The Latest in Natural Refrigerants: ATMOsphere America 2015 Recap

I recently joined hundreds of refrigeration stakeholders in Atlanta for ATMOsphere America 2015, an annual natural refrigerants conference. Stellar was among the 37 sponsors, and I among the group of 60-plus speakers, leading a presentation on the advantages of packaged refrigeration equipment. I also attended several sessions myself, leaving the conference with valuable takeaways on the refrigeration industry, including my favorites below:

Overwhelming consensus for the state of the refrigeration industry

While each session focused on a specific refrigeration topic, there were two overarching takeaways from the conference:

There is a need and desire for low-charge packaged NH₃ and CO₂/NH₃ cascade systems. The market for these packaged solutions will continue to expand over the next several years.

Rules regulating the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will NOT let up, and the need for natural refrigerants will continue to increase. Though what lies ahead in terms of legislation and oversight has yet to be decided, these are inevitable.

5 key ATMOsphere sessions and takeaways

1. [Low charge ammonia] A wave of packaged solutions is coming

Kurt Liebendorfer

Vice President, Evapco, Inc.

Over the next five years, the packaged low-charge ammonia (NH₃) and CO₂/NH₃ cascade markets are expected to expand rapidly. However, market adoption of low-charge ammonia systems will depend on the availability of:

High-quality projects
Low-price product
Reliable system operation
Consistency and repeatability at high volumes

Some advantages of packaged low-charge NH₃ and CO₂/NH₃ cascade systems include:

Ease of deployment
Reduced on-site construction time
Lower energy costs
Simplified seismic code compliance

2. [Regulations and standards] Domestic Approaches to Address High-GWP HFCs

Gerald Wozniak

Environmental Engineer, EPA

If left unchecked, HFCs emissions could rise to nearly 20 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. To combat this, the EPA announced plans to update Section 608 (the refrigeration recycling rule) regulations in November 2014, with the following goals in mind:

Reduce emissions of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants by expanding 608 to HFCs
Simplify, clarify and improve existing requirements
The EPA is now drafting its proposal. The rule is due in late 2015 with the final rule expected in 2016

3. [Regulations and standards] U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office: Refrigerant R&D

Antonio M. Bouza

Technology Manager, U.S. Department of Energy

The Building Technology Office’s main goal is to develop energy-saving technologies while introducing them in the simplest application first, with the highest probability of success. Some additional goals for the Department of Energy’s Building Technology Office regarding HVAC, water heating and appliance R&D include:

By 2020, develop technologies that enable 10-percent energy savings in HVAC; 20-percent energy savings in water heating and 15-percent energy savings in appliances
By 2030, develop technologies that enable 25-percent energy savings in HVAC; 35-percent energy savings in water heating and 30-percent energy savings in appliances
Maintain the competitiveness of American industry

Overall, their efforts to conserve energy savings in HVAC through R&D focus on the use of natural refrigerants such as CO₂ and ammonia.

4. [Industrial refrigeration] New Developments in Natural Refrigerant Equipment

Benoit Rodier

Director of Business Development, CIMCO Refrigeration

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are on a time-scheduled ban depending on the country. Manufacturers and contractors must focus efforts to develop innovative ways to use natural refrigerants so they aren’t left behind. For example, Japan has shortened its deadline and has created an incentive to help the market move from R-22.

Some problems facing the construction of giant NH₃ refrigeration plants include:

Difficulty finding experienced operators / trained technicians who can construct, operate and maintain NH₃ plants
Managerial risk including costs, time and materials
High risk to workers due to the large NH₃ charge
Demand for a high volume of equipment and workers

However, packaged equipment alleviates these problems because:

The refrigeration cycle is constructed, tested and completed at the supplier’s factory
Packaged systems can be standardized and easily duplicated
On-site construction time is shortened and minimal piping and wiring are required
NH3 charging is minimized, with complete automatic control
Compressor capacity is optimized to plant load, leading to increased energy savings

5. [Industrial refrigeration] Advanced DX Ammonia (ADX) Proves Sustainability

Terry L. Chapp

National Business Development Manager, Danfoss

Jeremy Olberding

Vice President, Sales, Colmac Coil

Advanced DX ammonia allows industrial refrigeration systems as large as 1,800 tons of refrigeration to operate with a system ammonia charge under 10,000 lbs. It offers a value-added alternative to HFC commercial systems and addresses technical challenges critical to proper operation of DX ammonia at low temperatures, in addition to:

Stratified/wavy flow in evaporator tubes
Water in ammonia
Refrigerant distribution in evaporators
Supply of clean, dry, subcooled ammonia to evaporators

There has been a resurgence in ammonia DX systems because:

Ammonia is natural / has excellent heat transfer characteristics
Ammonia is zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero GWP
There is lower energy cost for the facility owner
There is lower lifecycle cost of the system
Moving away from HFCs is not required

Were you at ATMOsphere? What were some sessions that stuck out to you? Comment below.

For information from my ATMOsphere presentation on packaged refrigeration, feel free to email me at foodforthought@stellar.net or connect with me on LinkedIn.