Potato Fan VFD Initiative

Background

As an extension of the Evaporator Fan VFD Initiative project that was done for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Cascade also studied the use of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) on fans in potato storage facilities. In 2002, the Alliance contracted with Cascade to conduct the "Potato Fan VFDs" project to study this technology.

Three years of full scale field trials performed by the University of Idaho (website: http://www.kimberly.uidaho.edu/potatoes) have shown reduced electrical costs and reduced shrink loss without any quality degradation. A grower holding potatoes for 200 days could expect electrical cost savings between $2,700 and $8,000 per year. Mass loss savings could be worth an additional $3,000 to $6,000 in increased sales per year for a typical storage.

Download the latest copy of Cascade's report on potato fan VFDs with University of Idaho Field Trial Results:

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (website:http://www.nwalliance.org/) is a consortium of Northwest electric utilities, Bonneville Power Administration, state governments, and industrial and consumer representatives. The Alliance is chartered to promote market transformation of energy efficiency electrical products and services. The Alliance territory encompasses Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.