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Distribution and food&beverage industry: the road to innovation steps for the new natural refrigerants
Natural refrigerants, such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and ammonia, represent the future of refrigeration equipment related to F&B sector, a survey says.
F&B professionals and large-scale retail operators are increasingly interested in the possible cost savings and undoubted environmental and image benefits, which can be obtained thanks to new refrigeration and air conditioning technologies.
These findings come from a study by The NEWS magazine, that interviewed some refrigeration contractors linked to the food service-related equipment and distribution (supermarkets and restaurants, mainly), asking them where the refrigeration market is now, and in which direction it is moving for the future.
As already pointed out in Italy by the Secretary of ATF (an association of refrigeration technicians) and vice president of AREA (Air Conditioning Refrigeration European Association), Marco Buoni, the evolution of refrigerant applications, in Europe and worldwide, is fastly shifting from old HFC gases, traditionally used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, towards nextgeneration natural gases, such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and ammonia.
CO2 (R-744) in a transcritical system, in particular, seems to be increasingly used in refrigeration equipment, since this kind of approach would eliminate the need for use of a second refrigerant, such as hydrofluorocarbons or ammonia.
Neelands Refrigeration Ltd. of Burlington, Ontario, which was involved in the construction of a new supermarket in Canada, knows something about this, since a transcritical CO2 system for low and medium temperature operation was installed, with excellent results, both in terms of efficiency, and economic and environmental protection.
In Austin, Texas, another refrigerant, that is, propane (R-290), was chosen, for cooling of refrigerated display cases in a store. According to Phil Evans, vice president of Hussmann engineering, the the planning and production of a propane system would “enable the company to achieve its energy-reduction goals while maintaining a safe, shopper-friendly environment”.
Currently, American refrigeration equipment manufacturers are asking EPA, the US Environmental Protection Agency, to consent to the use of larger quantities of propane, so that larger cooling units for commercial activities could be installed, with clear economic and environmental benefits.
Other positive results also derive from the combined systems of CO2 and ammonia, an option that seemed the most natural and green possible, especially when the problems related to global warming have begun to put pressure on the use of HFCs. The combination of ammonia and CO2 in a cascade approach would indeed lower the amount of ammonia required on site, thus reducing the levels of toxicity within the limits prescribed by law.
According to Hank Bonar, of Bonar Engineering and Construction Co., in Florida, the "ammonia/CO2 systems are beautiful mechanically and in terms of efficiency": using small amounts of ammonia would reduce the risk coming from its exposure and explosion, with evident lower maintenance costs.
As suggested by Walter Holton, owner of Holton Refrigeration Inc. in Memphis, suppliers of HVAC equipment for the refrigeration of supermarkets and restaurants are currently united in their "efforts to preserve the environment," which, combined with short-term costs, will allow to have a naturally cleaner, healthier and safer climate in the future.
These findings come from a study by The NEWS magazine, that interviewed some refrigeration contractors linked to the food service-related equipment and distribution (supermarkets and restaurants, mainly), asking them where the refrigeration market is now, and in which direction it is moving for the future.
As already pointed out in Italy by the Secretary of ATF (an association of refrigeration technicians) and vice president of AREA (Air Conditioning Refrigeration European Association), Marco Buoni, the evolution of refrigerant applications, in Europe and worldwide, is fastly shifting from old HFC gases, traditionally used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, towards nextgeneration natural gases, such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and ammonia.
CO2 (R-744) in a transcritical system, in particular, seems to be increasingly used in refrigeration equipment, since this kind of approach would eliminate the need for use of a second refrigerant, such as hydrofluorocarbons or ammonia.
Neelands Refrigeration Ltd. of Burlington, Ontario, which was involved in the construction of a new supermarket in Canada, knows something about this, since a transcritical CO2 system for low and medium temperature operation was installed, with excellent results, both in terms of efficiency, and economic and environmental protection.
In Austin, Texas, another refrigerant, that is, propane (R-290), was chosen, for cooling of refrigerated display cases in a store. According to Phil Evans, vice president of Hussmann engineering, the the planning and production of a propane system would “enable the company to achieve its energy-reduction goals while maintaining a safe, shopper-friendly environment”.
Currently, American refrigeration equipment manufacturers are asking EPA, the US Environmental Protection Agency, to consent to the use of larger quantities of propane, so that larger cooling units for commercial activities could be installed, with clear economic and environmental benefits.
Other positive results also derive from the combined systems of CO2 and ammonia, an option that seemed the most natural and green possible, especially when the problems related to global warming have begun to put pressure on the use of HFCs. The combination of ammonia and CO2 in a cascade approach would indeed lower the amount of ammonia required on site, thus reducing the levels of toxicity within the limits prescribed by law.
According to Hank Bonar, of Bonar Engineering and Construction Co., in Florida, the "ammonia/CO2 systems are beautiful mechanically and in terms of efficiency": using small amounts of ammonia would reduce the risk coming from its exposure and explosion, with evident lower maintenance costs.
As suggested by Walter Holton, owner of Holton Refrigeration Inc. in Memphis, suppliers of HVAC equipment for the refrigeration of supermarkets and restaurants are currently united in their "efforts to preserve the environment," which, combined with short-term costs, will allow to have a naturally cleaner, healthier and safer climate in the future.
