Eutectic Fridge Compressor Performance
I had Moorebank Refrigeration replace my compressor unit about 7 years. Still works, not as well as initially, task has been to improve efficiency.It powers a fridge and separate freezer.
The unit is a commercial shop type,made in Italy,240v, a like for like replacement (though I wanted a Danfoss). The "heat exchanger"/condenser is a conventional air cooled type, with fan.
The unit is located in the ER, so if the engines have been running it`s warm down there. A squirrel type 12v exhaust fan helps, but the condenser is in warm air and the compressor works hard.
Our marina neighbour is a refrigeration engineer,he suggested leaving a hatch to the ER open to let heat escape,and even switching to a seawater cooled condenser.
I thought about airflow. A 240v fan,the kind used in hydroponics to grow "plants", run in tandem with the compressor. But it needed air supply and removal, ie.a flow,for it to work.
Then I thought,the ER 12v exhaust fan is more or less above the compressor, there are ER vents either side of the hull. I wouldn`t run the 12v fan 24/7 at the marina, but running the compressor away from the marina, genset on, I could run the fan,using the battery charger to feed it via the batts.I tried it, got good improvement in run time getting temps down. Just using existing equipment,differently.
We`ll see how it goes,the weather is cooling as a late autumn arrives,which may be giving false positive results. Thought I`d share the experience. Maybe others will contribute thoughts and experiences.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
|