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.
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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