R-22

Danfoss has announced the start of the third Refrigerant Week—with tools, events, and resources to help customers get ready for refrigerant change. In recent years, legislation around refrigerants has shifted significantly, affecting prices and availability all over the world. And the move to low-GWP (global warming potential) alternatives has only just begun. Danfoss Refrigerant Week Throughout the industry, people are dealing with unprecedented change. So, in 2017, Danfoss started Refrigerant Week. It's the company’s unique way of bringing together the best and brightest minds in refrigeration to help installers, resellers, wholesalers, operators, and OEM engineers handle the accelerating pace of refrigerant transition through a packed program of webinars, podcasts, and local training events.  International program of webinars The Refrigerant Week will have 11 live webinars to choose from, which take place simultaneously in a variety of time zones and languages, to give viewers the latest insights into subjects such as: Global trends and drivers - For cold chain technology, and refrigerants and regulations Handling A2L and A3 flammable refrigerants - Includes charging procedures and service routines Transitioning to new refrigerants and technologies – Will feature everything installers need to know about new refrigerant technologies, and moving away from R404A Benefiting from lower-GWP refrigerants – This will entail rethinking system design and comparing industrial refrigeration efficiency Using CO₂ - Including large industrial trans-critical systems and system optimization Looking to the future – Customers will need to be ready for changes all the way to 2030 And while the webinars will be broadcast in English, many will also be available in German, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish, and Czech. Industry speakers and interactive activities In addition to the webinars, the Refrigerant Week will also offer exclusive insights from industry experts such as: Torben Funder-Kristensen - Head of Public and Industry Affairs, Danfoss Cooling Norbert Blatz - Global Application Manager, Danfoss Cooling Jürgen Fischer - President, Danfoss Cooling Ray Gluckman - Consultant with over 30 years of experience in refrigeration, energy efficiency, and climate change, and Owner of Gluckman Consulting Emilia Battaglini - Program Manager, Climate Change Group, Danfoss Cooling

The AHR Expo is the world’s premier HVACR event, attracting thousands of attendees from across the globe and with more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space featuring everything that is new in the industry. AHR Expo 2020 The AHR Expo 2020, to be held from February 3 - 5, 2020 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, is the industry’s annual opportunity to network with professionals from all roles within HVACR and to view the latest innovations, products and technologies. To register, visit the AHR Expo registration website. “This is the event for HVACR professionals to meet together under one roof for networking, exchanging ideas and to preview what’s ahead in the industry,” said Mark Stevens, AHR Expo Show Manager. State-of-the-art HVACR solutions on display Attendees can expect to explore areas of industry growth such as building automation and control technologies Mark adds, “Professionals from all areas of HVACR have an exclusive opportunity to gain real insight into what’s coming in the next year and what’s being planned for the future of the industry. HVACR is at the center of big change on a global scale and is a topic of discussion in many external industries as well —it’s an exciting time for the industry and the Show floor is a great place to experience the inspiration.” Each year, exhibitors display new solutions serving every facet of HVACR, ranging from highly efficient equipment to sophisticated whole building management systems. Attendees can expect to explore areas of industry growth such as building automation and control technologies, as well as solutions and equipment relating to alternative heating and cooling methods, time-saving tools and instruments, and other innovations that support a more efficient job site. Previewing new-to-market products Attendees can anticipate previewing new-to-market products and a full range of solutions and are encouraged to take advantage of the unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with the professionals developing them. To maximize the show’s experience, visitors should search the directory of exhibitors to view product categories and more in-depth information on exhibiting companies. HVACR products and solutions to be featured on the show floor: A smart thermostat designed for ductless air conditioners that connects to Wi-Fi for a full range of on-device local controls Small footprint fluid pumps that maintain high-performance demands of 10 to 35 GPM AC, DC and EC fans and pumps used across multiple applications A copper press adapter, made from lead-free brass to meet local and national potable plumbing codes, that allows for efficient connection of PEX piping to copper piping systems A pre-packaged variable frequency drive solution for variable torque pump and fan applications in commercial buildings and facilities ideal for healthcare, education, retail, hospitality and manufacturing Packaged pump systems designed to remove dirt, sand, silt, precipitates and suspended solids from process fluids and increase overall system efficiencies while decreasing operating costs A self-contained portable commercial and industrial spot cooler/heat pump with remote monitoring connectivity for real-time status monitoring, setting control, machine run times and error reporting A vertical stack water source heat pump ideal for high-performance buildings to provide maximum comfort and performance to end-users as well as flexibility for engineers and architects A hybrid fluid cooler that adapts plug-and-play operation for optimization of both water and energy savings at 40% and 50% respectively A refrigerant designed as an R-22 replacement solution that not only maintains capacity in R-22 existing systems, but also increases efficiency by 15% on average A specialty coating that is UV stable, non-conductive and maintains flexibility allowing for expansion and contraction of metals designed to protect