Events and Exhibitions
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requirements, safety and energy efficiency. Europe is
predicted to have the highest future growth in low charge
ammonia systems.”
Research by shecco has found that globally, 3.2 million
refrigerated display cabinets are now operating on
hydrocarbons and a further 2 500 plus installations are using
hydrocarbon water-loop technology. R290 in room air-
conditioning units have experienced significant growth in
China and India. Europe’s ban on all portable equipment with
HFCs above 150GWP after 2020, could stimulate growth in
R290 self-contained air-conditioning units.
“A swing to natural refrigerants is not just about green cooling
but a game changer to cooling as a service and the promotion
of low energy consumption. Strong support is given to the Kigali
Cooling Efficiency programme and it is encouraging to report that
South Africa has also joined as a partner,” said Koegelenberg.
BENEFITS OF TRANSITIONING
“The change from HCFCs is not just about meeting local and
international agreements but also has far reaching benefits for
refrigerant users,” said Bernd Kaltenbrunner from Eurammon,
a European non-profit initiative for natural refrigerants.
Europe has ammonia refrigeration installations that have been
operating for centuries.
Before addressing the benefits, he referred to the forces
driving a swing from HFC refrigerants in Europe. “EU regulation
EN517/2014 requires automatic leak detection, record keeping,
prevention of emission of fluorinated greenhouse gases,
regular leak tests at intervals according to the tonnage of CO 2
equivalent of the charge. Compliance with these requirements
adds to operating costs and is considered to be on a par with the
safety requirements of ammonia installation.
“The green peace movement and public demand have
driven a change towards natural refrigerants. The spiralling cost
of synthetic refrigerants has driven change. As an example, in
Spain, the price of HFC refrigerants has increased 20 times in the
last 10 years, partly due to cost and imposed taxes. The phase-
out of R22 in the supermarket chain groups in 1994 has driven the
change towards low GWP refrigerants.” Safety when it comes to
natural refrigerants is a concern but with experience, knowledge
and training, it can be overcome, he added.
The available expertise and skills in natural refrigerants
encouraged some operators to swing towards CO 2 , propane and
ammonia. He recalled a CO 2 plant that had operated from 1904
to 1997 with an average COP of 3.36. Kaltenbrunner showed
many examples of new natural refrigerant installations that had
benefitted by lower energy usage, lower maintenance cost and
lower priced refrigerant.
www.hvacronline.co.za
MAKING IT WORK
All role players have a role to play: the ball is in our court to extend
the quality of life on our planet.
Baloyi wrapped up the Workshop and thanked all delegates
for attending and those who had done presentations and all
the needed preparations. Many delegates and presenters had
travelled from far and he wished them a safe journey home.
He also undertook to follow through on the challenge that
government, who own many office buildings, hospitals, clinics,
mortuaries, cold rooms and official residences, to take the lead
and convert these to green cooling and air conditioning with high
energy efficiencies. RACA
BRIEF RECAP OF HFC PHASE-DOWN
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The MP was signed by 193 countries to stop the
depletion of the ozone layer. CFCs and HCFCs were
identified as synthetic chemicals that contributed to the
depletion of the ozone layer.
In the early 1990s, 50% of CFC usage in South Africa was
as a repellent in aerosols and 20% for cooling.
After signing the MP, industry and without any regulation
went into action together with government, and phased
out the manufacture of CFCs, importation and export by
1 January 1996.
At an industry meeting on 8 November 1990, alternatives
to CFCs were debated. R22 was seen as a medium-term
solution and the new R134a with zero ODP was a long-
term solution but with caution as it had a GWP of 1430.
Warning was given that global warming would become
a far greater threat than the depletion of the ozone
layer. True to the predictions, 29 years later and the
phase-down of HFC 134a is planned in terms of the Kigali
Amendment.
In the immediate reaction to implementing the MP,
attention was given to leakage rates, training done in the
safe handling of refrigerants, recovery, recycling, skills
training uplifted, and awareness campaigns conducted.
From the many alternatives introduced at a rapid pace
and the bombardment of associated technicalities,
it became evident that natural refrigerants would be
the only sustainable solution not subjected to possible
phase-out or phase-down.
Natural refrigerants present challenges in the form
of flammability, toxicity, safety, and specialised skills
required. These can all be overcome through training,
and some have been mastered already and a relook
at refrigeration as a specialised trade and not that of a
handyman’s trade.
RACA Journal I March 2020
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