Saving Energy in Refrigerated Warehouses

Points out that almost all motors in industrial refrigeration facilities are AC induction motors operating on three-phase and 460 V. Discusses these motors only. States that one way of reducing the electricity bill of refrigerated warehouses is to improve the power factor of these motors. Notes that a 1999 survey of refrigerated warehouses in the USA and Canada showed that the issue of improving the power factor was often overlooked. Discusses the measures and potentials of energy cost savings by improving the power factor. Presents a case study based on the survey. Concludes by recommending that refrigerated warehouses without capacitors should audit their power factor and the rate structure of their electricity bills.