systems, coils, cabinets and PCB equipment in salt air environments Duct insulation designed without mineral fiber or fiberglass preventing mold, mildew and fungi growth and requires no protective equipment or specialty clothing for install A cloud-based system specifically designed as an energy saving solution for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems that works by monitoring electricity consumption in real-time to provide analysis of collected data to create an operation sequence for energy and cost savings Specially designed small footprint, quiet and efficient electric motors that utilize printed circuit board (PCB) to replace conventional windings, are embedded with IoT circuitry and are ideal for a wide range of HVAC applications including fans, blowers, condensing units, pumps and compressors Inline flow sensors with automatic glycol compensation algorithms to select correct fluid properties for flow and energy calculation calibrated to achieve ±0.5% repeatability without drift A condensate neutralizer that neutralizes acidic fluid as a by-product of combustion to non-harmful levels, preventing corrosion of drains and sewer systems that can negatively impact the environment A BACnet or Modbus output designed gas detection instrument used to communicate with a BAS and pre-calibrated, plug-and-play smart sensor replacement at end of life A heat exchanger designed for the gas cooler, condenser, evaporator and economizer in R744 heat pump and refrigeration systems Data resources that provide an unbiased cross-reference and model number database designed to locate replacement HVACR parts A freeze control board that prevents evaporator coils from freezing as well as prevents problems caused by freezing such as mold, mildew, carbon dioxide, flooding and property damage associated with melting ice A condition-based monitoring software platform that uses variable frequency drives as a smart sensor to monitor motor and applications for early issue detection and solution recovery without the need for PLC hardware A specialty device designed to combine four critical functions including hydraulic separation, air separation, dirt separation and ferrous impurity separation to maintain the health of water-based solutions within hydronic systems Cloud-based service software that enables contractors to move to paperless business operation while controlling costs through inventory management and automated inventory replenishment Service management software that allows businesses to streamline operations and equip technicians with necessary tools to close deals on the job via automated service agreements, and to dispatch technicians, accept payments, and gain insight on performance A ductless heat pump with built-in air and surface purification technology A scale reduction system that protects water heaters from limescale build-up that works without the need for power supply, batteries, chemicals or filters HEPA filtration technology product integrations that satisfy IAQ requirements including hospital, medical and other sensitive environments A probe instrument that allows technicians to test a motor for induced currents caused by VFD to minimize costly downtime and extend the life of system motors Blower coil solutions for improved IAQ that allow for fast installation in both horizontal and vertical installations and HDY/VDY features and benefits such as energy efficiency and quieter operation

Panasonic has announced that they will be exhibiting at the CIBSE Build2Perform event this year, slated to be held at London Olympia on 26th and 27th of November 2019, on stand 226. For the second consecutive year, Panasonic will be demonstrating their latest product innovations and sharing their vast technical knowledge with building services professionals. CIBSE Build2Perform event James Chaplen, Specification Sales Manager for Panasonic, commented “This event is a great opportunity to show off our wide range of HVAC&R products to building professionals. We are delighted to be part of the show for the second consecutive year and eager to display our latest innovations. CIBSE Build2Perform is all about making connections and sharing ideas and gives the team a chance to listen to what industry experts are saying.” On display during CIBSE Build2Perform 2019, Panasonic will be showcasing their latest range of highly efficient VRF, GHP and Aquarea Heat Pump ranges, in addition to introducing the new Panasonic ECOi-W Heat Pump Chiller series. Panasonic ECOi-W Heat Pump Chiller series The ECOi-W is fully customizable and can be made-to-order to create bespoke solutions The Panasonic ECOi-W Heat Pump Chiller series will be available from October 2019 in the UK. This highly efficient and environmentally friendly new Heat Pump Chiller series is aimed at commercial, hotel and industry installations and features innovative air source reversible chiller technology. The ECOi-W is fully customizable and can be made-to-order to create bespoke solutions for specific projects (including the light commercial sector) to fully meet customer demands and requirements. This is additionally enriched by utilizing the Panasonics’ Smart Cloud interface, for convenient remote control and maintenance. ProHT DHW tanks Furthermore, Panasonic will be launching their new ProHT DHW tanks. The new ProHT tanks can produce DHW via a direct DX heat exchanger within the tank, reducing operating costs and energy usage. This solution is an ideal cost-saving solution for large commercial applications, such as hotels. The ProHT tank range is treated with internal and external metal surface pickling to remove impurities such as stains, inorganic contaminants, rust or scale from ferrous metals, copper, precious metals and aluminum alloys to avoid corrosion for the entire lifetime of the tank. Energy efficient and cost-effective solutions on display Free to visit, CIBSE Build2Perform features manufacturers and suppliers from the building services engineering sector, who will be showcasing their latest products and innovations to visitors, to help improve energy efficiency and save money through effective building services. Technical experts from Panasonic will be available on both days of the show, providing in-depth industry knowledge and helpful information for building professionals and the wider supply chain.

