News

Study finds ‘novel’ transcritical CO₂ ejector system outperforms conventional CO₂ system up to 82.5% in hot climate

A “novel” transcritical CO₂ (R744) supermarket refrigeration system using a multi-ejector, parallel compression and mechanical subcooling was found in a new study to be up to 82.5% more efficient than a conventional transcritical CO₂ booster system in a warm ambient climate. Read more

CO₂ refrigeration helps cut electricity use at finnish ice rink by 34%

According to the latest data from consultancy firm EKA Finland, a CO2 (R744) rack with two-stage heat recovery has helped to reduce the electricity demand at an ice rink in Pirkkala, Finland, by 34% compared to its previous R404-based refrigeration system. Read more

World Refrigeration Day looks to the future

This year’s World Refrigeration Day on June 26 will focus on the future of cooling technology, the industry, the people working within it, and those that benefit from cooling. Read more

UK pushes for pragmatic approach to F-gas

Leading UK experts have accused the EU of being “blinkered” by ambition in their F-gas revision proposals, pushing for the UK to take a more pragmatic approach. Read more

Sorption process points to small-scale applications of ammonia refrigeration

The use of the sorption process in ammonia (R717)-based refrigeration represents a scalable solution that broadens the horizon for small-scale applications of ammonia. Read more

Danfoss introduces a new algorithm for enhanced control of ejectors and high-pressure valves in a CO₂ industrial system

Danish component manufacturer Danfoss has unveiled an algorithm to optimize the control and distribution of refrigerant flows between ejectors and high-pressure valves in large industrial transcritical CO₂ (R744) systems. Read more

10th IIR conference calls for ‘F-exit’ and switch to natural refrigerants

The 10th International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) conference, held in Ohrid, North Macedonia, April 27–29, called for an “F-exit” – an exit from fluorinated refrigerants – and a switch to natural refrigerants. Read more

Scientist calls for use of natural refrigerants in ice slurry systems on fishing vessels

Though ice slurry refrigeration systems offer many advantages for the fishing industry, there are few ice slurry systems installed on fishing vessels that use ammonia (R717) or CO2 (R744) for ice slurry systems. Read more

International Network for Women in Cooling launches online platform to connect women professionals around the globe

On May 11, 2023, the International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) officially launched its web service, available at http://www.inwic.org. The website will act as a hub for the organisation and its members with the primary purpose of providing a networking platform for women working in cooling, which broadly covers the heat pumps, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR). Read more

Yes, hydrocarbons are clean and natural refrigerants, says gas manufacturer GTS

From an environmental point of view, hydrocarbons are “highly sustainable and among the cleanest refrigerants” due to low GWP and zero ODP (ozone depletion potential), with no harmful molecules produced during production, said Paolo Zunino, CEO of Italian-based gas manufacturer GTS in a recent article published in Zerosottozero. Read more

Demonstration sites highlight potential of natural refrigerants in India

The INDEE+ project, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and designed to transform India’s refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, has recently unfurled a series of natural refrigerant demonstration sites in Goa, and Kochi and Bangalore. Read more

AREA welcomes the launch of the European Year of Skills 2023

To achieve the EU’s decarbonisation goals and deployment of clean, low-carbon and efficient heating and cooling technologies, a skilled workforce with the proper training and certification is of utmost importance. All current upskilling and reskilling opportunities require not only additional promotion and funding, but also backing by additional training tools and programmes and stakeholder partnerships. Furthermore, we need to ensure that the training and certification are mutually accepted in the EU countries, which in turn should also ensure a reciprocal process of recognising such coming from overseas. Read more

Road to COP28. Energy efficiency and recovery of refrigerants

As stated by the UN Environment Programme, the refrigeration sector is becoming a global priority. The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 12. Sustainable cooling will be the focus of COP 28 as one of the key solutions to tackle climate change. The IIR will be partnering with UNEP’s Cool Coalition and several other organisations to deliver a “Global Cooling Stocktake report” program promoting sustainable cooling. Read more

Freor’s ‘Continuous Cooling’ technology cuts energy use in R290 commercial cases up to 70%

Continuous Cooling – a technology developed by Lithuanian refrigeration manufacturer Freor and Italian component producer Carel – can reduce the energy consumption of commercial refrigerated cabinets by up to 70% compared to traditional control systems, according to Rytis Bernatonis, CEO and Founder of Freor. Read more

Energy Recovery’s pressure exchanger boosts Epta CO₂ refrigeration efficiency by over 30% at ambient temperatures above 40°C

When operating in ambient temperatures above 40°C (104°F), an Italian supermarket using Energy Recovery’s PX G1300 pressure exchanger realized more than 30% efficiency improvements in its Epta CO₂ (R744) refrigeration system compared to a standard CO₂ booster system. Read more