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SERIES 22 / Module 03 Refrigeration


factor of 2.6 by 2050. In the case of commercial and


industrial use of refrigeration, the Carbon Trust estimates that for cold storage facilities 90% of their total energy use is for refrigeration, with it being 70% in small shops, 50% in supermarkets and 50% in food processing. This overview illustrates why energy efficiency in refrigeration is an aspect that needs to be addressed. At this point it is appropriate to


classify refrigeration by its end uses. 1. Unitary air conditioning – Split units, ducted units commercial/residential


2. Chillers – air conditioning, process, data centres, etc


Refrigeration Eur Ing John Pooley BSc, CEng, CMC, FIE, FIC F


or the purposes of this module, we define refrigeration as the process of mechanically cooling or reducing the temperature of a


space, a product or a process. Refrigeration, in its many forms, is


essential to our lives today. From the production and storage of medicines and food to providing comfort conditions, it is part of everybody’s life in a developed country. The big issue to address with refrigeration systems is that they are both a contributor to climate change but also part of what many will need to adapt to climate change. Refrigeration systems contribute to climate change through a combination of the energy they use (typically electricity) and the leakage of the F-gases they contain. On this basis


Fig. 1


the future of refrigeration is one based on low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in systems driven by low carbon/renewable energy. Mechanical cooling is a significant


proportion of total global energy use. Various estimates suggest it accounts for between 15 and 30% of global electricity use. According to the UN Environment Programme, in 2022 the global installed capacity of cooling equipment totalled an estimated 22 TW and that 94% of this equipment was used for space cooling of buildings and vehicles. Capacity is expected to increase


globally, driven by rising populations, incomes and temperatures, and under a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario cooling capacity will increase by a


3. Commercial refrigeration – supermarkets, standalone equipment


4. Industrial refrigeration – centralised systems, standalone systems, cold stores, processing


5. Heat pumps 6. Domestic refrigeration – fridges & freezers


7. Mobile AC – cars and large vehicles 8. Transport refrigeration – refrigerated trucks/trailers This Module focuses on categories


1 to 4, although the principles reviewed apply to the other uses. There is a range of technologies


for mechanical cooling. The majority of systems are based on the vapour compression cycle. In simple terms this cycle involves the circulation of a refrigerant which by evaporating (boiling) absorbs large amounts of heat and then gives this up when condensing. This cycle is illustrated in Figure 1.


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