“Evaporative cooling, direct, indirect, and two-stage solutions, are being used across the board in a wide variety of commercial and industrial solutions,” said Randy Niederer, Director of Marketing, Cambridge Engineering Inc. “It is currently experiencing a renaissance, as large manufacturing and distribution facilities are choosing this technology to provide cooling relief for employees.” This renaissance, along with several new technology factors, creates a backdrop for contractors to benefit from the sale of evaporative cooling solutions. Direct evaporative cooling Effectively selling evaporative cooling solutions to customers begins with understanding the different ways to accomplish evaporative cooling. Direct evaporative cooling is the traditional technology of which most contractors and technicians have knowledge. Direct evaporative cooling systems put the process fluid, typically water, into direct contact with air According to ‘Evaporative Cooling 101’ on Evapco’s website, direct evaporative cooling systems put the process fluid, typically water, into direct contact with air. Water flows through fill as a fan draws air across it, facilitating the transfer of heat from the warm water to the cooler air. This is the system used in open-air cooling towers. Indirect evaporative cooling Indirect evaporative cooling is much the same as direct in concept; however, instead of coming in direct contact with the water, the air is pumped through coils, and water flows across the coils. Two-stage solutions, a combination of both indirect evaporative cooling and direct evaporative cooling technologies, use a plate heat exchanger with the indirect section’s airstream, which then passes through the direct evaporative media for additional cooling. Two-stage evaporative cooling According to Niederer, “Direct evaporative cooling works well in dry arid climates, whereas indirect evaporative cooling works well in a much broader geographic area. Two-stage evaporative cooling is being used in many situations, and evaporative cooling is also being used to efficiently pre-chill intake air being used in refrigerant-based cooling applications.” He explained that there are tradeoffs between evaporative cooling and DX or VRF that should be communicated to the customer. “Contractors must determine what their end user is trying to achieve with their IAQ and then design that solution with either in-house engineers or with an MEP [mechanical, electrical, plumbing] engineering firm,” said Niederer. Higher efficiency and cost savings He adds, “If the end user just wants to set a thermostat at 70°F and be assured that the temperature never gets warmer then evaporative cooling may not meet their requirements. End users that want to condition their space to be more user-friendly than the outside air, yet perhaps not as cool as a residential setting, will find that evaporative cooling can often meet their needs.” He gave the example of conditioning a distribution center in Dallas and compared the cost of purchasing and operating a refrigerant-based system for this application versus an evaporative cooling system solution. “In this application, the cost for refrigerant-based cooling could be exorbitant,” said Niederer, adding “Yet direct evaporative cooling can provide a delta T drop of 20° for a fraction of the purchase and operating cost.” Awareness and technical understanding The role evaporative cooling and the impact it can make is completely undervalued by the HVAC industry" With an understanding of what evaporative cooling is and how to better communicate with customers about the topic, contractors will next need to ascertain which solutions will work and where to find the right customers. “Although awareness and technical understanding of the latest technologies is increasing, I feel the role evaporative cooling and the undoubted impact it can make is completely undervalued by the HVAC industry as a whole,” said Mike Sullivan, CEO of Air2O. “With the phase out of HCFCs and, now, HFCs with a high GWP, it is only natural that the industry will have to start to seriously consider where possible R-718, water.” Effective evaporative cooling application Sullivan noted that when using evaporative cooling as the primary cooling measure, regions with low wet bulb often yield the best results. Dependent on the application, however, evaporative cooling technologies can have benefits to all regions. Niederer suggests that HVAC contractors look for customers in industrial manufacturing, warehouse/distribution, higher education, prisons, and utilities for ideal evaporative cooling customers. Other applications mentioned included data centers, confinement farming, hospitals, and indoor sporting facilities. Reducing CO2 footprint and energy consumption “Evaporative cooling is the preferred method of cooling whenever reduced footprint and/or reduced energy consumption are of the greatest importance,” said Adam Radford, Global Product Manager, Closed Circuit Coolers, Evapco. “The technology is suited for all areas of the United States, depending on the application and site requirements.” Identifying a good evaporative cooling application customer is not based solely on location and humidity. According to Scott Jacobs, Director, Engineering, Portacool LLC, there are many tell-tale signs that contractors can identify. High application in hot, humid conditions Evaporative cooling popularity has surged in high-heat