Multicriteria Decision Analysis Applied to the Sensing of Refrigeration Systems

Vapour compression refrigeration systems are a growing need in hospitals, industries, shopping centres, and several other places where temperature control is essential to obtain thermal comfort or meet the production stages for goods and consumption. In information technology, the equipment responsible for data processing continuously uses vapour compression refrigeration systems. If there are failures in the power and cooling infrastructure, interruptions and data transmission will undoubtedly be lost. Even under optimal circumstances, refrigeration systems exhibit a voracious appetite for electricity, imposing a significant financial strain on organizations' operational expenses. In the absence of a sensing system to monitor the operation of machines, errors introduced and not identified in the installation and maintenance stages can lead to significant reductions in energy efficiency, the useful life of components, stability, and the operational availability of thermal systems. A sensing project can use dozens of sensors, and a method capable of guiding the implementation process becomes thoroughly recommended and valid. The present work aims to use the multicriteria decision analysis methodology to support vapour compression refrigeration systems' sensing and monitoring processes.