A two year experiment demonstrated electrical energy savings
through evaporator fan cycling in part of a full-sized refrigerated
controlled atmosphere apple storage facility in Yakima, Washington.
Room cooling demand and evaporator fan operation was controlled by
the bulk fruit temperature. Refrigerant temperature was regulated
by a computer controlled ramping sequence and a weighted average
of three thermistors rather than a room thermostat. Evaporator fans
remained off 60-65% of the time during periods of fan cycling
operation. Seasonal average fan energy savings approached 50-55%
when the product remained in storage for a typical length of time.
Room environment conditions, product mass loss, and fruit quality
were not compromised. Bulk fruit temperature was exceptionally
stable as compared to fruit stored in non-fan cycled rooms
controlled by traditional means.
Less fan motor heat input in the fruit storage space also
results in compressor energy savings. Total electrical energy
savings were projected to an 18 room fruit storage facility
implementing computer controlled evaporator fan cycling. Projected
electrical energy savings achievable through evaporator fan cycling
for the state of Washington were made based on reported apple
storage capacity. / Graduation date: 1993
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36386 |
| Date | 26 October 1992 |
| Creators | Koca, Robert W. |
| Contributors | Hellickson, Martin L. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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