Posts Tagged ‘hydrocarbons’

« Older Entries
 

Review on the use of hydrocarbons issued in Singapore

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

In December 2011 the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) published a review on the use of hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants across Review on the use of hydrocarbons issued in Singaporevarious applications. Despite acknowledging the environmental benefits of hydrocarbon refrigerants the SCDF has issued recommendations to restrict their use, although hydrocarbons in domestic refrigerators and air-conditioners remain permitted.

Over the years hydrocarbon refrigerants have been gaining greater acceptance as safety issues are overcome and better training becomes available for HVAC&R technicians. Across South East Asia several hydrocarbon conversions have been undertaken, such as in the Maldives, Indonesia and Singapore. A new policy in Singapore, however, will restrict their further use.

Restrictions on the use of hydrocarbons

To manage the safety concerns relating to hydrocarbon refrigerants the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has recommended that the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants be regulated as of January 2012. The SCDF has issued the following recommendations:

  • Domestic refrigerators and air conditioners: The use of hydrocarbon refrigerants is allowed in SPRING-regulated domestic refrigerators, subject to a charge weight cap of 150g of refrigerant, hermetically sealed within the refrigerator. Their use is also allowed in SPRING-regulated air conditioners;
  • Air-conditioning systems: The use of hydrocarbons ought to be disallowed in building air conditioning systems and mobile air conditioning systems. Premises that have converted their air-conditioning systems into using HC refrigerant as a drop-in will be gradually phase-out by the end of 2016;
  • Commercial refrigeration systems: The use of hydrocarbons ought to be disallowed in commercial refrigeration systems such as coldrooms in supermarkets and food storage factories;
  • Industrial process refrigeration systems: The use of hydrocarbons should be disallowed unless the use of hydrocarbons is inherent to the industrial process, or has satisfied the MOM’s workplace safety regime and SCDF’s fire safety regulatory requirements.

SCDF u-turn despite previous approval given to hydrocarbon chillers

In 2005 the SCDF approved the installation of five air-cooled chillers with a nominal capacity of 700 kW, each containing a charge of approximately 25 kg of a refrigerant blend of R290 and (propane) and R1270 (propylene). The SCDF safety audit conducted ensured that there was adequate ventilation, no exposed electrical or fire source nearby, no smoking signs, proper control of access by the public, and that all electrical components and panels were sealed.

In spite of this approval the December 2011 SCDF recommendations will mean installations such as this will have to be phased out by 2016, an about policy turn by the SCDF.

According to the SCDF circular the new policy will be implemented because hydrocarbon refrigerants are flammable and pose a potential safety hazard. However, if technicians are properly trained, the correct procedures are followed and the right safety devices are in place, hydrocarbon chillers can offer safe and more efficient cooling when compared to fluorinated refrigerants.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Hydrocarbons gain favour in Africa

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

With African countries embarking on ambitious plans to phase out HCFCs, hydrocarbons are gradually gaining favour as a viable refrigerant alternative. Following the June 2011 UNEP meeting of North and West African Montreal Protocol coordinators, the Mali representative highlights the potential for hydrocarbons, whilst a hydrocarbon instructors training workshop is launched in Benin.

On 27-30 June 2011 a thematic workshop on compliance with CFC phase out and preparation of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase out Management Plans (HPMP) in French speaking North and West Africa took place in the capital city of Mali at the initiative of the UNEP Ozone Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP).
Hydrocarbons represent great promise for Africa
In an interview following the UNEP Meeting with the “Journal du Mali”, Dr Modibo Sacko, Coordinator for Montreal Protocol implementation in Mali spoke very highly of the potential for hydrocarbon refrigeration in Africa, and in particular, of the efficiencies achieved when using hydrocarbon refrigerants. Referring to hydrocarbons as a “new technology” with no harmful ozone of climatic effects, according to Dr Sacko a cost-efficiency study has shown energy savings of 40% for hydrocarbon refrigeration. Hydrocarbons, he says, lead to cost savings, in addition to speeding up the cooling process. In Dr Sacko’s view, hydrocarbons represent an environmentally sound technology with benefits for the consumer.
African hydrocarbon training workshops
On 15 June 2011 teaching workshops for instructors for air conditioning conversion technician training were inaugurated in the African country of Benin. The aim of the teaching workshops is to reduce the use of HCFCs by 10% in 2015, 30% in 2020, and 67,7% in 2025 and 100% in 2030.
According to Jeremy Bazye, UNEP OzonAction regional coordinator these workshops will enable participants to gain essential tools and information for the safe handling of hydrocarbon refrigerants. More specifically, the workshops will provide training on the safe storage and transportation of hydrocarbons, the necessary changes to be made before air conditioning systems are switched to hydrocarbons, refrigerant recovery, and air conditioning charge procedures for hydrocarbons.
Workshop participants came from Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia.
African Hydrocarbon projects
Other African projects involving hydrocarbons include a pilot project in Swaziland to convert blowing agents in manufacturing to hydrocarbon gases. This was the first demonstration of hydrocarbon technology in Southern Africa, and in addition to cutting direct F-gas emissions by up to 29,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, strengthened local manufacturer Palfridge’s market position.
African Anglophone Ozone Officers meeting
Prior to the Francophone Mali workshop a four-day meeting of the Anglophone countries took place in the Seychelles, bringing together representatives from 23 African countries, to discuss opportunities for enhancing South-South cooperation and technology options for avoiding the use of HCFCs. Reviewing progress on fulfilling their obligations under the Protocol, the meeting highlighted the major milestones already accomplished by many African nations.
“Collective action by African countries to address the ozone layer depletion when they have contributed the least in causing that problem is iconic,” said Rajendra Shende, Head of UNEP’s OzonAction Programme.
Background
The OzonAction Porgramme provides capacity-building services to empower National Ozone units (NOUs) and includes training, regional networking and an information clearing-house. To provide direct assistance to countries, a Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) was launched with regional CAP teams part of each of the UNEP regional Offices. The Africa CAP teams provide assistance to the two main networks of Ozone officers from Anglophone Africa and Francophone Africa.
Under the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund nearly $175 million (€123 million) will be provided to countries across Africa for 1200 projects. However, this is only 10% of the funds received by all developing countries.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Energy saving with hydrocarbons presented at Bangkok Energy Efficiency Summit

