By equipment

The latest refrigeration and air conditioning compressor technologies will be explained in a new programme of training sessions announced by Bitzer UK.

AGC Asahi Glass (AGC), a world-leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, announces that it has obtained certification for AMOLEA 1224yd, a new refrigerant with a lower environmental impact. The certification was granted in October 2017 by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), marking the first time for a Japanese company to obtain approval for a new chemical substance. AGC intends to begin commercial production of AMOLEA 1224yd in early 2018, and will continue to increase capacity in line with demand growth.

Canadian OEM has done six transcritical installations this year, two last year, at cold storage/food processing facilities.

As the world’s second-largest transport company and Europe’s largest railway operator and infrastructure owner – running two billion passenger journeys per year – Deutsche Bahn (DB) AG is acutely aware of its power to contribute to improving environmental sustainability.

During a meeting on 7 October in Vladivostok, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Working Group SC61C – formed to update the international standard for commercial refrigeration, IEC 60335-2-89 – agreed to finalize its work and advance the draft amendment (committee draft for vote; CDV) for public comments.

Competition is increasing between natural refrigerants, with NH₃-CO₂ cascade systems also gaining acceptance, said speakers at ATMOsphere Europe.

At ATMOsphere Europe 2017, rail giant Deutsche Bahn called on manufacturers to help it achieves its goal of using natural refrigerants for air conditioning in new trains by 2020.

Italian manufacturer LU-VE hailed the potential of its Emeritus technology to improve the efficiency of CO₂ refrigeration systems.

India-based Godrej Appliances has launched a line of R290 air conditioners in the Maldives.

Commercial and industrial refrigeration manufacturer Hillphoenix has added the NXTCold ultra-low-charge ammonia systems to its portfolio.

An upgraded commercial HVAC&R CO₂ system from Italian designer and producer of refrigeration systems enEX allows for summer cooling and winter heating in a supermarket, using the energy from the compressors in a refrigeration system.

Danfoss is the only industrial company on the new panel, which aims to increase access to sustainable and affordable cooling solutions worldwide.

As HFCs in Southeast Asia are phased down, interest in low-charge, secondary and cascade ammonia systems is increasing among industrial end users.

Mayekawa and Panasonic were among the companies reporting impressive growth in NatRef systems at ATMOsphere Asia 2017.

Maersk Line, the world’s largest shipping container company, is testing 100 refrigerated shipping containers fitted with Carrier Transicold’s NaturaLINE CO₂ refrigeration system at the port of Santa Marta in Colombia.

The Brazilian compressor manufacturer told the 9th International Conference on Compressors and Coolants that propane increases the efficiency of the compressor by 30% compared to HFCs.

Representatives from local governments in Southeast Asia detailed the current state of HFC phase-down plans and highlighted the natural refrigerant projects currently underway in the region.

The global refrigerants market is estimated at USD 14.49 Billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 18.05 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2017 to 2022. In this report, 2016 is considered the base year and the forecast period is from 2017 to 2022.

Registration is now open for the HVAC & Refrigeration Show the UK’s only national exhibition for the refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, heating and heat pump sectors taking place at ExCeL, London from 23-25 January 2018.

On 25 August, the small Caribbean island country of Grenada installed its first two air-conditioning (AC) units to use hydrocarbons. The installation of the R290-based (propane) units is part of a regional demonstration project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).