areas where people, equipment, and animals need relief" “Look for the current use of subpar attempts of cooling, like barrel fans,” said Jacobs, adding “Even in hot and humid areas, evaporative cooling can provide some cooling relief when used properly. Evaporative cooling popularity has surged in high-heat areas where people, equipment, and animals need relief.” He explained that contractors can use the current regulatory environment and laws to highlight the need for worker health and safety to potential customers. Jacob further said, “Even though using evaporative cooling in enclosed buildings becomes much more difficult in humid climates, savvy users can supplement an evaporative system with proper ventilation in order to maintain a comfortable environment.” Future scope of Evaporative Cooling technology A push for energy and financial savings continues to drive innovation in the evaporative cooling market. Manufacturers take different avenues to improve the technology for further diverse applications. For example, according to Evapco, both internal tube enhancement and extended surface fin technology have significantly increased the efficiency of the current technology in the evaporative cooling market. “From data centers located in a dry, desert environment looking to save on water and footprint to large commercial HVAC buildings in Seattle looking to go ‘green’ with the provision of environmentally sustainable cooling solutions, hybrid coolers are really where the present and future of the industry is headed,” said Adam Radford. Energy recovery ventilation technology Portacool has found that by manipulating different factors in its manufacturing process, the company can get different results. “This has resulted in a more efficient product and has allowed evaporative cooling to become a legitimate option in many more parts of the world,” added Scott Jacobs. Cambridge Engineering expects to achieve even more energy efficiency from evaporative cooling units via more efficient fan technologies and variable frequency drives in the future. “We also foresee adding ERV [energy recovery ventilation] technology to the units and finding ways to reduce water consumption and improve the quality of the water used,” said Niederer. Improved performance Air2O is aware of many concepts to improve efficiency and performance, especially at the times of high wet bulb. “We are working on a few ourselves,” said Sullivan, adding “In the meantime, great advancements have been made in evaporative cooling technology in recent years, and it is now a viable, and, in many cases, superior ,form of cooling for many projects.”

The European F-gas Directive is all about the restriction of fluorinated greenhouse gases, which includes hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs), commonly used as refrigerants for air conditioning. This is a regulation that has been adopted by the European Union to phase-down the usage of refrigerants, which have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP). Since the most common refrigerants used (e.g. R410A, R134a), by individuals and industry wide, are affected by this regulation, there has been a drive lately to move away from these refrigerants. F-gas regulations Airedale has always taken their environmental responsibilities very seriously Airedale has always taken their environmental responsibilities very seriously and for several years, they focused a large proportion of their R&D resources on moving towards suitable replacements. This development work started before the current F-gas regulations were introduced and started forcing the wider industry’s hand. This has helped create a level playing field in some respects, but also helped Airedale as a proactive business to stay one step ahead. This has happened with the company’s earlier launch of the low GWP TurboChill Range with R1234ze rather than R134a and now in 2019, the launch of R410A replacement chillers, the Ultima and DeltaChill ranges, both with R32. Cutting down on high GWP refrigerants Refrigerants are rated on how they contribute to global warming in comparison to weight of CO2. Gases above a certain GWP will not be specifically banned but will be reduced in availability over the coming years. If a refrigerant is rated to be 2000 times worse than the equivalent weight in CO2 released to the atmosphere, then surely it’s right that there is a push for change. Environmental responsibility is a topic that a lot of businesses talk about but don’t always put much conviction into, whereas, Airedale has proved their commitment to environmental sustainability. TurboChill range with R1234ze refrigerant In 2014, Airedale were one of the first companies to release a chiller with R134a replacement (TurboChill range with R1234ze), before the introduction of the new F-gas regulations in 2015. This chiller range offered a replacement for R134a (GWP of 1430) with R1234ze, which has a GWP of 7. That’s extremely close to the equivalent weight of CO2. The HVAC major was able to achieve this milestone because they have a dedicated test laboratory with experienced laboratory engineers, providing them the facilities to build and test products extensively in conjunction with their design engineers. Achieving low GWP across all HVAC products R1234ze isn’t appropriate for all applications so they were looking to find a suitable replacement for R410A They not only work on designing new products, but