Industrial refrigeration

Global research into demand for air conditioning systems has identified the impacts of climate change as being a major driver for increased cooling system demand for a range of purposes

A new whitepaper from Danfoss, the Danish family-controlled engineering group, titled ‘The neglected demand side of the green equation’, delves into the details of how energy efficiency is an enabler of electrification.

In the light of the worldwide phase-down of high GWP refrigerants, Dave Richards, UK head of sales at refrigerant supplier Climalife, looks at the various options available for HVAC chillers.

Mexican cold-storage operator Frialsa is leading its country’s adoption of NH₃ /CO₂ systems that are safer and 15%-20% more energy efficient than conventional ammonia equipment.

Myriad manufacturers of commercial refrigeration have made the move to propane and isobutane inorder to meet the DOE’s new efficiency standards– and prepare for the EPA’s refrigerant changes.

The decision as to which refrigerant should be used in a refrigerating or air-conditioning system is based on the major criteria of safety, costs and environment protection. But against the background of constantly increasing energy prices, the energy consumption of a system also plays an increasingly important role. Ideally, the chosen refrigerant should have excellent thermodynamic properties, high chemical stability and good physical characteristics. Furthermore, it should have no or only a negligible impact on the environment, while also being inexpensive and available worldwide.

Climate change, greenhouse effect and global warming – scarcely any other issue is so omnipresent and so controversially discussed in the 21st century. Those who are convinced in doubting that climate change is man-made refer to various eras in the history of our planet where the earth has heated up or cooled down drastically even without any contribution on our part. In future too, they see climate change as the result of natural causes, including among others a changed ellipsoid orbit of the earth around the sun.

Kysor/Warren, a division and brand of global refrigeration equipment maker Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration, is optimistic that deployment of natural refrigerant technologies will expand in the U.S., but the company admits there are some obstacles to overcome.

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.