A intelligent variable speed drives range, launched by Sporlan Valve Division of Parker Hannifin will deliver energy savings for commercial food refrigeration systems.
A intelligent variable speed drives range, launched by Sporlan Valve Division of Parker Hannifin, a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies, will deliver energy savings for commercial food refrigeration systems.
In particular, the new drives can save food processors, distributors and retailers up to 40% of the energy used by refrigeration systems with single compressor units, and up to 25% from the energy consumed by conventional multi-stage compressor racks.
Called iSpeed, the new drives are designed specifically to control the operating speeds of refrigeration compressors, matching system output precisely to variations in demand, and giving optimum energy efficiency with low maintenance and long term reliability. In addition, the ability to ensure accurate control of refrigeration systems, with precise and smooth adjustments in compressor speed to match operating load demands, helps to minimise the problems caused by fluctuations in pressure and temperature; for food refrigeration, this preserves product integrity and improves shelf life by reducing dehydration and shrinkage.
Similarly, by intelligently controlling the cycle rates of compressors, with a smooth increase and decrease in compressor speed, the iSpeed drives reduce allow wear and stresses on moving parts. The same intelligent technology also enables fewer compressors to be used in many applications, with one variable speed controlled compressor being temporarily run at higher capacity, rather than starting several fixed speed compressors to meet short term increases in load demand; in a typical installation a single iSpeed drive can control one variable speed compressor and up to eight fixed speed compressor units.
The new drives can be retro-fitted by end users to existing refrigeration systems, or used by OEMs in new builds. In each case, iSpeed drives are easy to install, configure and operate, featuring pre-programmed modular control algorithms and interfaces to a wide range of standard third party controllers.
The new iSpeed family of intelligent variable speed drives has been developed through a partnership between Parker Hannifin’ Sporlan Valve Division and KIMO RHVAC. This brings together KIMO’s specialised software skills in the field of refrigeration, with Parker Hannifin’s reputation as an industry leader, developed over 70 years, for advanced components and systems for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration sectors, with a global network of manufacturing, sales and technical support centres.
With annual sales exceeding $12 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs approximately 62,000 people in 48 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 52 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index.
