Recovering water running through the ammonia compressor head at Emmi Roth’s Seymour plant will save the company 9 million of gallons of water per year that was previously plumbed directly into a drain. This accomplishment adds great impact to Emmi Roth’s sustainability goal of reducing wastewater by 15% by 2027.
Recovering water running through the ammonia compressor head at Emmi Roth’s Seymour plant will save the company 9 million of gallons of water per year that was previously plumbed directly into a drain. This accomplishment adds great impact to Emmi Roth’s sustainability goal of reducing wastewater by 15% by 2027.
Ammonia is one of the oldest types of refrigeration – dating back to the 1800s – that is still used today. And at In the cooling cycle, the ammonia gas is condensed using the ammonia compressor, which causes it to heat up as it is pressurized. The pressurized ammonia then begins to travel through the system and quickly begins to boil. Ammonia boils at 27F, which means it will be much colder than the surrounding area, unless you’re in Antarctica.
The freezing cold ammonia cools the air around it. While the ammonia begins to warm, the air gets colder. The ammonia continues to travel through the refrigerated area slowly becoming warmer as it goes. Finally, it makes its way back into the compressor where it will begin the cycle again. Refrigeration systems using ammonia are viable, as they do not contribute to climate change or ozone destruction.
Ammonia compressor heads need to remain cool, and in order to do this there is a water jacket around the them. Originally, 60F water from the city to maintained their temperature, but that water went right down the drain. With the new installation, the water used to cool the compressor heads is recaptured, ammonia is used to cool it and it is sent back through again. This will save 9 million gallons of water every single year.