In an effort to improve understanding of CO2 transcritical refrigeration systems among the HVAC&R industry in China, Beijer Ref is partnering with Emerson to provide a CO2 transcritical rack for Emerson’s new innovation and research centre in Suzhou.
Given the growing popularity of natural refrigerant-based systems in China, Emerson identified a need to offer training on CO2 and propane-based systems at its Suzhou centre.
“It’s part of a global refresh of all our engineering centres around the world,” Kurt Knapke, Emerson’s vice-president (cold chain) for Asia, Middle East and Africa, told this website at China Refrigeration 2019, held on 9-11 April at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. “We’re moving from component-level to system-level qualifications.”
Emerson asked Beijer Ref to provide a CO2 transcritical rack for the new training facility. “This is the CO2 transcritical rack that you can see on display here today,” said Indy Saund, APAC business development manager, Beijer Ref.
A mutual need to train the Chinese market on how to use and maintain the latest natural refrigerant-based HVAC&R systems underpins the partnership between the two firms. “The purpose is to educate the marketplace,” said Saund, “to raise the competence level and take away the fear factor”.
“The purpose is to educate the marketplace, to raise the competence level and take away the fear factor.”
Indy Saund, Beijer Ref
Hands-on experience
The new facility “is about giving contractors and other industry partners the opportunity to interact and get first-hand experience of working on these systems,” added Emerson’s Knapke. “It’s about giving them the confidence they need to service them out in the field.”
Emerson has operated a training centre in China for about six years. “But recently we invested in the innovation and research centre too,” said Joe Healy, director of application engineering, Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions.
Healy characterises China’s HVAC&R industry as showing high levels of academic knowledge of natural refrigerants, but lacking in hands-on experience of working with the latest technologies. The new facility is about redressing that balance.
“The future is natural refrigerants. The innovation and research centre is about preparing for that future,” Healy said.
He expects hands-on training sessions on the CO2 transcritical rack system to be up and running in Suzhou by the middle of the year.
