Cool atmosphere and remarkable energy savings in modern ice sports and event hall with an ABB AC Drive.
A refrigerating compressor is the heart of a cooling system. In this application there are two screw compressors with 250 kW cooling capacity each. The frequency converter driven compressor runs continuously. In case high volume of cooling is required the other compressor is turned on and the output is adjusted with the frequency converter driven compressor.
Precise adjustment ensures that temperature variations are kept very small, giving a remarkably constant ice temperature and quality. As the frequency converter adjusts the rotation speed of the compressor smoothly and steplessly the solution also saves energy.
Schematic diagram of cooling system.
The cooling system includes a coolant pumping system, a heat recovery system and a heat exchanger cooling system, all adjusted with frequency converters. The pumping system circulates the coolant through the cooling pipeline. The pump speed is determined by the temperature difference between the outgoing and incoming coolant. If the hall temperature rises to a preset limit, the coolant is also circulated to cool the air of the hall.
The heat recovery system collects the heat energy created by the cooling unit. This energy is used to heat warm water, in air conditioning, to prevent the soil frost under the ice field and to melt the snow removed from the ice. Excess heat is led to the heat exchanger cooling fans outside the building. The heat recovery system quarantees the energy efficiency of the system as the same unit serves both cooling and heating.
A frequency converter generally allows more precise adjustment of cooling and heating systems than any other control method. This leads to a more constant atmosphere and large energy savings. In addition, smooth adjustment and less frequent start-ups increase the service life of machinery and reduce maintenance requirements.
Benefits of AC Drive
- Optimum atmosphere in the event hall
- Constant ice temperature and quality
- Remarkable energy savings
- Less maintenance for running machinery
- Longer service life of the machinery