So, when Poole wanted to cut costs, it focused on potential efficiencies in refrigeration. Poole’s Pies anticipates an 11 percent cut in the cost of electricity consumption following the installation of the drives. The company’s new spiral belt freezer increases freezer storage capacity, while the refrigeration system needs less power now thanks to ABB low voltage AC drives controlling two fundamental components, the compressor motor and condenser fan.

Most electric motors operate at full speed unless they are regulated. This is often done by means of a throttle, which is like driving a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake.

Variable speed drives are a much more precise means of controlling the speed and power intake of electric motors. ABB drives in a new refrigeration system have achieved energy savings of 11 percent in the compressor motor and 20- to 30-percent in the fan. This is expected to save the company more than £6,000 per year. For Poole’s Pies, replacing the 315 kW screw compressor’s slide valve control with ABB’s low harmonic ACS800 drive delivers power savings of 11 percent. The compressor motor now operates efficiently at lower speeds between 1500 and 3600 rpm.

Moreover, ABB’s 15 kW standard drive, ACS550, now controls the fan that forces cooling air over the condenser, yielding a 3-percent decrease in energy consumption for every 1-percent drop in speed. The result is the fan uses from 20- to 30-percent less power than it did before the conversion.

A compact spiral belt freezer maximizes surface area of a given floor space with spiralling tiers of shelves. Although the full load efficiency of screw compressors is generally good, part load performance can be poor, says Brian Seward, spokesperson for installer, Seward Refrigeration. “With variable speed control of the compressor at Poole’s Pies, we now have the best of both worlds, good efficiency at both partial load and full load.” Refrigeration systems decrease temperature by removing heat rather than by adding cold. To circulate cold liquid refrigerant and absorb heat from the space to be cooled, mechanical vapor-compression refrigeration systems rely on key pieces of hardware, such as compressors and fans, to move pressurized refrigerant.