One sector where CO2 is making the strongest inroads in the United States is in supermarkets as more stores and refrigeration manufacturers embrace its use. Where are two recent examples that make for good reading?
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about natural refrigerants such as CO2 and hydrocarbons gaining a stronger foothold. Yet much of the talk is related to the possible phasedown of HFC production. And currently, while there may be some talk about a possible phasedown, no actual action seems to be taking place.
The significance of a recent two-day conference was not only the extensive presentations regarding natural refrigerants such as CO2, HCs, and ammonia, but where the meeting was held — Washington, D.C.
During the brewing process, certain temperatures have to be maintained. For the amber nectar to succeed, breweries need refrigeration solutions tailored to their processes and individual requirements.
To the natural refrigerants of HCs, CO2, and ammonia, there has been added what is being called a fourth platform. Water is now being promoted in the international community with the launch of a website called www.R718.com.
A hot topic in the world of refrigeration and air conditioning continues to swirl around refrigerants and what refrigerants will take hold and be used now, besides HFCs, and what will supplant HFCs in the future.
As the supermarket industry continues to embrace so-called ‘natural refrigerants,’ manufacturers also continue to seek improvements in energy efficiency with what they hope is easy to use equipment for service technicians. The FMI Food Retail Show was a major showcase for these developments at this year’s show in Dallas.
With HFC refrigerants secure for the foreseeable future, it is still interesting to take a look from time to time at phase down talk and how the industry may adjust should that become a reality.
When the EPA’s Greenchill’s Keilly Witman spoke at the Food Marketing Institute Expo last spring she said so-called natural refrigerants would dominate the conversation and begin to appear in supermarkets in North America. Was she right?
Danfoss recently participated in the ATMOsphere America 2012 event, held June 12-13 in Washington, D.C. The conference focused on the business case for natural refrigerants in the United States and Canada.
