Text Only | PDA View | Customize this Page

Last Updated:  May 17, 2013

  
Publications Website

Past IRC R&T Forums

13th Annual | 12th Annual | 11th Annual | 10th Annual | 9th Annual | 8th Annual | 7th Annual | 6th Annual | 5th Annual | 4th Annual | 3rd Annual | 2nd Annual | 1st Annual

Our annual IRC Research & Technology Forum currently takes place each year in May. Each R&T Forum provides attendees with an opportunity to receive information about current refrigeration research, regulatory updates, emerging technologies, refrigeration education, and exploration of future research in the area of industrial refrigeration. It also provides opportunities for industry professionals to meet and exchange ideas with industry experts.

All parties interested in industrial refrigeration are welcome to attend. This includes: owners, operators, contractors, designers, insurers, energy service providers, manufacturers and anyone else with an interest in the successful future of industrial refrigeration. Information on the next R&T Forum is typically posted in August on this page. Anyone having questions regarding travel arrangements or presentation topics should contact the IRC.

13th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 8-9, 2013
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

PSM Best Practices - Mechanical Integrity

• Mechanical Integrity for Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Systems
  Doug Reindl
• Mechanical Integrity for Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration for Vessels
  Dan Dettmers

• New Findings in Machinery Room Ventilation:
  Results from Detailed Dispersion Modeling
  Martin Timm
• The Machinery Room Ventilation Analysis Tool
  Ron Worley

• Building Information Modeling
  Bill Wiseman
• The Commissioning Process
  Daniel Dettmers

• Relief Scenarios
  Todd Jekel
• Pressure Relief Valve Testing
  Marc Claas

• Selection and Operational Considerations for Liquid Refrigerant Pumps
  Harold Streicher
• Setting HEVs for Liquid Overfed Evaporators
  Todd Jekel
• LED Lighting
  Kris Hinds

• Food Pathogens and Food Safety: Emerging Trends
  Adam Borger
• Refrigerant Detection Systems and Technologies Update
  Brian EuDaly

12th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 2-3, 2012
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Innovative Approaches To Improving Your Visual Inspections
  George Johnson
• Achieving And Sustaining Energy Efficiency Improvements
  Todd Jekel
• Considerations for Operating Pressure Vessels Below -20°F
  Rowe Bansch
• Understanding Liquid and Hydrostatic Relief
  Douglas Reindl
• Back To Basis: Pipe Insulation
  Todd Jekel
• Mechanical Insulation for Refrigeration Systems
  Peter Gauchel
• A Master Specification For Industrial Refrigerant Piping Systems
  Douglas Reindl
• Centralized Pump-Out/Purification/Oil-Still Vessel to Simplify Line Breaking and Oil Drainage
  Bent Wiencke, George Read
• Industrial Ammonia Heat Pumps
  Sam Gladis
• Carbon Footprint for Dairy Processes
  FX Milani
• Energy Sources Uses & Prospects in the 21st Century
  Mike Corradini
• Mechanical Integrity Update
  Dan Dettmers

11th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 5-6, 2011
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Principles of Electrical Design for Safety Systems
  Timothy E. Clark
• Coatings for Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and Vessels
  Bradley D. Dahlgren
• Back To Basics: Relief Valves
  Todd Jekel
• Relief Valve Sizing For Equipment
  Douglas Reindl
• Practical Two‐phase Flow: Underlying Principles and Visualizaion
  Timothy Shedd
• New Applications for Carbon Dioxide: Analysis of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (S-CO2) Power Cycles
  John Dyreby
• Refrigeration Systems Energy Efficiency Improvement Evaluation of Floating Head Pressure
  Todd Jekel
• R-600a Application in a Household Refrigerator
  Brent Junge
• An Update on OSHA`s PSM National Emphasis Programs
  George Yoksas
• Is Visual Inspection Part of a Mechanical Integrity Program?
  Dan Dettmers
• Process Hazard Analysis and Hazard Control
  Douglas Reindl
• Writing Effective Operative Procedures
  Todd Jekel

