Hansen and HB’s new evaporator control sensor can reduce the ammonia charge in industrial systems by 75%

May 13, 2024

A new evaporator control sensor from HB Products, a Danish sensor producer, and Hansen Technologies, a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of valves and controls, can reduce the refrigerant charge in industrial ammonia (R717)-based systems by up to 75%, according to the two companies.

The product, which consists of a vapor quality sensor from HB Products and a motorized control valve (MCV) from Hansen Technologies, was presented by the two manufacturers at the China Refrigeration Expo 2024 in Beijing in April.

Because of concerns over ammonia’s toxicity , recent R&D efforts have focused on reducing the refrigerant charge in R717 refrigeration systems without sacrificing cooling capacity or energy efficiency. Optimizing traditional systems with enhanced controls and evaporators is a classic approach to designing a low-charge ammonia system, with alternative approaches including packaged systems and hybrid or cascade systems.

According to Jonathan Wirkus, Director of Global Sales at Hansen Technologies, the new sensor’s greatest benefits come in overfeed systems, with a reduction in pump size and energy use as well as refrigerant charge. In direct expansion (DX) systems, Wirkus said the sensor offers end users better control of their refrigeration equipment.

In terms of energy savings, the combination of HB Products’ vapor quality sensor and Hansen Technologies’ MCV can reduce a system’s energy consumption by 30–60%, explained Wirkus.

“With energy costs rising quickly in China, we’re excited to offer this to the market,” he added.

Henrik Kudsk, Product Manager at HB, noted that these energy savings have been realized in real-world applications.

“We have around 500 systems [installed] around the world, and they really reduce energy consumption,” he said. Many of the units are used in Australian cold storage facilities where they operate as DX control systems, he added.