www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I November 2025 15
Events and Exhibitions
THE RETURN TO NATURAL REFRIGERANTS DRIVEN BY REGULATION
By Eamonn Ryan
The refrigeration industry is, in essence, ' going back to square one ' by increasingly returning to natural refrigerants – a full circle from their historical use.
At FRIGAIR 2025, Axel Schaddach, head of global sales for system solution division: Danfoss, presented a vision for‘ Sustainable Cooling’, highlighting Danfoss Climate Solutions ' commitment to decarbonising heating and cooling. His address profiled the company ' s extensive portfolio, self-imposed sustainability targets and the critical global shift towards natural refrigerants.
Danfoss Climate Solutions, a global leader in engineering solutions, boasts a broad portfolio encompassing air-conditioning, refrigeration and heating applications. Schaddach emphasised that Danfoss is not merely a component manufacturer; the company actively strives to make its own production and footprint as carbon-neutral as possible, exemplified by the Danfoss Nordborg campus achieving carbon-neutrality in 2022.
Through its advanced technologies, Danfoss aims to accelerate the green transition by promoting energy and resource efficiency.“ Heat pumps are a‘ game changer’ for converting renewable electricity into thermal energy, fostering‘ sector integration’ by building synergies between heating and cooling.” Real-world examples showcased decarbonising factories with heat pumps, utilising excess heat in production, and major building retrofits to move away from fossil fuels. Schaddach also touched upon the critical role of cold chain technology in preventing food waste, a significant global concern amplified by digitalisation ' s increasing cooling demands and urbanisation ' s contribution to building emissions.
Schaddach affirmed Danfoss ' s comprehensive offerings for the refrigeration and food and beverage sectors, covering everything from controls and industrial refrigeration valves( including ammonia-specific designs) to micro-channel heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers and a diverse range of compressors( scroll, reciprocating and Turbocor). These are complemented by electronic controls for comprehensive system management.
“ A core aspect of our business revolves around condensing units, with product development heavily influenced by global regulations, particularly various ' green land plans.”
For centralised supermarket systems and rack packs, the market is increasingly moving towards CO2. Schaddach noted that 50 % of the food retail market in Europe already utilises CO2, driven by minimal price differences and retailers’ preference for a single refrigerant across installations. For standalone installations – particularly in the Horeca( Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes) segment – while the market is also moving towards CO2, options like HFOs and propane are considered. However, propane faces charge limits that restrict its application to
smaller capacities( up to 2kW) and require close proximity between the condensing unit and condenser. Danfoss offers a full-fledged portfolio of condensing units, ranging from just over 500W to 50kW of cooling capacity, available in both European and African markets, including South Africa. These units are designed for use with current refrigerants like R448A and R449A, but also with the next generation of HFO refrigerants, emphasising flexibility for future retrofitting.
Axel Schaddach, head of global sales for system solution division: Danfoss
A significant advantage of Danfoss Optyma condensing units is their integration of micro-channel heat exchangers, offering two primary benefits:
• They require significantly less refrigerant compared to traditional fin-and-tube condensers, crucial given stringent quotas
• They are designed towards a high Coefficient of Performance( COP) by combining it with the full-fledged Danfoss component portfolio( compressors, line components and alike), leading to lower energy consumption and a smaller carbon footprint
Schaddach emphasised the importance of considering the total cost of ownership, noting that units can pay off their initial cost through electricity savings alone. The reduced refrigerant charge also offers significant financial savings, as refrigerant is a substantial investment. Micro-channel heat exchangers also offer benefits in terms of cleaning and resistance to environmental factors.
Danfoss ' s design philosophy for condensing units focuses on cost reduction, resource efficiency, durability, longevity( evidenced by rigorous salt spray tests) and repairability.
INNOVATIONS IN EFFICIENCY AND CO2 SOLUTIONS Schaddach introduced the Optyma Plus condensing units, embodying a plug-and-play concept with enhanced efficiency. These units feature an electronic controller for simplified commissioning( less than seven steps), optimised fan speed management and remote monitoring( optional). Optyma Plus units are also stackable, saving installation material and space.
Variable speed inverter technology is presented as an ideal solution for applications with multiple evaporators, even those running at
Supplied by Danfoss
www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I November 2025 15