2006-07-26 Comment encouraging DOE to assess beverage vending machine technologies and providing detailed recommendations

EERE-2006-STD-0125-0002 Comment. DOE should assess technologies that would allow beverage machines to assist with utility level load shedding. Discussion. Given the current limited peak capacity of the national power grid, a significant cost savings could be achieved by requiring that commercial equipment such as vending machines and appliances that have integrated load shedding capability. It would be relatively easy and cheap to integrate controls that would disable cooling compressors on vending machine during peak load periods. Also use of phase change materials (salt hydrides, or esters) could be used to stabilize temperatures in the machine for relatively long periods of time. The potential costs savings to society for this approach is very large because of the potential reducing peak demand. Recommendation. Specific design approaches that should be considered include: 1) Use of an integrated load shedding controller that would allow utility companies to temporarily shutdown the refrigeration systems and ?ad? lighting while allowing the machine to continue selling project; 2) Use of phase change materials that would allow the vending machine to maintain temperatures for significant periods of time without power to the compressor.