A new paradigm in industrial refrigeration is emerging in the United States with ammonia-CO2 systems helping alleviate safety concerns while catering for large-scale refrigeration capacities. Accelerate America investigated the trend in the magazine’s October edition.
The industrial refrigeration sector in North America is changing rapidly as the regulatory environment evolves, driving adoption of natural refrigerants such as ammonia, R744, and even hydrocarbons.
In June 2015 Frialsa opened a new facility. The company had a long history using ammonia since its inception in 1983, but in 2010 decided to work with CO2 as well.
A refrigerated warehouse in the Philippines has reduced its electricity demand and ammonia charge by 85% thanks to an innovative project that preserves perishable food by burning rice husks to provide heat to an ammonia absorption refrigeration unit.
Italian manufacturer of natural refrigerant equipment and R744.com gold partner Epta has bolstered its Nordic presence with key acquisition of Danish CO2 specialist Knudsen Køling.
Carnot has agreed to pay Cimco $1.8 million to settle patent infringement suits stemming from CO2 refrigeration systems Carnot built for Quebec ice rinks
Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company, has a long history of using carbon dioxide as the fizz in its soft drinks. Now CO2 is also Coke’s refrigerant of choice in its beverage coolers, vending machines and fountain equipment. At ATMOsphere America 2015 Coke presented on a light-commercial refrigeration panel on their journey to achieve HFC-free status for all new cooling equipment. On the same panel, four of Coke’s CO2 equipment suppliers describe
House of Spices (HOS) has ticked off a number of milestones in its 44-year history producing and distributing authentic Indian cuisine throughout the U.S. At its Chicago warehouse, the company recently achieved another rare feat, installing one of the few existing industrial CO2 transcritical refrigerant systems in North America, with the help of Hillphoenix.
At the upcoming ATMOsphere America 2015, Wieland Industrial Tubes will be participating for the first time as a Silver Sponsor, debuting its K65 high-pressure tube system for CO2 refrigeration systems. The K65 system is the only complete solution certified by TÜV based on a copper alloy.
R744 technology innovator Systemes LMP has created a CO2 system for artificial cooling of ice slabs called the “CRYSTAL”, already installed at an ice arena in Canada. The CRYSTAL is a multi-compressor unit with an operating capacity of 30 to 140t ideal for new constructions of ice rinks under renovation. Thanks to its state-of-the-art design, the unit features total heat recovery of the compressors, which can be used for commercial space heating, hot water, mechanical room.
