A lot of talk these days about natural refrigerants focuses on CO2, propane, isobutene, and the like. Stateside, they may be new kids on the block in terms of HVACR applications. But one natural refrigerant that has been around seemingly forever is ammonia. So it - like those “newcomers” - is drawing a lot of attention.
Ammonia in compact systems using micro-channel technology. Building warehouses as high-rises as a way to save energy and reduce ammonia refrigerant charges. Ammonia in integrated heating and cooling systems. These were just some of the directions technical papers took at the recent International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration Industrial Conference.
During a climate seminar event toward the end of 2010, members of the Consumer Goods Forum, made up of European sector manufacturers and retailers, announced intentions to ban their use of refrigerant gases that they said had high global warming - including HFCs - by 2015 and to replace them with natural refrigerants.