R-410a

In response to a global shift away from R410A and R22, Danfoss has added a complete portfolio of components to help OEMs develop air conditioning systems with R32. With its relatively low global warming potential (GWP) at GWP-675, high volumetric capacity and efficiency, lower purchase price and system charge, R32 has become one of the most popular alternatives—along with R452B and R454B—to R410A for commercial air conditioning systems and heat pumps. In response to high demand—and following the release of the multi-refrigerant portfolio for R410A/R452B/R454B earlier this year—Danfoss has announced a full range of components that enable OEMs to design R32 systems up to 700kW/260TR. The portfolio includes: DSF fixed-speed scroll compressors with IDVs, optimized for R32 – full range available by the end of 2020 Micro plate heat exchangers (MPHE-Z design), optimized for R32 – full range available by the end of 2020 Micro channel heat exchangers (MCHE) adapted for R32 The Colibri Electronic expansion valve (ETS C), TGE and TR6 expansion valves for the US residential units System protectors and line components such as NRV check valves, GBC ball valves, STF 4 way valves, EVR v2 solenoid valves, ACB switches and DST P110 sensors, DML and DCL for residential and DCRE filter driers for larger air conditioning units, SG sight glasses, all qualified for R32. Compatibility has been checked with every raw material and connections over 25mm are all validated according to PED category II except for the EVR v2 and with US approval. seasonal efficiency requirements Importantly, Danfoss’s scroll design enables OEMs to take full advantage of R32’s thermodynamic properties, with +10% volumetric capacity for a same compressor size. This optimized design improves the $/TR-€/kW ratio. It also mitigates the impact of high discharge gas temperature, without the need for costly liquid or vapor injection—a significant applied cost benefit – and enables a wide operating map, suitable for use in reversible systems. And like Danfoss’s DSH multi-refrigerant range, the DSF range is equipped with intermediate discharge valve (IDV) technology to meet the latest seasonal efficiency requirements. Matthieu Stoll, Danfoss Cooling, AC Segment Marketing Director said: "Around the world, air conditioning OEMs are switching away from R410A. By adding a new R32 range of products on top of our existing multi-refrigerant R410A/R452B/R454B portfolio, we’re committed to providing the broadest range of options to our customers.”

Koura, a global renowned firm in the development, manufacture and supply of fluoroproducts, will be exhibiting at AHR Expo, Orlando, the world’s largest HVACR marketplace. Koura, formerly known as Mexichem Fluor, is one of the largest producers of fluorspar in the world, accounting for over 20 percent of global supply, and also produces around 10 percent of the global hydrofluoric acid supply. Unitary Air-Conditioning Fluid The global firm will be exhibiting its highly recognized Klea brand and discuss the innovative products it has in development The global firm will be exhibiting its highly recognized Klea brand, as well as discussing the innovative products it has in development, including a Unitary Air-Conditioning Fluid with close performance match to the R-410A.  Sarah Hughes, Commercial Director at Koura said, “We’re looking forward to attending AHR Expo, which enables us to connect directly with our vast range of customers and partners across the globe. We’re pleased to attend this event every year to showcase our innovative products and stay up to date with our industry peers.” AHR Expo Celebrating its ninetieth year, AHR Expo takes place on 3rd-5th February at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando, Florida, USA. The event will see thousands of representatives from the industry showing products and networking. The Koura team will be available on Stand 5952 to discuss the Klea brand and its innovative products. Koura supplies l to a range of industries across the world, including automotive, HVAC and construction.

The Danfoss Scroll with IDVs DSH 50TR is the largest scroll compressor on the market. Equipped with innovative Intermediate Discharge Valves (IDVs), it delivers higher part-load efficiency and system reliability. The Danfoss DSH 50TR with IDV technology extends the company’s range of scroll compressors for air-cooled and water-cooled chillers up to 150 TR per circuit in trio configurations, where traditional designs would otherwise require quadros or additional circuits. Danfoss DSH 50TR Even with the new large tonnage available, the Danfoss DSH 50TR fits under standard coils by using same frame as smaller 30-TR and 40-TR scrolls while still maintaining all of the latest Danfoss scroll technologies, IDV, Schnorkel, organ pipe, for enhanced part-load efficiency of up to +10 percent compared to standard scroll designs. DSH 50TRs can be used in tandem configurations instead of trios to modulate system cooling capacities DSH 50TRs are available in manifold configurations from 75T (25+50) to 150T (50+50+50). A soft starter can be used to lower in-rush current and minimize impact on the electric grid, reducing stress on the system. Improving applied costs in large chillers Offering superior seasonal cooling efficiency and reliability than compressors without IDV, DSH 50TRs can be used in tandem configurations instead of trios, or trios instead of quadros, to modulate system cooling capacities. The DSH 50TR addresses market needs of improving applied costs in large chillers up to 300TR/800 kW and modular chiller systems with higher IPLV (Integrated Part Load Value). In the future, DSH 50TR will also be qualified for use with R-410A alternatives to support the transition to lower GWP refrigerants.

