The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) 2016 Industrial Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, treated 1,500 attendees to four days of technical information, workshops, panels, and forums covering the past, present, and future of refrigeration. A total of 148 exhibitors showed off ther latest advances in all types of industrial refrigeration at the event. Here are a few of the highlights.

AZANE INC.

Azane Inc. offered its low-charge, high-efficiency ammonia chillers and low-charge ammonia condensing units for freezer applications. Both the Azanechiller and Azanefreezer feature high-efficiency screw compressors, air-cooled condensers, floating head pressure control, integrated gas detection, and fully automatic oil recovery. Programmable logic controllers allow for fully unattended operation. According to Azane, the low-charge chillers use less than 2 pounds of ammonia per ton of refrigeration (TR) while the freezers typically use 5 pounds per TR.

BITZER US INC.

Bitzer US Inc. offered the SL Series of semi-hermetic reciprocating compressors for subcritical CO2 applications. The SL Series features a centrifugal lubrication system by dynamic disc, a wear-resistant drive gear with multi-layer bearings, a motor adapted for saturated discharge temperatures up to 59°F, and a housing with high-strength pressure (high-pressure side up to 770 psig and low-pressure side up to 440 psig). The SL Series, in combination with Bitzer’s ECOLINE Series, also offers universal application ranges for CO2/R-134a cascade hybrid systems.

CENTURY REFRIGERATION

Century Refrigeration unveiled the Centinel intelligent defrost control system. The electronically operated evaporator controller is designed to save energy in refrigeration systems by precisely controlling superheat and fans, reducing compressor run time and implementing demand defrosts. The Centinel consists of a microprocessor-driven controller, four temperature sensors, and a suction transducer. According to Century Refrigeration, it replaces the multiple pieces of a traditional defrost control system, including the room thermostat, defrost time clock, and defrost-termination/fan-delay thermostat. The Centinel’s self-learning algorithm allows it to customize itself to each individual evaporator.

COLMAC COIL MFG. INC.

The A+ Series™ of refrigeration air coolers from Colmac Coil Mfg. Inc. features three tube and fin patterns to optimize cooling performance based on an application’s specific capacity, working fluid, and operating temperature. According to Colmac Coil, the coolers can be supplied to use any refrigerant — volatile, nonvolatile, primary, or secondary. Also possible is DX with ammonia down to blast freezing temperatures (minus 40°F). For the food processing industry, A+ Series coolers can be supplied with all-stainless, anti-microbial, and 3-A sanitary coil construction to meet cleaning and sanitizing requirements.

COOL AIR INC.

The LBW-Watchman ammonia leak detector from Cool Air Inc. is designed to integrate seamlessly with common industry automation and/or alarm systems. It features a 4-20 mA analog output for ammonia concentration and a solid-state metal oxide semiconductor ammonia sensor cell that Cool Air says will not deplete during an ammonia leak, from background ammonia vapors or during testing or calibration. The front panel’s large display shows ammonia concentration in parts per million (ppm). The unit’s ammonia detection sensitivity ranges 0-1,000 ppm, and its operating temperature ranges minus 50°F to 125°.

CORNELL PUMP CO.

The Arctic King hermetic refrigeration pump from Cornell Pump Co. is designed to provide a drop-in replacement for open-drive pumps. It features a single-stage impeller, 1,200- and 1,800-rpm operating speeds, a 250-psig working pressure, and an integrated bearing condition monitor. The Artic King’s hermetic design allows the pump to operate without the need for a mechanical shaft seal.

EVAPCO INC.

The Evapcold low-charge refrigeration (LCR) line of packaged ammonia systems from Evapco Inc. is designed to offer single-source responsibility for the complete system design, thermal performance, in-house factory assembly, and testing. Features include a plug-and-play, walk-in machine room design that incorporates all safety and access requirements; a pumped ammonia liquid feed design; a low 1.2:1.0 recirculation rate that helps optimize evaporator performance; and variable-speed screw compressors. According to Evapco, the low-charge ammonia systems in the LCR line operate at approximately 3 pounds per TR.

GEA REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES

The Omni™ control panel from GEA Refrigeration Technologies is an open system designed to be an all-inclusive command center for refrigeration and gas compression control. It can monitor and control relevant system components from GEA and other companies, eliminating the need for auxiliary control systems. According to GEA, the Omni can monitor and manage the operation of an entire system, including compressors, liquid recirculators, wet bulb floating discharge pressure, engine room safeties, and ventilation.

GRUNDFOS PUMP CORP.

Grundfos Pump Corp.’s CRN Series end-suction, multistage, centrifugal, magnetic-drive pumps are designed for liquid distribution to a network of liquid overfeed or direct-expansion evaporators, pressure boosting in the liquid line of refrigeration systems, or liquid transfer in refrigeration systems. The pumps feature a modular design for ease of service (the motor and/or pump cartridge can be removed without disturbing the piping), multistage hydraulics designed for operation with refrigerants at conditions close to the boiling point, 316 stainless steel pump casing, and a full motor program featuring high-efficiency Grundfos or Baldor® motors.

HONEYWELL ANALYTICS

The EC-FX ammonia sensor from Honeywell Analytics features a proprietary, high-viscosity, non-evaporative electrolyte; a life span of two to three years in engine rooms and up to four years in refrigerated areas; quick responsiveness to ammonia gas in both hot and cold environments; and a high degree of accuracy and stability, according to the manufacturer. It is designed to maintain a consistent linear response, even after exposure to ammonia gas and throughout extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Honeywell Analytics says the EC-FX is designed for challenging applications in cold-storage facilities, such as engine rooms, processing areas, and blast freezers.

JAMISON DOOR CO.

Jamison Door Co.’s Model AC conditioned air curtain produces counterflow forces equal and opposite to the two-way flow-through forces caused by air temperature differences. It mixes air at the interface between room air and the air curtain’s airstream, which significantly reduces two-way air exchange and greatly diminishes air infiltration. According to Jamison, it is well-suited for open doorways, such as cooler-to-cooler, cooler-to-ambient, and freezer-to-freezer situations. The Model CAC adds a heater unit to condition the air as it mixes inside the vestibule for extremely humid applications.

WESTERMEYER INDUSTRIES INC.

Westermeyer Industries Inc. offered a coalescing oil separator for ammonia systems. With a maximum working pressure of 350 psig, the separator is designed for use in screw-compressor applications where large amounts of oil removal are required. The separator uses a multistage separation process that includes a borosilicate glass filter that is designed to remove small
oil particles and system contaminants. Multiple oil outlets ensure there is an adequate supply of oil back to the compressor(s). A centrifugal oil separator with a maximum working pressure of 450 psig is also available.

Publication date: 4/11/2016

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