are also dedicated to regularly updating existing products. One thing they strive to achieve is low GWP on all product ranges. Unfortunately, R1234ze isn’t appropriate for all applications so they have been looking to find a suitable replacement for R410A. If saving the planet isn’t reason enough to care about changing traditional cooling ways, than there is the concern of money spent. As the phase-down is proceeding, the amount of high GWP refrigerants like R410A on the market will significantly drop. When there’s very little quantity and a high demand, prices skyrocket. Stopping the practice of stockpiling refrigerants It has already been noted that companies tend to stockpile refrigerants, as well as businesses outside of the industry apply for quota they don’t necessarily need (e.g. butchers, florists, etc.), in order to sell it for a profit. Both of which have affected the price considerably, even if they are stable for now, it is reasonable to expect this to increase again in the future. This could lead to hefty service costs for maintaining air conditioning products on top of an increase in price for the initial bulk required for a new unit. This is not ideal for companies manufacturing the products or for the customers purchasing them. It seems to have also started a black market of smuggling and selling high GWP refrigerants across borders. Finding suitable replacement for R410A Initially, it was difficult to gauge which refrigerants the industry would lean towards. The HVAC industry, after all, is heavily reliant on compressors, expansion valve technology, and more, for the alternatives to be available (without compromising on quality). The research team at Airedale have spent years investigating alternatives to find a suitable replacement for R410A with emphasis on the potential use of mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants and regulations around them. With refrigerant producers releasing more and more because there was no clear direction the industry was going in, it left an extremely wide range of options. The research team compiled a data base of pros and cons for all the refrigerants available on the market with energy analysis to see which would be best suited to replace R410A. After an extensive investigation, they managed to narrow it down to R32. To test this, they built a unit and started testing because nothing beats real life data after all. Low GWP R32 refrigerant Firstly, the GWP of R32 refrigerant is 675, compared to 2088 for R410A refrigerant Firstly, the GWP of R32 refrigerant is 675, compared to 2088 for R410A refrigerant. Also, the properties are very close and after the initial investigation it was given the seal of approval from Airedale’s research team as the best alternative. This was based on the performance comparison and ability to replace R410A with ideally minimal changes to the existing units. Even though, once testing began it was evident this would not be the case and the design engineers got to work redesigning the units to accommodate R32. Classified as an A2L refrigerant With regards to the flammability classification, R32 is classified as an A2L refrigerant, which means it’s mildly flammable. Sounds alarming, but rest assured the dangers involved in this classification are incredibly low. Generally speaking, the lower the GWP of a refrigerant, the more unstable it is, meaning it breaks down more readily in the atmosphere, in comparison to a more stable, high GWP refrigerant. All of the refrigerants that were appropriate replacements were flammable to some degree. Low risk of flammability When talking about A2L refrigerants, however, they have nearly the same level of flammability/explosiveness as hydrocarbons, like propane (R290), isobutane (R600a), etc. This is a new classification (recognized in EN378 in 2016) for any flammable refrigerant with a burning velocity of less than 10cm/s, as well as requiring a high ignition energy to cause ignition (electrical arcs are unlikely to light it) and a very specific concentration to burn in air. In essence, it is unlikely to ignite an A2L refrigerant and there would need to be a specific quantity released to burn. With high quality manufacturing including permanent/brazed joints, R32 is very low risk. Testing in R410A prototype units The company attempted to run some testing using it as a ‘drop in’ replacement When Airedale started testing R32 in one of their R410A units, there wasn’t a large amount of real life data on how it would perform as a direct replacement, other than it wouldn’t work specifically as a ‘drop-in’. To assess the difference and to help the design process, the company attempted to run some testing using it as a ‘drop in’ replacement. This can be dangerous so numerous safety precautions were considered before testing began. The results showed a number of issues with oil return to the compressors. Also, due to density differences among other properties, there was a lot of design work required so the project was underway to redesign all relevant components. A number of engineers have been involved for a couple of years now testing the refrigerant in the prototype units to the extremes to understand the performance fully. After ironing out all of the issues, with an amazing amount of work from all of the engineers involved and working closely with component suppliers, Airedale is now extremely happy to be releasing their R32 chiller ranges.

