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Freezer Technology

Studies at the Meat Industry Research Institute (MIRINZ) may lead to power savings for freezing works of up to $50,000 per year. Terry Chadderton, a chemical engineer with MIRINZ, is developing a computer control system which minimises the power required to freeze meat to the right temperature.

Once meat reaches its optimum frozen temperature, less power is needed to keep it frozen. At the moment, meat plants run their freezers at the same rate throughout the week. This wastes power when there is little load on the system, especially during weekends.

Chadderton's program keeps refrigeration at a minimum when load is low, reducing power consumption by 10%. It can also sense changes in temperature within the system and fluctuations in humidity and heat outside the plant, and make appropriate adjustments.

Chadderton says savings could amount to $10,000 a year for a small plant and up to five times that for a large plant.

The technology is undergoing testing, with plans for the first meat plant trials in a year or so.