10th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 5-6, 2010
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Overview of Critical Safety Systems
  Tod Jekel, Ph.D., P.E.
• Mechanical Integrity For Safety Systems and Controls
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Stress Corrosion Cracking Update
  Dan Dettmers, P.E.
• Ammonia Incidents and Accidents
  The Honorable John S. Bresland, Chairman
• An Overview of the Commissioning Process
  Joy E. Altwies, P.E
• Benefits and Roadblocks to Commissioning Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Industrical Refrigeration "Worst-Of" Slide Show
• Pressure Relief Testing
  Tod Jekel, Ph.D., P.E.
• Going Green: Refrigerant Selection for the Future
  Dan Dettmers, P.E.
• The Net Zero Food Plant
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Manager's Refrigeration Training
  Bent Wiencke, Manager, Refrigeration Engineering, Nestle USA
• Process Hazard Analysis
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Operating Procedure
  Tod Jekel, Ph.D., P.E.

9th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 13-14, 2009
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Fundamentals of VFDs and Refrigeration Applications
  Henry Ohme, Application Engineer, Danfoss Motion Controls
• VFDs for Evaporators
  Ian Runsey, Vice-President Engineering, Guntner U.S.
• VFDs for Compressors
  John C. Cosner, Senior VSD Product Specialist, JCI/Frick
• Exploring the Limits of Human Performance
  Douglas A. Wiegmann, Ph.D., Associate Professor, UW-Madison
• Case Studies of VFD Applications
  Luiz Fernando Zanutto, Food and Beverage Manager, Danfoss Drives, Latin America
• Comparative Analysis of Low Temperature Systems
  Piyanon Mumanachit, Research Intern, IRC
• Energy Independence and Securities Act 2007: What does it mean to you?
  Energy Independence and Securities Act 2007 - Full Text
  Energy Independence and Securities Act 2007- Summary
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Heat Pump Applications in Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  Michael Rohde, President, Rohde Brothers, Inc.
• Introduction to Hydraulic Hammer and CIS
  Todd Jekel, Assistant Director, IRC
• Case Study in Pipework Fracture Due to Hydraulic Hammer
  Bent Wiencke, Corporate Engineering, Nestlé USA
• Design Practices to Prevent Hydraulic Hammer
  George Read, Manager, Engineering, Application Engineer, Nestlé USA
• Management of Change
  Management of Change Examples
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Pre-Startup Safety Review
  Todd Jekel, Assistant Director, IRC

8th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: May 7-8, 2008
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• MI Inspection Techniques And Findings
  James Kovarik, Professor, Lixi
• Principles and Practices of Vibration Analysis
  Randy Keefer, VP Aftermarket Services, FES
• Oil Analysis - Lessons Learned
  Chad Norris, Engineer, Wells' Dairy
• Industry Trends In Renewable Energy
  Drew McMahon, VP Technology, Skyfuel
• Is There A Hydrogen Economy In Our Future?
  Sanford Klein, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Anerobic Digesters For On-site Power Production - Lessons Learned
  Robert Gansler,Technical Consultant , Xcel Energy
• Insulation Practices For Low Temperature Piping
  James Young, Dow Chemical
• Piping System Preparation
  James Peterson, US EPA
• Conducting Effective Visual Inspections
  Daniel Dettmers, Research Engineer, IRC
• A Decade of Tracking Incidents and Accidents
  James Drew, Wisconsin Department of Health
• Emergency Responder Needs
  Dave Bursack, HAZMAT Planner, Dane County
• Best Practices for PSM Auditing
  Gary Webster, Global Refrigeration Engineer, Kraft Foods
• Recommendations for Continuous PSM Program Improvement
  Todd Jekel, Assistant Director, IRC

Posters:

