With supplies of some refrigerants dwindling, costs rising, and recordkeeping and venting regulations in place, the need for careful refrigerant management is needed more than ever. That being the case, more and more manufacturers are coming out with products to address the need.
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, an industry coalition, said in November 2012 the United States government successfully concluded 11 criminal and civil cases related to HCFC-22 refrigerant smuggling over the last two years.
A reader raised concerns over a refrigerant product on the shelf of a farm supply store. The product had as its sales pitch, “Why switch from the traditional R-22 refrigerants,” and it was noted on the label that the package contained the equivalent of 30 pounds of HCFC-22.
A line of ammonia industrial refrigeration packages ranges from motor-compressor combinations on rails to complete rotary screw compressor packages. The NH3 screw compressors are available in 20-300 hp.
About a month before the AHR Expo, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated it would permit the industry to produce and import 39 million pounds of virgin HCFC-22 in 2013, down from 55 million pounds in 2012.
We are going to look at issues related to a partially restricted filter/drier. For this purpose I have included a service checklist as well as a number of illustrations.
Self-contained, ducted, and ductless systems specifically designed for cooling wine cellars are available. Depending on the model, units can be mounted in a living area, wall mounted, installed on the wall near the ceiling or in the ceiling joists, and more.
While much of the buzz at the AHR Expo was on dwindling supplies of new HCFC-22, reclamation of that refrigerant, and use of alternative HFCs in retrofits, a number of conversations centered on alternatives beyond familiar HFCs.
Gone are the days of the three basic refrigerants: R-12, R-22, and R-502. Today’s technicians need to be well-educated on all of the refrigerants they encounter.
With the impending phaseout of R-22 looming, the price and availability of the product will soon make it impractical to use. With virtually tens of millions of R-22-designed a/c systems in operation, refrigerant users and equipment owners will need to employ a number of alternative options to satisfy their cooling needs.