Nearly everyone is aware energy costs have risen over the past five years, and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Since 2001 we have paid in excess of $3.00 per gallon for gasoline, and power companies have petitioned utility commission rate increases.

WHAT WE DO

Over this same time span, Apex Refrigeration personnel have successfully implemented changes in the manner of which new systems are designed, and have been involved in retrofitting existing refrigeration and boiler systems to minimize energy use.

Employing their expertise in fields of heat transfer and refrigeration, coupled with state-of-the-art technology in monitoring and controls, they developed specific criteria for each project focused on high system performance at minimal energy consumption. Their efforts have been rewarded to the extent that their clients have experienced as great as 50% return on investment from the funds expended for energy management.

HOW IT’S DONE

Five factors impact thermal energy costs: Utilities, Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance.

Utilities

Utility charges are part of the cost of doing business; the manner in which energy is managed has significant impact on what it costs you to do business. Most utilities operate with rate schedules for both consumption and demand, which may offer rate reduction for power use dependant on time of day. At times, utilities have incentives or rebates for more efficient use of energy. Apex’s job is to communicate with the power company serving your facility, and determine optimum energy utilization strategy.

Design

As part of your construction team, Apex can help to control the design, and may offer options where up-front investment in efficiency has short term payback in energy consumption.

With existing systems, design choices made in the days of less expensive energy could be working to your disadvantage. Plant expansions, product changes, and other factors may also be working to your disadvantage. Equally important, today's control technology may not have been available when the system was installed, and truly efficient operation may be beyond the capability of your system.

Apex reviews your facility refrigeration requirements, both present and future, and evaluates your existing system design in terms of efficiency potential.

Installation

Installation is nearly always performed under constraints of time and budget. Improperly piped valves or equipment leaves you “driving with the brakes on.” Apex reviews the system as installed, and evaluates efficiency potential.

Operation

With a new system, getting on-line and meeting temperature requirements is usually more important then determining degree of operating efficiency. At times, the commissioning technician sets controls to guarantee a stable system under all ambient conditions, and unless you have sharp operating personnel on staff, you operate for years at a disadvantage. Apex reviews the system operation as it affects system performance.

Maintenance

A system with the ultimate in design, equipment, and installation, operates at a disadvantage if not properly maintained. Scaled condensers, plugged strainers, oil logging, inadequate lubrication, loose wires, pitted contactors, refrigerant leakage, and a host of other items contribute to system inefficiency, and results in greater expenses in the long term. Apex reviews system maintenance requirements in terms of performance limitations.

WHAT’S NEXT

Having reviewed your refrigeration and/or boiler systems in terms of the above outline, Apex will offer recommendations for system upgrades that will positively impact your facility.

Recommendations are based on “before-after” computer simulations of your facility. If the analysis shows a reasonable payback schedule, Apex will work with you to attain your goals.

Apex Refrigeration & Boiler Co. welcomes the opportunity to investigate the energy reduction potentials of your plant.