Working for Adcock Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Ltd as an engineer is a hands-on, rewarding, technical role requiring a high level of responsibility and customer care. For a snapshot of engineer life, the company has written an ‘Engineer Career’ series based on insight, tips and feedback from their own engineers. In part one, the company explored the route to becoming an engineer. In part two, discover a day in the life of an Adcock engineer. Adcock publishes this article with thanks to their team members Ben Moulson, Will Royal, Shaun Taylor, Richard Todd, Gavin Coakley and Lee Munday for their candid insight. strategic problem solving Compared to a typical 9-5 office job, how does HVAC engineering differ? For a start, it’s not a sedentary way of working as one is always on the move. Paperwork and admin are part of the role but getting out and about to meet customers (any day of the week, depending on the shift) and getting their hands dirty is the main activity. This makes it a varied and stimulating job, as one is problem solving and working strategically to get results for different businesses. Meeting new people, keeping customers happy and seeing end results is rewarding" Days are very varied. Sometimes one might encounter systems or parts that they haven’t worked with before, but they will always be shown how to safely deal with them, or be able to observe a more experienced engineer. “Meeting new people, keeping customers happy and seeing end results is rewarding”, says Will, Install Mate. fixing technical problems Is engineering mostly about fixing technical problems? Fixing issues is part of the job, but it encompasses a challenging mix of designing, installing, troubleshooting, replacing, servicing, undertaking site surveys or risk assessments, quoting and building relationships. Essentially, the engineer’s role is to find the right solution for the customer, taking into account things like sustainability, practicality, health and safety and cost efficiency. “We had maintained the old R22 refrigeration pack for years and it was pleasing to see the old system replaced with a new energy efficient pack”, said Ben, Service Manager. A typical day is difficult to describe as no two days are the same but one enjoys the continuity of working on jobs that they have already started, and the spontaneity of responding to call outs that come in on the day. In part one of the blog, the company touched upon the mix of working alone and within a team. possibilities to work Depending on the job and their experience, they may be working on their own at times, in pairs or bigger groups, or even solving problems over the phone, as Service Manager Lee points out. Then of course there are the customers one meets - some familiar, some new - so it’s not a lonely job. Going forward I know there could be possibilities to work within a different section of the company” “When I first arrived at Adcock I was a service mate. Given training and opportunities, I have been able to progress and I am now out and about on my own, diagnosing and fixing faults on daily basis. Going forward I know there could be possibilities to work within a different section of the company”, says Shaun, Trainee Service Engineer. high quality work What’s motivating about HVAC engineering? Using one’s knowledge and expertise to solve issues for customers, keeping their systems safe and efficient. Knowing that they have that ability is motivating and gives a real sense of pride. Adcock offers the best training in the UK and partners with renowned manufacturers so one will be qualified to work on world-class systems from Mitsubishi, Daikin, Toshiba and Fujitsu and be able to offer customers the best advice. “The job includes many perks from personal reward through to salaries and overtime and being a team member. Also, we are provided with the necessary tools and training to provide high quality work”, says Shaun, Trainee Service Engineer. As one progresses, they may take on decision-making, team leadership and management. Providing a great service for customers means repeat business and building great relationships, which drives job satisfaction. very quick turnarounds “Our goal is to look after our clients’ equipment to a high standard, resolve any issues that they may have and give great customer service on all levels. So, when we work together as a team and achieve our desired goal it gives me added motivation to keep on improving.”, said Gavin, Service Manager. What’s the most rewarding job that an engineer has worked on? For Install Mate Will, one of his stand-out jobs was working at RAF Marham where new F35 jet planes were kept Adcock engineering can take the engineer places, literally. HVAC systems are found in many interesting and prestigious buildings, some requiring clearance or very quick turnarounds because of time-critical operations. Just some of the ones mentioned by their engineers include The Tower of London, Silverstone Race Circuit and Kings College Cambridge. Air Conditioning Systems “The best project that I’ve ever worked on was a large installation project carried out in an office block just off Fleet Street. We had the task of installing 33 VRV Air Conditioning Systems over 11 levels.” Gavin, the Service Manager says. For Install Mate Will, one of his stand-out jobs was working at RAF Marham where new F35 jet planes were kept. Installation Engineer Richard enjoyed working at The Bank of England as one of a few personnel to have clearance and responsibility to size up, design, and run the program of works as well as installing two VRF systems. For trainee engineer Shaun, his favorite project so far is a job carried out at the University of Norwich, which involved replacing two existing coldrooms from the Uni shop. Digital service reporting “I enjoyed this project as it was something I was involved in from start to finish, working alongside fellow engineers and liaising with other contractors in order to get the job finished.” Do engineers at all levels get to work with new technology? “I do, yes, and I love it”, says Richard, Installation Engineer. With new technology emerging all the time, there is always something to learn such as smart controls and renewable technology. Digital service reporting and the use of tablets and mobiles to share data and to communicate with colleagues and customers make the day more productive. It’s certainly an exciting time to start or switch to a career in engineering. Adcock has many job opportunities around the UK. Perks include generous holiday, competitive salary and overtime.

