Refrigeration for Engineering

While the physics of refrigeration haven’t changed over the past few decades – there has been significant technology advancement in energy efficiency, controls and automation.    

We are talking with plenty of clients on Thermosyphon oil cooling, floating head pressure control and optimized smart plants with the aim to achieve 3-8% better efficiency out of your ammonia refrigeration plant. For certain applications low charge DX ammonia can provide superior energy savings and benefits of lower ammonia charge.     

When it comes to HFC/ freon technology, we see CO2 having an impact as the technology has improved in trans-critical systems.   

Cold Logic also has a partnership with Yanmar Australia to provide natural gas powered chillers allowing customers to almost operate off-grid for their refrigeration. These options include chilled water or low temperature glycol. There is even a LPG gas option for these chillers should natural gas not be available onsite.

Upgrades to live operating plants can be challenging due to many variables and risks at any given time. We love these challenges – in fact we prefer these over the simple projects. We thrive in this environment and have long list of successful projects and happy clients.

Examples of this are, Thomas Foods Boning Room and refrigeration upgrade which included new lamb chillers. This upgrade was completed in live operation, with minimal downtime and no lost production. Talk to us about case studies such as these and your specific situation.

Yes – the Australian government has made a commitment to a phase down the importation of HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) gases and commenced this phase down on January 1, 2018. Each year they will gradually reduce HFC imports to 15% of current quotas with full effect as of 2036. This phase down is already 3 years ahead in Europe and has already seen significant rises in the price of phased down gases such as R134a, R407C, R410a and R407F. We are already seeing the same price rises in Australia as supply are reduced.        

Alternative drop in gases are now hitting the market, with pricing higher than original HFC gas prices and they still have shortcomings. These include the new blends having low components of phased out gases, meaning they will still need to be replaced. Other issues are in the event of a small leak – the gas blends will escape at different rates, meaning performance will be affected and there is no testing to be able to determine which blend has been lost. This can end in costly full recharging of the system.        

Cold Logic can mitigate these by discussing alternative refrigeration solutions and manage the risk to operating cost and operation.

Yes, Cold Logic has a suite of options to discuss with you. These could include our hire chillers with generators or adopting low power draw refrigeration equipment such as ammonia refrigeration.     

Cold Logic also has a partnership with Yanmar Australia to provide natural gas powered chillers allowing customers to almost operate off-grid for their refrigeration. These options include chilled water or low temperature glycol. There is even a LPG gas option for these chillers should natural gas not be available onsite.

Did you know refrigeration can be on average anywhere between 30-85% of a facilities annual energy use? Are you managing your energy costs as best as you can be?    Its worth having the conversation with us.

Refrigeration is essentially capturing heat (energy) and moving it to somewhere else (often atmosphere). How much energy and heat your moving will determine how much electricity your using.

We have intimate knowledge of making the best use of it. Our expertise is in better automation and controls of refrigeration. A 1-3% improvement in controls and refrigeration operation can translate into a 1-3% improvement in energy efficiency.   Doesn’t sound like a lot?

For many companies, total energy bills can be in the many $100K’s to millions. Each dollar of efficiency gain here falls straight to the bottom line.