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Refrigeration 2022 : conference to tackle climate change
More than 120 professionals from across the width and breadth of Australia ’ s refrigeration industry met in Sydney and online for AIRAH ’ s Refrigeration Conference in May .
The conference aimed to reflect on whether this crucial sector is ready and willing to tackle climate change . The answer was a resounding “ yes ”.
AIRAH chief executive Tony Gleeson , M . AIRAH , opened proceedings by harking back to the challenges that Australia ’ s refrigeration industry has faced during AIRAH ’ s 100-year history , such as preserving supplies of medicine and food in wartimes . “ Today HVAC & R engineers are again challenged to embrace innovation in their battle against a seemingly insurmountable foe ,” said Gleeson . “ This time it ’ s climate change . We all know that our industry is a big user of electricity and emitter of CO2 . However , it also continues to innovative , to improve , to become more energy-efficient . If we are to keep the increase in global temperatures to well below 2 ° C , the work of our industry will be critical .”
The keynote presentation , delivered by Dr Paul Bannister , L . AIRAH , repeated this call to action , and explored the role refrigeration will play in reaching net zero . Dr Bannister noted that the cold chain sector on its own represents more than 4 per cent of Australia ’ s total emissions , and there is plenty of low-hanging fruit for reducing both direct and indirect emissions .
Australia ’ s key strategy for reducing direct emissions is the phase-down of highly global warming refrigerant gases – hydrofluorocarbons ( HFCs ). Pat McInerney
Images by AIRAH
Tony Gleeson addressing attendees at the event .
from the Department of Agriculture , Water and the Environment provided an update on the program , and showed how it is enabling Australia to meet their commitments under the Montreal Protocol . Rodney Cumming , Affil . AIRAH , from the Australian Refrigeration Council ( ARC ) was also on hand to explain how the ARCtick licensing scheme is supporting the HFC phase-down .
When it comes to reducing indirect emissions , the path forward is improving energy efficiency . Accordingly , many of the presentations at Refrigeration 2022 delved into topics such as component selection , pipe sizing , control strategies and design principles .
But , as the delegates pointed out , having greener gases and systems is not enough . Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is to support workers to familiarise themselves with the new technology – particularly when many of the incoming refrigerants are flammable , toxic , or work under very high pressures .
“ Industry has basically said that keeping up with trends is quite difficult and understanding the best practice for the latest products would be an advantage ,” says Rene Le Miere , Affil . AIRAH , SuperCool Asia Pacific , who sat on the organising committee . “ It is also very clear that the industry is losing knowledge every year . We need to educate and train new people coming in and also refresh concepts to enable better system design as we move to a lower carbon footprint .”
In response , the entire first day of Refrigeration 2022 was dedicated to education sessions . This included fundamentals of refrigeration , guidance on energy efficiency , and a coolroom design workshop .
The conference highlighted the need to educate and train new people coming in and also refresh concepts to enable better system design as we move to a lower carbon footprint .
During the education sessions , contractors and technicians sat side by side with engineers and designers . Gleeson says this was one of the highlights of the conference .
“ It was fantastic to see the range of professionals in attendance ,” says Gleeson . “ For our sector to play its part in reaching net zero , we need to break down the siloes and work across traditional boundaries . AIRAH ’ s mission is to strengthen the industry , and we are confident that this year ’ s event achieved that .” CLA
Having greener gases and systems is not enough .
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2022 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 17