At Chillventa 2024, Jason Shilliday, sales director for HVAC at MSA Safety, highlighted the company’ s latest refrigerant analyser— a crucial tool designed to enhance safety and efficiency in the evolving landscape of refrigerant management.
BUSINESS AND TRAINING
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
MSA Safety discusses innovative refrigerant analyser at Chillventa 2024
By Eamonn Ryan
At Chillventa 2024, Jason Shilliday, sales director for HVAC at MSA Safety, highlighted the company’ s latest refrigerant analyser— a crucial tool designed to enhance safety and efficiency in the evolving landscape of refrigerant management.
With the industry’ s shift toward flammable refrigerants, this analyser plays a vital role in ensuring the purity and quality of gases used in chillers.
The refrigerant analyser employs advanced infrared detection technology and is calibrated with over 100 different refrigerant mixtures, so it can display the percentage purity of eight common refrigerants and uniquely identity a further 11. This capability allows it to effectively analyse the gases in chillers or storage bottles, ensuring that only the correct refrigerant is used. Misuse of counterfeit or inappropriate refrigerants can lead to significant damage to refrigeration systems, including costly repairs or component replacements.
Shilliday emphasises that the analyser is not limited to specific applications; it can be utilised on live systems across various sectors. This flexibility is particularly important in regions with concerns about counterfeit refrigerants, where low-cost imports can compromise system integrity.
He says demand for this refrigerant analysis is soaring worldwide, with organisations like the United Nations assisting to distribute to developing countries. This initiative aims to combat the influx of counterfeit refrigerants and promote the use of high-quality, compliant refrigerants in line with the Montreal Protocol. Shilliday notes that these efforts are essential for ensuring safe and efficient refrigeration practices in emerging markets. This analyser has a library of 19 gases, catering to the diverse needs of the commercial sector. An automotive type is also available with a library of six gases for the automotive sector
The safety focus of MSA extends beyond just refrigerants. They also offer the Chillgard ammonia monitor, which provides reliable detection in ammoniarich environments. Additionally, its oil and gas products are distributed in key markets, including Angola and Nigeria, where the demand for safety solutions in the oil industry is significant.
The Chillgard ammonia monitor employs photoacoustic infrared detection to accurately identify ammonia levels at very low parts per million
( ppm). Unlike traditional electrochemical detection methods, this monitor uses a sampling system that draws air from up to 16 locations in a facility. This design is particularly advantageous in environments where ammonia is lighter than air, as it can effectively sample air from higher altitudes without needing multiple sensors throughout the facility.
One of the standout features of the Chillgard monitor is its long-life infrared sensor, which significantly outlasts typical electrochemical sensors that require replacement every three years. Calibration is also streamlined, as it can be done at head height, making it safer and more convenient for workers who would otherwise need to access potentially hazardous heights.
The monitor is equipped with onboard diagnostics that provide insights into system performance, including error reporting and assessments of the pump and sensor lifespan. This feature set ensures that facilities can maintain operations with minimal downtime.
Shilliday highlights the growing demand for ammonia monitoring solutions in South Africa, particularly within the meat industry, which has a strong presence in the region. The company has successfully sold Chillgard monitors to clients seeking more durable sensor options, aiming to enhance safety while minimising maintenance hassles. This focus on reliability is crucial in industries where consistent monitoring is essential for operational safety. CLA
Chillgard 5000 refrigerant monitor
Image supplied by MSA Safety
28 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • May 2025