Honeywell has announced that a refrigerant it markets as Genetron 245fa is helping to produce energy-efficient electricity at an aquatic complex in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Uses of so-called natural refrigerants such as HCs, CO2, and ammonia are being advocated as ways to positively deal with issues of climate change, greenhouse effect, and global warming. That was the primary perspective of an extended report from Eurammon, a joint European initiative of companies, institutions, and individuals who advocate an increased use of natural refrigerants.

Safety is paramount when working with ammonia refrigerants. Why? If something does go wrong in such a situation, it can have grave consequences. Ammonia is a health risk because of its corrosiveness to skin, eyes, and lungs. In fact, exposure to 300 ppm creates an imminent danger to life and health.

The world of so-called natural refrigerants, particularly hydrocarbons (HCs), has gotten a lot more interesting recently. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP) approval to three HCs.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is moving forward with an ambitious project to identify low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. What does that mean?

Minimizing frost accumulations on refrigerator evaporator coils and fins, the Ice*Meister™ Model 9734-REFR optical defrost controller can be used in commercial walk-in refrigerators and reach-in refrigerated display cases, and other self-defrosting chiller systems in supermarkets, restaurants, school cafeterias, and more.

Oil separators are essential on low and ultra-low temperature refrigeration systems and on large air conditioning systems up to 150 tons. Most compressor manufacturers require oil separators on all two-stage compressors.

In addition to the 10 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners highlighted in this issue, 31 other products have been recognized with honorable mentions in the same 10 product categories. The honorable mentions are listed here.

About this time of year, editors and columnists in the HVACR industry do editorials and columns encouraging attendance at the annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), this year taking place Jan. 23-25 in Chicago. It’s on the ‘R’ that I want to focus.

Refrigeration contractors know that there are several upsides to ammonia refrigerants. The most common is its compatibility with the environment. Ammonia does not contribute to global warming because it does not deplete the ozone layer. It has thermodynamic qualities that require less electricity in its usage.