www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I September 2024 5
News
THE HC GROUP : LEADING SUSTAINABILITY IN HVAC-R
By Eamonn Ryan
HC presented its latest innovations in a recent SAIRACorganised briefing and factory tour – with its newly developed ANSWR ™ CO 2 Heat Pump Chiller being the highlight of the day .
Gert Van Rooyen , lead applications engineer : “ HC emphasised their commitment to sustainable leadership and introduced its new CO 2 equipment , positioning it as a critical component in combating climate change .”
He described CO 2 as a refrigerant with a global warming potential ( GWP ) of just one . This is a massive improvement compared to common alternatives like R-32 , R-410A , and R-404A , which have GWPs of 675 , 2088 , and nearly 4000 , respectively .
" CO 2 is our climate champion . It ’ s non-toxic , non-flammable , and has the lowest GWP compared to synthetic refrigerants , making it the obvious choice for the future ."
The push towards CO 2 is part of HC Group ’ s broader Environmental , Social , and Governance ( ESG ) strategy , which emphasises practical environmental sustainability with a daily impact . " Change is inevitable . Regulations are evolving , and we aim to be at the forefront , leading the HVAC-R industry . The environmental impact of refrigerants is critical , and CO 2
' s minimal
GWP makes it the clear leader ."
The presentation also touched on the issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS ), or ‘ forever chemicals ’. These synthetic components do not break down in the environment , posing long-term ecological and health risks . Transitioning to natural refrigerants like CO 2 helps eliminate these risks .
HC is actively integrating green technological innovations across all its divisions . The company ’ s Systems Division has developed the Krônos Rack , a versatile CO 2 cooling system with up to a 1 megawatt capacity . The HVAC Division offers the only full-packaged CO2 unit globally , and its Value-Add Division ensures components meet all pressure and safety standards .
HC also promotes their CO 2 technology through its leasing business , allowing clients to access the latest and most efficient cooling systems without significant capital investment .
" CO 2 is not a new refrigerant . It ' s been around since the 1800s . What has changed are the temperatures and specifications we work with . As the climate and technological demands evolve , so do our solutions ."
One of the critical challenges addressed by HC is the high temperatures and pressures associated with CO 2
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1 2
1 . Gert Van Rooyen , lead applications engineer : HC Heat Exchangers .
2 . HC Group operations director David Nurden provided an indepth look at the ANSWR .
refrigeration . " When CO 2 exceeds 31 ° C , it enters a transcritical state , requiring robust temperature and pressure ratings . We ' ve met these challenges head-on , ensuring our units can handle these conditions with high-pressure standstill and backup power options ."
The company introduced its latest innovation , the CO 2 rooftop packaged unit , the only one of its kind in the world . This unit is designed for a variety of applications , offering sustainable solutions wherever cooling is needed . Its waste heat recovery system ensures maximum efficiency , providing up to 85 ° C water for additional plant-wide energy savings and reduced raw material usage on heating units and other equipment .
In response to regulatory changes phasing out natural gas and oil boilers in the US and Europe , HC in collaboration with their American partners , Flow Environmental Solutions , developed the ANSWR unit , a versatile system providing high-temperature water and unmatched cooling capacity . " Our team , led by a young and talented CO 2 engineer , developed a fully functional model within 18 months . This unit , aptly named the ANSWR , is designed to revolutionise heating and cooling with sustainable and future-proof technology ."
The ANSWR unit boasts technology for maximum efficiency while providing independent thermal outputs . It offers four thermal outputs , two stages of cooling , and two stages of heating , ensuring full efficiency regardless of the required combination of heating and cooling .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I September 2024 5