Bacharach, an industry renowned company in gas detection and analysis instrumentation, has announced that its award-winning Parasense Refrigerant Tracking and Compliance Software is available for free with full-feature capabilities and unlimited users, sites, and refrigeration assets. Parasense Refrigerant Tracking  The Parasense Refrigerant Tracking and Compliance Software is a cloud-based software, and includes usage, tracking, and reporting for unlimited users, sites and refrigeration assets and is ideal for any organization looking to reduce refrigerant emissions and support regulatory tracking and reporting needs while eliminating reliance on spreadsheets or other less sophisticated methods. The software is an enterprise-scale system to track refrigerant usage, leak inspections, and leak events, as well as provide compliance reporting for EPA 608, CARB, F-Gas and GreenChill. Notable software features include: Compliance Calendar that automatically schedules and reminds about compliance activities. Regulation Workflow that maps regulations into specific tasks to maintain compliance. Compliance Score that gives a visual indicator to the state of compliance across the enterprise, regions, sites, or assets. Automatic Leak Rate Calculator that provides a rolling 12-month view of refrigerant usage as a percent of system charge. Enterprise-level to Single-site filters and data summaries. Refrigerant management Parasense Refrigerant Tracking software is designed for facility managers and compliance officers who support multi-site organizations like supermarkets, food processing plants, cold storage warehouses, hospitals, universities, or K-12 schools. The software is also valuable for smaller organizations, as well as for mechanical and refrigeration contractors that want to offer refrigerant management as part of their service. The software is also supported by professional services from the Parasense Information Center (PIC) team The software is also supported by professional services from the Parasense Information Center (PIC) team. The PIC team provides fee-based, value-added services such as data importing, pro-active data review and recommendations, periodic report preparation, and contractor coordination for timely completion of inspections, repairs, testing, and record-keeping.  The combination of the software and the PIC team services provides a complete solution for enterprise-grade refrigerant tracking and compliance. Fixed and portable refrigerant leak detection systems The use of Bacharach’s high-performance fixed and portable refrigerant leak detection systems provides organizations with a complementary, proven solution for identifying low-level refrigerant leaks, reducing refrigerant emissions, and achieving best-in-class leak rate performance (less than 10%/year).  The Parasense software portfolio is in use by over 1,000 sites including supermarkets, food processing, and data centers.

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

“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.”

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.

The new CIE in Denmark will meet a growing demand for a qualified workforce in the field of electronic engineering. Advanced labs for education and research will put a high demand on the cooling system. Therefore, Danfoss and partner G.I. Industrial Holding are introducing one of the first chillers using the refrigerant R452B. It has some of the lowest Global Warming Potential for scroll systems available.   The low GWP is a specific choice from Danfoss owners, The BMC Foundation, who supports the university. The chiller using R452B will cut the GWP by 67%, reducing CO impact on the environment.  Multi-refrigerant Danfoss Scrolls   They want to increase their energy savings and reduce their climate footprint" The solutions provided by G.I. Industrial Holding features multi refrigerant Danfoss Scrolls DSH, MPHE, electronics, sensors and valves.   “We definitely see customers asking for low GWP solutions. They want to increase their energy savings and reduce their climate footprint,” says Francesco Fadiga, Technical Director, G.I. Industrial Holding SpA.   chiller with R452B “The transition to lower GWP refrigerants is accelerating. This solution here is actually the first in Denmark where we are using the new refrigerant combined with the Danfoss compressor Scroll with IDVs." "We chose to develop the chiller with R452B and DSH multi refrigerant compressors as it allows us to reach the same high-efficiency, reliable and flexible solution compared to standard units with R410A refrigerant but with a much lower GWP,” he adds. 

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.