As R22 refrigerants are being phased out, many food processing facilities are re-evaluating their industrial refrigerants due to environmental concerns, legislative requirements and cost efficiency. In selecting a long-term refrigerant, it is important to consider your system’s requirements and the operational considerations / limitations of each refrigerant. Equally important are the refrigerant’s safety, impact on the environment, and performance.
Consider each of these factors when evaluating your plant’s long-term refrigerant:
– Efficiency — operating pressure and range of temperatures
– Safety — toxicity and flammability
– Environmental impact — ideally you’ll want to select a refrigerant with zero ODP (ozone depleting potential) and a low GWP (global warming potential)
– Thermophysical properties — high / low pressure levels and pressure ratio of the refrigerant in the application
– Chemical properties — material compatibility and miscibility with oil
– Cost — installation and long-term costs
– Availability
Here are the pros, cons and operational considerations of the most popular refrigerants in food processing:
To learn more about selecting the appropriate refrigerant for your plant, email me at foodforthought@stellar.net.