Rockwell Automation and industrial services firm Actemium have deployed an artificial intelligence application that reduces energy consumption in industrial refrigeration systems by 17%, according to the companies.
The solution, already in use at a large frozen french fry producer, is generating an estimated USD130,000 in annual savings per facility.
The technology, developed by Actemium and branded as Real-Time Coefficient of Performance, or RtCOP, runs on Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx distributed control system. It functions as a continuous autonomous operator, analyzing compressor, condenser and evaporator configurations in real time and selecting the most energy-efficient combination based on live system data and environmental conditions. The result is a self-adjusting refrigeration setup that optimizes for efficiency rather than simply meeting cooling demand — a distinction that has historically been difficult to achieve at scale.
Industrial refrigeration is among the most power-hungry systems in food manufacturing, accounting for as much as 70% of a plant’s total electricity consumption. Despite that, the systems have typically been managed reactively, with operators focused on maintaining adequate cooling rather than continuously evaluating performance across shifting variables. RtCOP is designed to close that gap by performing the kind of constant, granular analysis that human operators lack the time and tools to sustain.
Beyond energy savings, the companies say the system also reduces mechanical strain on refrigeration equipment, with potential benefits for long-term asset reliability — a secondary return that could add to the financial case for adoption as facilities weigh capital maintenance costs alongside energy expenditure.
Rockwell Automation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ROK, describes itself as the world’s largest company focused exclusively on industrial automation and digital transformation.
Find out more at: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/