Industry

A US manufacturer exhibited a ductless air-cooled water chiller using Opteon XL55, a lower GWP replacement for R410A, at the 2016 AHR Expo which opened on 25 January 2016.

This practical guide is designed to improve the skills and knowledge of professionals in the refrigeration sector that need to be certified in accordance with the requirements of the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union). The guide contains basic information on refrigeration equipment, main components of the refrigeration system, Besides, it provides information on commercial, industrial and mobile air conditioners, transport refrigeration, brazing of pipes of the refrigeration system, etc.

With the advancing worldwide phase out of HCFCs, UNEP’s OzonAction Division of Technology has produced a factsheet (in English and Russian languages) on the safe use of the new alternatives.

New proposals by the US EPA will see a tightening of HFC refrigerant emission, venting and sales laws.

When refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is installed, serviced, repaired and dismantled, safety issues need to be carefully evaluated and considered particularly when servicing technicians have to deal with refrigerants with properties that they were previously not familiar with. It is therefore important that the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry adapts to both the technical and safety issues concerning these refrigerants.

With new US HFC refrigerant bans about to become law, industry pressure has delayed measures which could have banned R134a and R404A from the end of this year.

Refrigerant producers, refrigeration equipment manufacturers and green groups have welcomed the US EPA’s usage bans on high GWP HFCs.

Europe’s aircon and refrigeration component makers have warned that only with a very focused approach will industry be able to achieve the phase down targets within the statutory time frame.

The conference was the largest event in the history of Centro Studi Galileo and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians CSG has been able to celebrate its 40th anniversary with extreme satisfaction: 200 participants from 4 continents, more than 50 speakers and 26 Platinum, Gold and Silver Partners came together to support the Conference. Our industry will face huge challenges in the coming years and in response, the main theme of the conference was “Do not Wait – Act now!” (Per Jonasson President of AREA). Our industry will suffer if we do not act now; however if immediate action is taken, there will be innumerable benefits both for the environment and future technological evolutions and innovations. In particular for session 1 to 4, the key concepts from the Conference and the conclusions are therefore: zero use of refrigerants with a high Global Warming Potential GWP environmental impact, energy efficiency, and correct labeling. All of these actions are to be undertaken urgently in the coming months; further innovations will help and support European Companies and expansion into new markets …

A soon-to-be-launched mentoring scheme promises a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange between industry professionals at different stages in their careers.

A recently completed project to improve refrigeration technologies throughout the European food cold chain has furthered our understanding of the viability of alternative technologies.

The annual meeting of the Regional Ozone Network for Europe & Central Asia (ECA network) was held in Yerevan, Armenia, 26-28 May 2015.

Compressor manufacturer Tecumseh is backing refrigerant R452A as a mid-term alternative to R404A in medium and low temperature commercial refrigeration.

IT’S BACK! METHYL CHLORIDE FOUND IN FAKE R22

A new EU proposal to phase-down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol could have the potential to unlock negotiations, according to a leading green group.

UNEP has produced two guides to assist article 5 countries in their phase-out of HCFC refrigerants.

Following hot on the heels of Bitzer, Emerson has announced the approval of new low GWP refrigerants R448A and R449A in its Discus and Copeland Scroll compressors.

A submarine power cable is set to link Norwegian hydroelectric plants and German wind farms starting in 2020. A powerhouse for Europe, Norwegian hydropower plays an important role in the renewable energy revolution.

The EU’s REAL Alternatives learning programme for engineers working with low GWP alternative refrigerants will launch on March 19 with a free webinar.