ENERGY SAVING
Using the sniffing tip
Volker Trieb, RAC market manager at Inficon looks at why leak testing in refrigerator production helps to save electricity.
T
he relation between energy losses and the leak tightness of a refrigerator seems absurd at first glance. After all, any leaks in
the coolant circuit cannot allow current to escape. Just as there is no relevant heat exchange with the environment. Nevertheless, even the smallest leaks in components carrying refrigerant can cloud the energy balance: by causing a loss of coolant – which in turn means that the system needs more time to reach a desired cooling temperature or that it cannot easily maintain it. Leak testing integrated into the production process should therefore make sure that no faulty devices are sold. The energy consumption of a household appliance
is an important issue for many end customers. In 2016, for example, in a survey conducted by the online portal Statista in Germany, 50 percent of those questioned stated that energy efficiency and sustainability were key purchasing criteria for them. A comprehensive Europe-wide study , published in 2017 by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI together with the Beuth University of Applied Sciences, confirmed that energy costs and energy labelling are two very important aspects for consumers. However, there are minor differences between the various countries in terms of their importance. For example, they are somewhat less important in the UK than in France or Germany.
Matters regarding the environmental or climate compatibility of household appliances generally play an important role for consumers. It is also crucial for them to keep their electricity costs as low as possible. The potential cost savings
20 January 2021
are particularly high for refrigerators, which are among the household appliances with the highest energy consumption. According to non-profit consulting company co2online , refrigerators and freezers account for an average of almost 20% of the electricity consumption in a private German household. This is why manufacturers advertise the low power consumption of their devices. They are also legally obliged to indicate the energy efficiency class.
Consumer and environmental organisations have repeatedly pointed out that the actual electricity consumption of refrigerators is often higher than declared. Private individuals are also critical and do not just rely on information provided by manufacturers – especially not if their bills reveal higher energy consumption than expected. Some people take measurements themselves (a simple current meter or a smart is sufficient). In order to the exact, reproducible
consumption, you need to follow the DIN EN ISO
standard.
If the actual data deviates significantly from the information provided by manufacturers and this becomes public, it can have very unpleasant consequences for the producer: Customers go elsewhere, high warranty costs are incurred or they are confronted with public accusations of fraud – not to mention the long-term damage to their image.
One of the reasons why a refrigerator requires
more energy than might be expected is due to small leaks in components
test socket
determine energy
15502
www.acr-news.com
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