A key deadline for phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from residential air conditioning systems is less than a year away. Jan. 1, 2020, is the deadline after which there will be no U.S. production or import of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22 (also called R-22). The deadline is part of an incremental phazeout of HCFC consumption and production based on the U.S. commitment in the 1997 Montreal Protocol aimed at protecting stratospheric ozone. Section 605 of the Clean Air Act establishes phazeout targets for the chemicals. The phazeout will be complete in 2030, after which time there will be no production or import of any HCFCs. HCFC-142b retrofit refrigerant HCFC-142b is used in small quantities in refrigerant blends and as a retrofit refrigerant in motor vehicle ACs HCFC-142b is used in small quantities in refrigerant blends and as a retrofit refrigerant in motor vehicle air conditioners that previously used chloroflurococarbons (CFCs), which were eliminated in the mid-1990s for their potential to deplete the ozone layer. HCFC-22 is the most commonly used refrigerant in applications such as unitary air conditioners, cold storage, retail food refrigeration equipment, chillers and industrial process refrigeration. Any air conditioner or heat pump manufactured before 2010 likely uses HCFC-22 refrigerant. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons in air conditioning systems On Jan. 1, 2020, U.S. production or import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b will not be permitted in the United States. After this happens, only recycled/reclaimed or stockpiled quantities of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b will be available for servicing existing equipment, and they will likely be more expensive. These substances have been in the process of being phazed out since 2015, when supplies were reduced by 90 percent. Since 2010, HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b have been available exclusively for use to service existing equipment.   There are several non-ozone-depleting alternatives to HCFC-22. They include R-134a and R-410A, which can be used in a new installation; and R-407C and R-407A, which can be used in a new or a retrofit installation. The most common alternative is R-410A, which is manufactured and sold under various trade names such as GENTRON AZ-20, SUVA 410A, and PURON. Significant New Alternatives Policy SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy) was established by the U.S. Clean Air Act to identify and evaluate substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. The program looks at overall risks to human health and the environment of existing and new substitutes, publishes lists and promotes the use of acceptable substances, and provides the public with information. EPA reviews alternative refrigerants and maintains a list of acceptable substitutes for household and light commercial air conditioning. For the last 25 years, the air conditioning and refrigeration industry has been working to reduce its use of CFC refrigerants, which are no longer available on new equipment. The industry has used alternative refrigerants and achieved higher efficiency ratings to achieve the goals. CFC refrigerants Long life of AC equipment has extended the continuing use of CFC refrigerants by existing equipment However, the long useful life of air conditioning equipment has extended the continuing use of CFC refrigerants by existing equipment. Green building groups have supported legislative action to reduce federal depreciation schedules for this equipment, which would accelerate the replacement of older equipment and hasten the total elimination of CFC refrigerant use. The HEAT Act, which Congress passed in 2017 as part of the landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reduced commercial HVAC expensing from 39 years to immediate (zero years). Phazing out ozone-depleting refrigerants The European Union is also committed to protecting the ozone layer and has some of the strictest regulations in the world. Since 2010, there has been a ban on the use of “virgin” HCFCs to service and maintain refrigeration and air conditioning equipment; use of reclaimed or recycled HCFCs for service or maintenance has been banned since 2015.

Adcock was contracted by Munro Building Services (South) Limited to upgrade the air conditioning systems in Richmond Theatre’s offices as some of equipment was running on R22 refrigerant. The company removed all existing, outdated systems, and replaced them with a unique combination of energy efficient solutions offered by Daikin VRV heat recovery equipment. As a D1+ Premium Partner, Adcock offers an extended 7-year warranty as a standard. D1+ Premium Partners are selected by Daikin UK for their high standards of installation and expertise. Just one of the things that sets Adcock apart from the crowd.

Upon failure of Warners old air conditioning equipment at Bourne in Lincolnshire, Adcock recommended replacement of the entire system. This project involved removal of the old R22 refrigerant from the site, which, from 1st January 2015 became illegal to charge virgin into any refrigeration or air conditioning system. Air conditioning equipment Along with the benefit of new air conditioning equipment, substantial energy savings are being realized by Warners due to the modern inverter controlled equipment which offers greater efficiencies. The customer also benefits from extended warranties for all installed plant. Warners have been a customer of Adcock since 1997 and the original R22 installation was carried out by the engineers over 20 years ago. Mark Durno, Warners Facility Manager commented: "A very good installation again from your chaps.” They value their long standing relationship with the customer and look forward to delivering solutions to them for the next 20 years.