• White roofs
  Daniel Dettmers, Research Engineer, IRC
• Magnetic Refrigeration
  Mike Frischmann, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Low temperature refrigeration options
  Pete Mumanachit, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Freezer efficiency improvement options
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Refrigeration for Cryosurgery
  Harrison Skye, University of Wisconsin-Madison

7th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: February 8-9, 2007
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Energy and Enviromental Issues Facing Our Planet
  Professor Tracey Holloway, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Plotting a Course for Future Sustainability
  Ron Miller, Director, Facilities Engineering, General Mills, Inc.
• Machinery Room Mechanical Best Practices
  Todd Jekel, Assistant Director, IRC
• Machinery Room Electrical Best Practices
  Brad Heeres, Angus-Young Associates
• Increasing Compressor Life Expectancy
  Joseph Pillis, York Frick
• Issues and Answers For CO2 Compressors
  Dennis Halsey, FES Systems/GEA
• Refrigerant Selection Considerations
  Daniel Dettmers, Research Engineer, IRC
• Safety Relief Valve Testing
  Kris Hinds, Nestle
• Results of Post-Mortem Testing
  Chad Norris, Wells' Dairy
• Statistical Methods For Estimating Relief Valve Life
  Professor Frederick T. Elder, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Designing for Mechanical Integrity Piping
  Daniel Dettmers, Research Engineer, IRC
• Industrial Refrigeration Systems Energy Efficiency Improvements
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC

6th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: January 19-20, 2006
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• The Science of Food Freezing
  Professor Richard Hartel, UW Food Science
• Market Trends In Frozen Products
  Robert Garrison, Editor-in-chief, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• Air Blast Freezing
  John Larson, Application Engineer, FMC
• Cryogenic Freezing
  Gary Lang, Corporate Fellow, Praxair
• End-user Perspectives on Food Freezing Technologies
  Ron Miller, Director, Facilities Engineering, General Mills, Inc.
  Ajay Chatlani, Senior Refrigeration Engineer, Tyson Foods
• Identifying and Solving Plant Air Imbalance
  Mike Kaiser, Chief Refrigeration, Kraft Foods, Avon, NY
• Interstitial Spaces - Evaluation and Problem Solving
  Todd Jekel, Assistant Director, IRC
• Blast Freezer Infiltration Rate Measurement
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
• Mechancial Integrity Inspection: A Real Life Example
  Jerry Kolek, Conam Inspections
• VFDs in Industrial Refrigeration - Lesson's Learned
  Charles Campbell, Refrigeration Engineer, Wells' Dairy
• Plant Energy Efficiency Improvements
  Gary Webster, Global Refrigeration, Kraft Foods
  Glenn Johnson, Senior Manager - Conservation Resource, Pepsico
• Mechanical Integrity for Vessels - Preliminary Findings
  Daniel Dettmers, Research Engineer, IRC
• Evaporator Optimization
  Douglas Reindl, Director, IRC
  Nawaf Aljuwayhel, UW-Madison
• Mixed Gas Refrigeration Technology
  Greg Nellis, Professor, University of Wisconsin

5th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: January 20-21, 2005
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Mechanical Integrity For Ammonia Refrigeration - An Update
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• Mechanical Integrity Recommendations for Vessels
  Rowe Bansch, RVS
• Benchmarking - A Tool to Facilitate Energy Efficiency Improvements
  Russ Uhl, Wells' Dairy
• Achieving Energy Efficiency Improvements on Low-Temperature Systems
  Jason Cole / Chad Merchant, Tyson Foods
• The Operator's Role in Achieving Energy Efficiency Improvements
  Dan Webb, CF Industries
• An Overview of National Board Testing for Vapor Relief Valves
  Fred Harrison, National Board
• Code Requirements for Safety Relief Systems - Back to Basics
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Defrost Optimization
  Doug Reindl, IRC
• Refrigeration System Optimization
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Emerging Refrigeration Technologies
  Brandon Lachner, IRC
• Refrigeration Inventory Calculations
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• PSM Auditor ver. 2.0
  Mark Geurts & Douglas Reindl, IRC
• Headered Relief Vent Systems Analysis
  Todd Jekel, IRC

