ORLANDO, Fla. - Receivers and reservoirs were among the newer refrigeration products on display at the 2005 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), where product innovations and the latest refrigerants competed for the spotlight.

Refrigeration-Related Products

Sporlan Division, Parker Hannifin Corp.(www.sporlan.com) used the expo to make a number of announcements.

Larger-capacity oil reservoirs contain two or three sight glass ports with float ball indications for oil level monitoring. Rotalock valves allow for adjustment when piping into the system. Models are 6 inches in diameter and range in length from 18 to 36 inches.

At the Sporlan booth, Mark Schmalz (right), sales engineer, Parker-Hannifin Corp., Climate & Industrial Controls, discusses product innovations with Kirt Lawrence (left) and Greg Stanger (center) of Stanger Industries, Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Nelson Moy.)
The company said the HPC-300 Series Catch-All filter-drier operates in either direction in heat pump systems up to 12 tons or refrigeration applications with reversing liquid in gas defrost.

A new steel receiver, offered in five models, stores refrigerant during normal operation and during pumpdown. Manufactured with 4-, 5-, and 6-inch diameters, the holding capacity ranges from 4 to 16 pounds.

The SER electric valves are hermetic and are compatible with all refrigerants. Officials said the SER uses 4 watts of power, is driven by step motors that have 1,596 steps of resolution, and operates in an ambient temperature range of -40 to 140 degrees F. They can be used in refrigerated cases, walk-ins, environmental chambers, and air conditioning applications.

The features of the U-tube accumulator "can contribute to better system operation in heat pump and refrigeration systems," officials said. The U-tube is positioned behind the inlet flow detector to prevent unwanted liquid refrigerant from entering and damaging the compressor.

The latest generation of the KR Series of compact unit coolers from Krack (www.krack.com) includes impact-resistant plastic grilles, quiet fan blades, wraparound casing, and permanent split capacitor motors.

For supermarkets and other refrigeration applications, OI Analytical (www.oico.com) offered the Sam-Max refrigerant monitor. It uses infrared technology and is capable of monitoring up to three refrigerants simultaneously.

Refrigerants

DuPont(www.dupont.com/suva) used the expo to note its 75 years in the refrigerant industry. "Our current vision is focused on The Science of Coolâ„¢," said Mark Baunchalk, global business manager. "It centers around four key elements: science and technology, environmental solutions, global relationships, and sustainable cooling." The company also announced its joint venture with DuPont 3F Fluorochemicals Changshu Company Ltd. to make R-404A, -407C, and -410A in China.

National Refrigerants (www.refrigerants.com) used the expo to announce that it is now distributing two HFCs that had been enjoying success in the European market. R-417A was billed as a R-22 retrofit in refrigeration and air conditioning applications.

R-422A was targeted as a retrofit in low-temperature refrigeration applications that had been using R-22, -502, -402A/B, -408A, -404A, and -507. The company stated the two refrigerants work with mineral oils, POE, and AB.

Isceon (www.isceon-refrigerants.com) announced an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) designation of R-423A for its Isceon 39-TC refrigerant, which is used as a replacement for R-12 in centrifugal chillers.

ICOR International (www.icorinternational.com) reported on the availability of a DVD that features three of the company's refrigerants (which it markets as Hot Shotâ„¢, NU-22â„¢, and One-Shotâ„¢) and compares them with the refrigerants they are designed to replace.

Publication date: 02/28/2005