Evaporator Efficiency Controller Helps Taco Bell Decrease Run Time of Refrigeration Equipment
From September to November 2013, a study was conducted on the walk-in freezer at the Union, Mo., Taco Bell restaurant. The study’s purpose was to compare energy consumption and temperature control of the freezer using two scenarios. In the first, the system operated with standard mechanical controls, including a thermostat, defrost timer and defrost termination device. In the second, the system was controlled using a KE2 Evaporator Efficiency (KE2 Evap) controller, developed by KE2 Therm Solutions, Washington, Mo.,in place of the mechanical controls.
At the start of the test, the KE2 Evap controller was installed to monitor the room and evaporator coil temperatures, while the mechanical controls were still providing the actual system control. The target temperature for the walk-in freezer was 0°F. The controller monitored the freezer and gathered data on the energy consumption of the compressor, evaporator fans and defrost heaters.