By refrigerant

A new energy efficiency network within the global retail giant Metro Group is translating into a strong commitment to natural refrigerants.

The conference, taking place from 21-24 August at Heriot-Watt University on the edge of the Scottish capital, brings together HVAC&R industry experts, academics, students and other interested parties to discuss the latest technological and policy developments driving wider uptake of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, CO₂ and ammonia worldwide.

The ozone layer is a thin stratum of gas in the upper atmosphere which acts as a shield to protect the earth’s surface from about 99 per cent of harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

The ozone layer is a thin stratum of gas in the upper atmosphere which acts as a shield to protect the earth’s surface from about 99 per cent of harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

The stakes are high as the Montreal Protocol undertakes a series of meetings to agree on a global phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The stakes are high as the Montreal Protocol undertakes a series of meetings to agree on a global phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

USA: A 48-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced to 4½ years in prison and a fine of over $29,000 for the illegal venting of refrigerant.
The Zanesville Times reports that Shannon Wayne Harrold, 48, of Glenford, Ohio, was sentenced yesterday to 54 months in prison and ordered to pay $29,045 in restitution for violating the Clean Air Act by cutting the tubing on air conditioning units he was stealing, which released R22 into the environment.

French supermarket chain Carrefour is claiming average energy savings of over 45% compared to HFC systems in trials carried out in high ambients.

Papers are being sought for a conference focused on energy and indoor air quality in humid and arid hot climates.

‘Advanced Cooling’, launched last weekend at the Clean Energy Ministerial in San Francisco, challenges governments and businesses to develop and use efficient, smart, affordable and climate-friendly cooling technologies.

CO₂ is termed a “Natural Refrigerant” because it exists in the natural environment. Release into the atmosphere from refrigeration systems has a negligible effect compared to other CO₂ sources that are driving the global warming debate. As a refrigerant, it is a manufactured product that conforms to strict purity specifications. Its physical properties require special handling.

The US government and trade bodies are to fund a $5.2m research programme into the properties and the use of flammable refrigerants.

The air conditioning industry is facing a huge step-change in the next few years.

With the introduction of the revised EU Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation and the introduction of a Climate Change Policy by the UK Government, it is considered likely that more refrigeration system designers and users will be turning to alternative refrigerants such as hydrocarbons. The increased application of this technology will bring with it many technical and safety issues.

Space Engineering has launched a new CO₂-based integrated refrigeration system which is said to offer the possibility of impressive energy and financial savings for convenience stores.

Fluorocarbon refrigerants are synthetic chemicals which usually have a high global warming potential, and some still have the potential to cause damage to the ozone layer as well if released to the atmosphere.

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.