Rockwell Automation is helping improve energy efficiency in frozen food manufacturing with its PlantPAx modern distributed control system, which powers an autonomous AI application developed by PartnerNetwork member Actemium.
Actemium created the solution, called Real-Time Coefficient of Performance, or RtCOP, for a large producer of frozen french fry products. According to the companies, RtCOP has helped the food producer increase energy efficiency by 17% and deliver an estimated $130,000 in annual savings per site.
RtCOP continuously analyzes system capacities, efficiencies and environmental conditions in real time. It determines and implements energy-efficient combinations of compressors, condensers and evaporators, functioning as an always-on virtual operator.
The solution runs on Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx DCS, which provides real-time data access, processing speed and system transparency for continuous autonomous optimization. Actemium is helping the food producer scale the solution across its fleet of refrigeration plants, with KPI dashboards providing site-to-site visibility and benchmarking of system efficiency.
“Autonomous optimization can help food producers conserve energy, reduce costs and ease demands on their workforce,” said Jim Gillis, general manager, Actemium Atlantic Canada. “Energy-based equipment ranking that is performed continuously and consistently is something human operators simply can’t do in real time. This solution has the potential to transform refrigeration across food manufacturing.”
