Air curtains provide energy savings in refrigerated display cases by preventing loss of conditioned air.
Tests were conducted to determine if low-emissivity aluminum shields could reduce power use and maintain product temperature in a cold display case during non-business hours.
While doors on reach-in display cases are a significant improvement to energy performance over display cases without doors, a persistent problem has been the visibility through the glass doors. Anti-fog films can prevent fog and sweat from accumulating on the door.
Because frost on refrigerator display-case coils can foil energy efficiency, the RTTC tested defrost methods and found that modular defrost proved more efficient.
FDA food-code temperature reductions can impact refrigeration system energy use. The report hopes to guide Edison customers in making intelligent decisions in complying with FDA requirements.
Edison evaluated performance of an older generation versus the latest energy-efficient multi-deck meat display cases to determine how indoor temperature and relative humidity affected the operation of the display case.
Replacing fluorescent lighting with new fiber optic lighting in supermarket freezer cases can cut electric energy use by 50% — an important improvement for grocers eager to reduce costs and boost margins.
This project compares thermal and optical performance of T-8 fluorescent, light emitting diode, and fiber optic lighting in a 3-door low temperature display case. Results show that the LEDs drew 25% less power than fluorescent lighting and fiber optic drew 64% less power.
This project made improvements in the compressor, evaporator-fan motor, and lighting design to reduce cooling load and boost overall system energy efficiency by 22 percent.
Results indicated that lowering the indoor humidity from 55 to 35 percent resulted in 62 and 74 percent reduction in latent loads of the meat and dairy cases and a 17.7 and 19.6 percent reduction in compressor power.
Refrigeration accounts for half of a supermarket's total energy use or roughly 2 to 3 million kWh annually for a 35,000 ft2 store. This project developed an alternative refrigeration system which uses significantly less refrigerant than conventional systems.
New energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration systems were installed, which achieved an 11 percent reduction in lighting power demand and a 20 to 30 percent cut in refrigeration power demand.
In the absence of a uniform energy-efficiency standards for refrigerated display cases, supermarket operators have reluctantly relied on manufacturers' data in purchasing energy-efficient cases. The results of these non-biased meat case energy efficiency tests provided valuable guidance for supermarkets.
Pulse modulation controls and special polymer doors were examined for their effects on total cooling load, refrigerant mass flow rate, compressor power, heat rejection at the condenser and other parameters.
Tests established a connection between the way products are stocked and system performance.
In the absence of a uniform energy-efficiency standards for refrigerated display cases, supermarket operators have reluctantly relied on manufacturers' data in purchasing energy-efficient cases. The results of these non-biased meat case energy efficiency tests provided valuable guidance for supermarkets.
In 1993, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that supermarkets lower the core temperature of certain refrigerated foods from 45°F to 41°F. SCE undertook a study to assess its impact on electric energy use.