A new zero-emission refrigeration system for transportation applications, developed in the United Kingdom, which delivers both power and cooling from liquid nitrogen, has begun on-vehicle testing. Dearman said the system, which features the company’s liquid nitrogen-powered engine, has already produced promising results.

Natural refrigeration technology is gaining traction with end users, yet, despite technological successes, there are still challenges to overcome in the form of regulatory obstacles and skill shortages.

The EPA announced it’s increasing the options for refrigerants used in various types of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in the U.S. to offer alternatives with low global warming potential. 

So, supermarket owners want refrigeration systems that are energy efficient to hold down costs and pro-environmental for political correctness. But for engineers, contractors, and technicians that approach may not be all that easy, whether bringing a new store online or retrofitting an existing one.

A demonstration of complex — but ultimately valuable — developments when it comes to supermarket refrigeration is a project conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

This is my last Point of View commentary for The NEWS’ FROSTlines eNewsletter. By the time you read this, I will have been retired for several weeks. FROSTlines was a new venture for The NEWS when it began a few years ago. It was set to focus totally on refrigeration and it would be online only.

Intertek has expanded investments in new testing capabilities and capacity in North America to enhance its breadth of services in support of the refrigeration industry. With total investments of more than $20 million over the past three years, Intertek offers a broad range of laboratory testing services.

Retailers have called on the cooling supply chain for solutions to help them meet a triple challenge of tight margins, smaller store footprints, and new refrigerant choices.

No sector of refrigeration has been more cutting edge than the supermarket sector. At the most recent Food Marketing Institute Energy & Store Development Conference, papers and presentations focused on these trends. Nearly all trends were actually being used in some supermarkets today.

Papers and presentations showcased at the most recent Food Marketing Institute Energy & Store Development Conference demonstrated the sector’s move away from high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and toward more efficient equipment.