Adcock recently won the contract to replace refrigeration equipment in the campus supermarket coldrooms. The existing condensing units were originally designed to operate on refrigerant gas R22 and were situated in a poorly vented plant room which created an issue at the height of summer. Planned preventative maintenance Adcock upgraded the system to a modern, efficient solution. The works had to be scheduled and completed during term shut down, to ensure there was no impact on the day to day business at the supermarket. As they have been working with the University for over 15 years, they fully understand how important it is to schedule the planned preventative maintenance and replacing technology works around term shut downs to keep disruptions to minimum.

Adcock gets a maintenance contract from Anglian Water. Adcock recently won a tender for a maintenance contract with Anglian Water. Adcock was the previous holder of the contract and have now secured the agreement for an additional four years.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, global provider of transportation and logistical solutions, is expanding its fleet with a record-setting order of 5,000 refrigerated containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s XtendFRESH atmosphere control technology, as part of a larger order. This innovative system manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within refrigerated containers and removes ethylene, thus slowing the ripening of produce and helping to preserve its quality beyond what can be achieved by refrigeration alone. XtendFRESH-equipped containers The XtendFRESH-equipped containers are being leased through SeaCube Containers LLC The XtendFRESH-equipped containers are being leased through SeaCube Containers LLC. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. “By adding atmosphere control for selected perishable cargoes, we are enhancing the care we provide for the valuable commodities we ship for our customers,” said Giuseppe Prudente, chief logistics officer, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. “XtendFRESH technology enables MSC to transport fruit and other refrigerated cargo over longer distances, creating tremendous new opportunities for exporters and importers.” Controlled-atmosphere equipment MSC’s order is the largest for the XtendFRESH option since the system was introduced in 2013, and it represents a significant step in the growing trend among shipping lines to provide controlled-atmosphere technology for the benefit of their customers, according to Willy Yeo, Director of Marketing, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold. SeaCube CEO Robert Sappio agrees that factors such as slow steaming and new trade routes, resulting from shipping line alliances and consolidations, are creating opportunities for XtendFRESH technology. “MSC is just one example of the very strong demand we’ve seen for controlled-atmosphere equipment. As shipping lines fine-tune their operations and optimize their networks, controlled atmosphere is a way for them to assure their customers that they are carrying their products more safely.” Fresh-air ventilation In use, the XtendFRESH system’s patented, self-regenerating activated-carbon scrubber assembly captures carbon dioxide and ethylene, a hormone given off by ripening produce that can accelerate ripening if left unchecked. As perishable cargo consumes oxygen, on-demand fresh-air ventilation automatically maintains the optimum level inside the container. “The innovative XtendFRESH system allows shipping lines to optimize conditions for specific commodities,” Carrier Transicold’s Yeo said. “It is the only atmosphere control solution with an integrated ethylene removal capability.” PrimeLINE refrigeration units PrimeLINE units use digital scroll compressors to deliver greater cooling capacity using less energy The XtendFRESH system was selected by MSC as an option for Carrier Transicold PrimeLINE refrigeration units being installed on new 40-foot high-cube containers. In support of its environmental initiatives, MSC specified PrimeLINE units with a new provision that enables conversion from R-134a to R-513A, a refrigerant with a significantly lower global warming potential. PrimeLINE units use digital scroll compressors to deliver greater cooling capacity using less energy than prior models from Carrier Transicold. The PrimeLINE unit’s value proposition also includes rapid pull-down, tight temperature control, high air-flow performance and excellent cost of ownership. Global shipping company With global headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. is a privately owned global shipping company with vessels that sail on more than 200 trade routes, calling at over 500 ports, with access to an integrated network of road, rail and sea transport resources that stretches across the globe.

Adcock Refrigeration and Air Conditioning were asked to carry out replacement works for the University of East Anglia (UEA), working with CBRE. The project was to replace the condensing units and evaporators for the campus supermarket coldrooms. The existing units were originally designed to operate on R22 and were sited in a poorly ventilated plant room which caused issues in the summer heatwave. The new units were sited externally above a loading bay area. Purpose built scaffolding was built by a specialist scaffolding contractor, so the replacement could be carried out. As the university has facilities to accommodate 15000 students, the works had to be scheduled and completed during term shut down, to ensure no impact on the supermarket day to day business. installing air conditioners The University of East Anglia (CBRE) have been customers of Adcock for 15 plus years, having originally carried out a number of small works. Adcock now attends reactive call outs at UEA. Adcock is also currently installing new air conditioning at the campus using replacement technology.