Over two days representatives from developing and developed countries gathered at the joint UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit, in Vienna, Austria, to discuss viable, climate friendly alternatives to HCFC refrigerants. Ammonia refrigeration, favoured around the world as a natural solution for the commercial and industrial refrigeration sectors, featured in many presentations, including from Pega Hrnjak, Eric Delforge, Caleb nelson, Jan Boone and Eric Wagner.

Organised on the 3-4 June at the UNIDO headquarters in Vienna, the Technology Summit gave participants the opportunity to learn about a range of natural solutions for the HVAC&R and foam sectors. In countries around the world, including in article 5 countries, ammonia is a very suitable low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) refrigerant that can be used as an alternative to HCFCs, whose phase-out is mandated by the Montreal Protocol. A range of Technology Case studies from the Summit featuring ammonia as a refrigerant, demonstrate its successful use from Egypt to the USA.

Many Options for Natural Refrigerants, Pega Hrnjak

Pega Hrnjak presented an overview of the main natural refrigerant alternatives with serious potential to become mainstream options: CO₂, ammonia and hydrocarbons. Hrnjak considers ammonia chillers to be an especially attractive solution for developing countries. Moreover, developments such as hermetic compressors, microchannel condensers and Ni brazed plate evaporators have made the safe use of ammonia possible in low-charge applications. However, costs remain an issue for the widespread adoption of naturals that needs to be overcome. Prof. Hrnjak also stressed the need to recognise the differences in properties between the natural refrigerants in order to fully exploit their heat transfer advantages.

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