4th Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: January 14-15, 2004
Location: Tropicana� Products, Bradenton, FL

• Tropicana's Ammonia Safety Council
  Richard Dobry, Executive Vice President - Tropicana
• PSM Industry Perspectives
  James Brogan, Hartford Steam and Boiler
• PSM End-user Perspectives
  Brian Eklow, Aon; Ted Birchmeier, Pinnacle Foods
• Overview of a World Class Machinery Room
  Joe Demarco, Tropicana Products
• Standard Operating Procedures - SOP Lessons Learned
  Adam Batcheller, Wells' Dairy
• World-class Operating Procedures
  Tony Lundell, Tropicana Products
• Variable Speed Drives - Compressors
  Dan Webb, CF Industries
• Variable Speed Drives - Condensers
  Douglas Reindl, IRC
• Variable Speed Drives - Evaporators
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Nondestructive Evaluation - Mechanical Integrity Guidebook
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• Benchmarking Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  James Elleson, IRC; Sebastian Freund, IRC
• IRC Toolbox
  Todd Jekel, IRC; Doug Reindl, IRC
• Soil & Geotechnical Considerations
  Andre Gallet, Terracon, Inc.
• Design Considerations for Underfloor Heating Systems
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• Operational Issues and Field Experiences
  Mike Haller, Wells' Dairy
• Remediation Field Experiences, Neil Horn
  The Stellar Group

3rd Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: January 8, 2003
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• An Overview Of The Industrial Refrigeration Energy Efficiency Guidebook
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• An Overview Of Non-destructive Evaluation Methods For Mechanical Integrity
  Daniel Dettmers, IRC
• Kraft Ammonia Leadership Team
  Don Stroud, Kraft Foods
• Auditing Process Safety Management Systems
  Tony Chihak, Well's Dairy
• A World-class Refrigeration Update
  Joe Demarco And Glenn Johnson, Tropicana Products
• Process Safety Management Update
  George Yoksas, Area Director, US OSHA
• IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Training Guideline - Operators
  Vern Karman, Kraft Foods; Douglas Reindl, IRC
• IRC Web Course - Past Experience & Future Outlook
  Douglas Reindl, IRC
• Case Studies - Phase out of Halocarbon Systems nets Big Savings, Thermosiphon Oil Cooling leads to Significant Energy Efficiency Improvements, Ice Banks
  James Elleson, IRC
• Current Practices & Emerging Trends in Water Treatment Technologies
  Richard Ahlgren, Ahlgren Associates

2nd Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: January 23, 2002
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Ammonia Sensors
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Benchmarking Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
  James Elleson, IRC
• Kraft Operator Education Program
  Don Stroud, Kraft Foods
• Refrigeration Efficiency Audits Program
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Relief Valves � An Overview of ASHRAE 15 Changes
  Douglas Reindl, IRC
• IRC Web Course � Past Experience & Future Outlook
  Douglas Reindl, IRC

1st Annual IRC Research & Technology Forum

Dates: November 17, 2001
Location: The Pyle Center, Madison, WI

• Dehumidification Alternatives for Cold Storage Warehouses
  Todd Jekel, IRC
• Energy Evaluation At A Frozen Foods Plant
  James Elleson, IRC
• In Pursuit Of World Class Refrigeration
  Glenn Johnson, Tropicana Products
• Managing A 60,000 Ton Charged Ammonia System
  Dan Webb, Cf Industries
• Tech Tools: Equalizer Line Sizing Program
  Douglas Reindl, IRC
• Education Programs Update
  Douglas Reindl, IRC

Home

About the IRC

Education & Training

Conferences

Technical Expertise

Software Tools

Publications

Third Party Links

Need Help?

Incidents and Accidents

Manager Training