The Coca-Cola Co. announced that it has installed its 1 millionth hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-free cooler using natural refrigerant. Together with its bottling partners, the Coca-Cola system has established a goal that all new cold-drink equipment will be HFC-free by 2015.
If you want to get some idea of where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is leaning when it comes to refrigerants, consider that EPA’s GreenChill program gave a “Best of the Best” award to a store using a transcritical CO2 system.
There is so much talk these days about new refrigeration technologies and new refrigerants that it is sometimes difficult for contractors to sort out what’s theoretical and what’s actually up and running in the field. Here’s a snapshot of some of the latest refrigerants being utilized across various projects.
The purpose of the Atmosphere America event in Washington, D.C., this past summer was to present a business case for the so-called natural refrigerants.
Regarding food service, refrigeration contractors are most concerned and familiar with ice machines, freezers, and coolers. Outside of the restaurant industry, HVACR contractors can be found spending a great deal of attention on the preservation of wine, which requires refrigeration, spot-cooling air conditioning, frozen food treat dispensers, and alternative ways of using CO2.
As the industry continues to introduce more equipment using CO2 as a refrigerant, the need for training to work with that gas is growing. In a recent announcement, Scotland-based Star Refrigeration is offering training in that regard through its Star Learning Solutions program.
Now that the battle regarding ozone depleting potential (ODP) refrigerants has ended with the phaseout of CFCs and HCFCs, the fighting has shifted to issues related to the global warming potential (GWP) of the remaining and newly developing refrigerants.
When it comes to R-744 (CO2) as a refrigeration refrigerant, things seem to be more stable in stationary usage than in transportation applications. In the latter, the European automotive sector is looking beyond HFC for refrigerants in air conditioning.