Cargill boosts refrigeration efficiency at subsidiary by 30%
An arm of the Cargill group has increased production and reduced oil consumption at its chicken processing plant after a 30% improvement in refrigeration efficiency.
Freeman’s of Newent, a primary chicken processing business, approached energy-management firm Excalibur, after findings on the energy use of a spiral refrigeration unit used to cool chickens prior to packing and despatch.
The firm claim it will achieve a payback against investment of 18 months, and an annual reduction in carbon emissions of 150 tonnes.
The system is made up of five Sabroe reciprocating compressors, operating on the R22 replacement refrigerant R417a, which processes 72,000 chickens a day.
The refit involved the installation of liquid pressure amplification and inverter control of condenser fans and the system was recommissioned to operate at low head pressure.
