It is five to twelve for entrepreneurs who cool with synthetic coolants. European agreements to phase out their production are making them increasingly expensive and scarce, which is seriously endangering the continuity of companies that cool with them. Which coolants are a smart and safe alternative?
The application of phasing out synthetic refrigerants is increasingly risky. As a result of the production restriction, refilling cooling systems with these agents is becoming considerably more expensive or even unaffordable. "Experience shows that the price of refrigerants to be phased out is becoming many times higher," says Henk Tebben of Equans Refrigeration & Heating Solutions. As a storage specialist, he helps agricultural entrepreneurs make the transition to a sustainable storage system. "Entrepreneurs pay through the nose for resources that are becoming increasingly scarce and have uncertain availability. This jeopardizes the continuity of their business."
Irreversible emergency
According to Tebben, the need for change is irreversible. "If you do not act, you could have a major problem in 2030. From that moment on, the use of many synthetic refrigerants will be prohibited. In the event of a leak due to, for example, age or external influences, you will no longer be allowed to refill the installation. Then your business operations will come to a standstill. It is important to realize that it takes time to prepare your installation for the future. If you invest in an installation with natural refrigerants now, you will have earned back the investment in the year that synthetic refrigerants may no longer be used."
Tebben acknowledges that it is not easy for every entrepreneur to innovate, but that it is a lot easier thanks to subsidies such as the Energy Investment Deduction (EIA). "There are various requirements attached to that subsidy, such as requirements for the energy efficiency of the installation. Logical, because energy shortages or grid congestion are a major problem. However, many entrepreneurs do not know that they can expand capacity with a custom-made, energy-efficient installation, even within the existing grid connection."
Ammonia most promising
The most suitable natural refrigerant often depends on the size of the refrigeration system. Ammonia (NH3) is the most promising, says Tebben. "It is suitable for almost all applications, but not for all capacities. Energetically, ammonia is the best refrigerant there is. Due to its favourable physical properties, only a small amount is needed to achieve a large heat transfer. Ammonia is particularly interesting for agricultural companies, because the energy released when drying the product can be reused with smart technology. This allows you to prepare the air to absorb the released moisture. Even at high outside temperatures, ammonia still has a favourable energy consumption."
As with any refrigerant, strict regulations also apply to ammonia for installation and maintenance. "The pipes at Equans are almost always made of stainless steel, welded by a certified welder and the connections are partly subjected to non-destructive testing (via X-rays). Ammonia is a low-pressure refrigerant. As a result, the pressure in the pipes remains low and the chance of leakage is minimal. Any leakage is detected. An acoustic and visual alarm goes off when the amount of ammonia particles in the air is safe for humans. In that case, the refrigerant is sucked back into the separator and stored in our installations. Ammonia has a strong, penetrating odor. So you notice the smallest leak immediately, even in a large space."
CO2 as a seasonal refrigerant
Another suitable alternative is CO2. Tebben: "This product is ideal for freezing applications, but is now also often used in cooling systems. For smaller installations, CO2 cheaper. It is easier to install, because it can be done with copper (pipes) that you do not have to weld. The disadvantage from CO2 is that at high outside temperatures it has a higher prevailing pressure in the pipes and compressor and therefore consumes more energy. That makes it purely a seasonal refrigerant. If you need cooling in the summer and it is very warm, then CO2 less suitable due to the high energy consumption compared to other refrigerants."
As with ammonia, there are CO2 strict regulations for installation and maintenance. CO2-installations have high pressure. "In the event of a leak, CO2 more difficult to retrieve and pump out. It is a heavy gas that sinks to the bottom and is also odorless and invisible. With detection we can measure the concentration of CO2 measure. If this exceeds the permitted amount, an acoustic and visual alarm will sound."
Propane
The highly explosive natural refrigerant propane is suitable for small installations. Subsidies for a cooling installation are only available for direct systems, where the refrigerant directly enters the drying or cooling process. When using a secondary coolant, such as water or glycol, it is not possible to receive subsidies. Another disadvantage is that the use of propane often requires an expensive energy connection with a remote main power supply that must be switched off without voltage in the event of detection. In addition, propane may not be used inside the building where connections and seals are installed. Furthermore, additional measures are required for maintenance due to the risk of explosion. In other words: propane is only suitable in combination with a secondary coolant that does not fall under the subsidy scheme.
Many possibilities
In conversations with agricultural entrepreneurs, Tebben notices that they still rely very much on their existing installation. "They may not be aware that the new generation storage systems offers possibilities that were unthinkable ten years ago. Think of a condensation drying system with which they can dry products without outside air. Think of revolutionary controls with which they can measure exactly how much energy is needed to dry the product and can produce very energy-efficiently. Or think of the energetic benefits of ammonia. Making the cooling installation sustainable not only safeguards the business operations, but will yield many more benefits than expected."
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Phasing out synthetic refrigerants | Equans