COMPRESSORS With known components, however, we can make


pretty safe and solid assumptions about materials compatibility from previous testing. Detailed run tests are still required to check performance, so users can rely on our published operating data.


How does carbon dioxide fit into this new landscape? KG: Bitzer’s first CO2


KG: It has been growing steadily, but so have the challenges. The UK’s increasingly warm summers are forcing system designers to adapt the application envelope to cope better in higher ambients. These pressures are likely to increase in future.


(R744) installation in the UK


was back in the 1990s. The technology has evolved rapidly since then. We see R744 being a significant part of the solution for the future, as a very low GWP mainstream option among the others. The final answer to our future cooling needs is likely to involve a combination of natural and man- made refrigerants, as each has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application and system type.


Is it possible to say roughly what proportion of compressors you currently sell into the UK that are based on CO2


?


KG: It’s difficult to generalise, as each segment has its own favourites. In retail, the percentage of CO2


is particularly high, as the UK adopted the approach early compared with other countries.


How has this changed over the last 10 years? Do you see this changing over the next few years?


In your view, will the new A2L fluids displace sales of CO2


compressors?


KG: There may be small movements either way, but I don’t see any great shift taking place. More likely, CO2


will compete with NH3 at the smaller end of industrial applications. We may also see smaller systems moving to A2Ls from current synthetic refrigerants, and perhaps CO2


as well – driven by operating cost versus capital cost considerations.


As mentioned, steeply rising energy costs will be a massive consideration in investment decisions. Payback times have halved or even quartered from 18 months ago. So, an investment that would have taken four years for payback could now take just a year. This is potentially game changing, and should help unlock spending decisions.


Do you have any concrete examples? KG: We have done a study on the payback period for a more expensive, higher efficiency piece of equipment against a cheaper, lower efficiency


being adopted here


unit – where the capital price difference was 43%. The payback time back before the recent energy price hikes was around three years. With today’s electricity costs, this has reduced to 1.3 years. So it makes sense to ‘do the numbers’, and increasingly end users will – as it could literally make the difference between business survival and failure.


The holy grail of refrigerants is safe, inexpensive, universally available, super-efficient and environmentally benign. What is the closest thing we have to this at the moment? KG: Unfortunately, the holy grail does not exist in terms of a single refrigerant. Perhaps CO2


is the


closest we have to date, but it is of course not perfect. As touched on, the likely solution will be a family of fluids that meet the needs of the various applications. But this will not be fixed, it will be constantly updated as we learn more and the science progresses.


Looking ahead, I think we have to accept that each new refrigerant – as with the A2Ls, CO2


and


ammonia – will have its downsides, and that these will need to be managed. A professional, competent, well-trained industry should take this in its stride. It is a key aspect of the skills and value we bring to the job, as masters of cold.


Thank you.


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