REFRIGERANTS
late 1800s refrigeration systems were being used in breweries and cold storage warehouses. The basic design of the vapour compressor refrigeration system, using ammonia as a refrigerant in a closed cycle of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion, has changed very little since the early 1900s. Ammonia is a common, naturally occurring compound in the environment that breaks down naturally into hydrogen and nitrogen molecules – the atmosphere consists of nearly 80% nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia is made up of one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of hydrogen, with the chemical symbol NH3
.
Ammonia is a key element in the nitrogen cycle, and under normal conditions, is essential for many biological processes. Ammonia can be found in water, soil and air, and is a source of much needed nitrogen for plants and animals. In fact, ammonia is among the most abundant gasses in the environment. Ammonia refrigeration has been the backbone of the cold storage and food processing industries since the early 1900s. It is a most cost eff ective and energy effi cient method of processing and storing frozen and unfrozen foods. It is the workhorse for the post- harvest cooling of fruits and vegetables, the cooling of meat, poultry, and fi sh, refrigeration
in the beverage industry, particularly for beer and wine, refrigeration of milk and cheese, and the freezing of ice cream. Practically all fruits, vegetables, produce and meats, as well as many beverages and juices, pass through at least one facility that uses an ammonia refrigeration system before reaching our homes. Ammonia refrigeration is also used in the chemical industry. As a refrigerant, ammonia off ers three distinct advantages over other commonly used industrial refrigerants. First, ammonia is environmentally compatible. It does not deplete the ozone layer and does not contribute to global warming. Second, ammonia has superior thermodynamic qualities, as result ammonia refrigeration systems use less electricity. Third, ammonia’s recognisable odour is its greatest safety asset. Unlike most other industrial refrigerants that have no odour, ammonia refrigeration has a proven safety record in part because leaks are not likely to escape detection. Through the Signifi cant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, the agency identifi ed ammonia as an acceptable substitute to ozone depleting substances in the major industrial sectors, including refrigeration and air conditioning.
www.iiar.org
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