At the two-day UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit, speakers from Danfoss, Carrier, Nestlé and Eurammon shared their experiences with natural refrigerants in developing countries. Raising awareness of safety practices and delivering training of a high standard are identified as crucial for the successful proliferation of natural solutions in developing countries.

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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