REFRIGERANTS FEATURE
Women in RACHP: A taster course
The Institute of Refrigeration’s Women in RACHP Group has been organising ‘taster’ courses for women from all areas and levels of the rachp industry. The idea is to gain an understanding of the engineering side of the business. ACR News editor Lynn Sencicle went along to one of these courses which was held in June at the Business Edge premises in Waterlooville.
O
nce upon a time a very, very long time ago, I thought refrigeration was for ice cream and air con was for holidays and that was about all. I learned
very fast that both refrigeration and air conditioning plus heat pumps and other, more niche, cooling methods were a part of just about everything human beings do and need to survive.
Over the past ten years I’ve read a lot and spoken to a lot of very passionate people about the subject, and the world of cooling has become fascinating in the simplicity and
complexity of its engineering. Not being an engineer myself, though, some of the practicalities have eluded me. So, when the opportunity to attend one of these hands-on courses came about via the very kind invitation of the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR), I jumped at the chance. Reminiscent of school, the training course began at 9am as the participants gathered in an air-conditioned classroom armed with tea, coff ee and, being a very hot day, water. Mike Creamer, the founder of Business Edge, welcomed us all, introduced Business Edge, the course and outlined the day while Lisa Waters spoke about the IoR and Women in RACHP. Our instructors for the day were Kelvin Kelly and Martin Cook, seasoned professionals with years of industry experience, who began by introducing the basic principles of refrigeration. We looked at the fundamentals, learning about the
refrigeration cycle. Mr Kelly explained how compressors, condensers, expansion valves, and evaporators work together to facilitate heat transfer and create a cooling eff ect. Diagrams and visual aids helped us grasp how these components worked together. As the morning progressed, we delved deeper into
refrigeration theory. We looked at diff erent types of systems. Concepts such as superheat, subcooling, refrigerant gases were covered and we discussed legislation such as F-Gas and PFAS along with the challenges they represent. The instructors used real-world examples and engaging anecdotes to illustrate concepts and frontline problems, making the learning experience both educational and enjoyable. Interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions
encouraged active participation, allowing us to explore and relate what we were learning to our particular roles. After a well-deserved break for lunch, we made our way
over the road to the practical training area, most of us keen to try our hands at brazing in particular. The hands-on experience was the highlight of the course as it allowed us to experience aspects that engineering colleagues deal with, fi rsthand.
20 July 2023 •
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