Ammonia as a Replacement for Medium Sized Modular R-22 Systems

This paper indicates how ammonia systems might be adapted to make them more suitable for use on installations which traditionally adopted CFC and HCFC refrigerants in the range 100kW – 600kW cooling capacity for warehouses, blast freezers and food factory applications. The examples draw on over twenty years of experience with low charge systems in Europe, but are specifically focussed on the American market, where a ten year phaseout program for R-22 has just started. Key parameters are explained, and barriers to implementation are identified. The way in which these barriers can be overcome is illustrated through case studies and performance data logged from operational installations.