HFO AND HFC SYSTEMS SELECTED INSTEAD OF AMMONIA, COMBINING SAFETY BENEFITS AND HIGHER EFFICIENCY
An expansion project at a new beer bottling plant in the UK selected 1.2 MW HFO-1234ze(E) chiller instead of an ammonia system for process cooling and provides improved performance by up to 25% according to the energy efficiency ratio (EER) analysis.
Ultra-low GWP HFO-1234ze(E) is mildly flammable and non-corrosive in comparison to ammonia, which is toxic and, if leaked, can pose serious risks to human health and food and beverage operations. It is reported that the HFO-based cooling system is more cost efficient due to standard design, production and components that allow for routine maintenance.
An ageing ammonia chiller at a Canadian ice rink had increasing safety and reliability concerns. A replacement system using a R-410A air-cooled chiller, that could be located outdoors instead of inside a plant room, addresses the safety and reliability issues while delivering a more than 20% reduction in electricity bills and reduced maintenance costs. The chiller has all major service components close to the perimeter for safer and easier maintenance. In particular, the upgrade significantly addressed safety issues for the operations team, other staff and visitors.
Image: ©Shutterstock/Cefic
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