to fit the desired application.

IV Resources
1. Equipment Manufacturer Database
2. Food Processing Consortium