www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I August 2023 49
Technical
Regular further training of refrigeration specialists in this subject area is recommended - for example at the SCHAUFLER Academy in Rottenburg- Ergenzingen . Whether digitally or on site - the SCHAUFLER Academy and the global training centres offer refrigeration specialists a wide range of training courses . Among other things , training courses for the safe handling of flammable refrigerants are on the agenda . www . trainings-events . bitzer . de
Photo BITZER
SCHAUFLER Academy in Rottenburg-Ergenzingen
systems . Handling R290 as a refrigerant requires special precautions to ensure safety . Only qualified and trained personnel shall handle R290 as a refrigerant , for example they should wear appropriate personal protective equipment ( PPE ) such as goggles , a portable gas detector and electrostatic dissipative gloves . When installing propane-based refrigeration systems , it is essential to follow local and national codes and standards . These codes and standards provide guidelines for the safe installation , operation , and maintenance of propane-based refrigeration systems . Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial to ensure the safe and efficient operation of refrigeration systems ran with R290 .
When assembling the refrigeration system without refrigerant charge , the known rules are applied in principle , even in the case of flammable A2L or A3 refrigerants . The most important thing is to be aware of the potential flammability and explosion risk when handling the refrigerant . Safety becomes even more critical during maintenance and servicing work , when the refrigerant is already in the system , and it may have to be opened . Here , the highest safety precautions must be taken to minimize the risk of accidents . The formation of an explosive atmosphere should be avoided in any case . Especially
" Towards the end of the 19th century , the use of the nontoxic but highly flammable hydrocarbons became widespread due to their good thermodynamic properties ." in the case of A3 refrigerants , even stricter requirements must be observed . Due to the extreme oil solubility of hydrocarbons , there is still a risk of dangerous quantities of refrigerant outgassing from the oil even after the extraction process has been completed .
Among other things , the following aspects should be observed during maintenance and servicing work ( list not exhaustive ):
• Ensuring that the room is well ventilated , for example with a fan brought in with the unit
• Ensure that there are no sources of ignition within reach
• Personal protective equipment , for example a portable gas detector and electrostatic dissipative gloves
• Use of approved ‘ non-sparking ’ tools
• Use of gas sensors and shut-off devices
• Appropriate fire extinguishing equipment
EFFICIENT COMPONENTS FOR SYSTEMS WITH FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS BITZER supports its customers in dealing with flammable refrigerants with guidelines and a practical training program at the SCHAUFLER Academy . In addition , the portfolio of the refrigeration , air conditioning and heat pump specialist includes a wide range of products that are approved for the use of flammable refrigerants , including R290 . These include , for example , oil separators , liquid receivers , condensers , evaporators , reciprocating compressors of various sizes as well as compact screw compressors for air conditioning or process cooling .
Optionally available for ECOLINE reciprocating compressors is the mechanical capacity control . Alternatively , the equipment with VARIPACK frequency converters ensures precise adaptation to the respective refrigeration demand . Via a separately mounted IQ module , it is possible to integrate
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I August 2023 49