REFRIGERANTS


Green cooling: The role of low viscosity fl uids


in refrigeration systems


Jerry Lewis, chief technical offi cer for Kilfrost, looks to the future of refrigeration and the role low viscosity heat transfer fl uids play in reducing environmental impact.


A


s the refrigeration industry continues to move towards net-zero, the demand for sustainable, energy-effi cient solutions is


more urgent than ever. Refrigeration is a vital component in industries such as food storage, supermarkets, industrial processing, and data centres, where maintaining consistent temperature control is essential. However, with increasing regulatory pressures from policies like the EU’s F-Gas Regulation and the Kigali Amendment, the industry must adapt to both reduce environmental impact and maintain operational effi ciency. Low viscosity heat transfer fl uids (LV HTFs) have


emerged as one of the most promising solutions in this transition. These fl uids, used in secondary cooling circuits, are helping refrigeration systems achieve greater energy effi ciency while reducing their carbon footprint, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for refrigeration systems. Refrigeration systems have long relied on primary cooling circuits containing refrigerant gases to transfer heat. While these systems are highly effi cient, refrigerants like hydrofl uorocarbons (HFCs) and chlorofl uorocarbons (CFCs) are associated with high global warming potential (GWP) and are under increasing regulatory scrutiny. Both the EU’s F-Gas Regulation and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol aim to phase down the use of high-GWP refrigerants, pushing the industry to adopt low-GWP alternatives. The F-Gas Regulation, for example, requires a


79% reduction in the use of F-gases by 2030. This has created signifi cant pressure on refrigeration system operators to fi nd new ways to meet cooling needs while reducing their reliance on harmful refrigerants.


While much attention has been focused


on refrigerants, the role of secondary cooling circuits—where LV HTFs are used—is equally crucial. LV HTFs can help refrigeration systems comply with these environmental regulations by


16 December 2024 • www.acr-news.com


improving overall system performance, reducing energy consumption, and enabling more effi cient heat transfer without contributing to GWP.


How LV HTFs fi t the bill The transition away from high-GWP refrigerants


is a major challenge for the refrigeration industry. Low viscosity fl uids provide an indirect solution by enabling refrigeration systems to run more effi ciently and helping operators meet the stringent demands of evolving regulations. Energy effi ciency and reduced environmental impact:


One of the key benefi ts of low viscosity heat transfer fl uids is their ability to improve energy effi ciency. These fl uids off er lower resistance in secondary cooling circuits, meaning that pumps, compressors, and other components can circulate the fl uid more easily and with less energy consumption. As energy usage drops, so does the carbon footprint of the refrigeration system. This lower viscosity helps fl uids maintain


their fl ow properties even at extremely low temperatures due to the addition of anti-freeze,


making LV HTFs particularly benefi cial in freezing applications where fl uids must remain mobile in cold environments. In contrast, traditional fl uids like mono propylene glycol (MPG) create more resistance due to their higher viscosity, forcing systems to work harder and consume more energy. The result is not only higher energy costs but also increased wear and tear on critical system components, leading to shorter equipment life. By reducing the operational load, LV HTFs contribute directly to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. Lower GWP and refrigerant isolation: While LV HTFs themselves do not replace high- GWP refrigerants, they play a complementary role by isolating those refrigerants in primary cooling circuits. For instance, in supermarket refrigeration systems, the primary refrigerant circuit containing potentially hazardous gases like ammonia is kept isolated from the public-facing cooling cabinets through secondary loops using LV HTFs. This separation not only improves safety but also reduces the risk of refrigerant leaks—a


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