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

An “Energy Efficiency Summit” held in Bangkok, Thailand on 12-13 July aiming to address the best practices in achieving energy savings and reducing operating costs while contributing to the environment, included a presentation on how to achieve energy savings with natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, and on the development of a Thai hydrocarbons production facility.

Organised within the context of a projected increase in energy demand of 53% and global carbon emissions increase of 55%, the Energy Efficiency Summit brought together 80 speakers to discuss topics related to improving energy efficiency in building, industrial processes and transportation.

Green Cooling Association presentation on energy saving with hydrocarbons
Among the speakers was Green Cooling Association Executive Director Brent Hoare, who delivered a presentation titled “Keeping cool and saving cash – Reducing electricity bills and emissions with natural refrigerants” to showcase examples from around the world of the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants to achieve energy savings.
The Green Cooling Association presentation covered the following topics:
  • Opportunities to reduce electricity consumption through retrofit of existing air conditioning systems with hydrocarbon refrigerants – experience in South East Asia and the Caribbean
  • Emerging high efficiency hydrocarbon air conditioning systems in China and Australia
  • Low charge ammonia commercial air conditioning systems – examples of 50% power savings compared to conventional HFC systems
  • Energy efficiency opportunities from absorption air conditioning systems utilising waste heat
  • Energy efficiency opportunities from the use of natural refrigerants in commercial and industrial refrigeration
  • Current developments: Pure hydrocarbon facility in Thailand by Asian Green Fluids Co., Ltd.
“Use of hydrocarbon refrigerants in retrofitting existing HCFC R22 air conditioning systems has been widely demonstrated to achieve energy savings of 10-25% in many applications around the world, and is becoming increasingly popular in South East Asia”, said Mr Hoare.
According to Mr Hoare, “Stiff competition will be faced from those attempting to promote HFC R32 as a “climate friendly” alternative, but with a 100 year GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 650 and a 20 year GWP of 2,330, these claims are clearly false, deceptive and misleading, and severely undermine the competitive advantage of genuinely climate and environmentally friendly refrigerants such as hydrocarbons and ammonia in air conditioning systems.”
Centre for Energy Environment Research and Development (CEERD Co., Ltd.) – Asian Green Fluids project
Professor Thierry Lefevre, CEERD Director and one of the members of the conference Advisory Committee said CEERD was proud to endorse the conference to promote the need to achieve energy efficiency gains generally, and more specifically to promote awareness of the role hydrocarbons can play.
“We anticipate a large increase in demand for hydrocarbon refrigerants in coming years, and expect the increased use in existing systems will make a major contribution to reducing electricity use in several sectors, and to achieving the accelerated phase out of ozone depleting and powerful global warming gas HCFC R22. The Asian Green Fluids project being developed by CEERD Co., Ltd. is currently in the fund raising phase and looking for strategic and environmentally concerned partners. The plant is planned to be in full production by early 2013,” said Professor Lefevre.
The CEERD is now calling on those developing and approving HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMPs) around the world to closely evaluate the strong contribution hydrocarbons are able to make to achieving the objectives of the Montreal Protocol while at the same time protecting the climate by avoiding further dependence on HFCs in developing countries.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Access the world through the global natural refrigerants business community

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

hydrocarbons21.com keeps an expert public up-to-date with newest developments in policy and technology relevant to hydrocarbons as working fluids in heating and cooling applications, and displays top-of-the-art products. In August, we will add a third pillar in our endeavour to bring hydrocarbons faster to market: the world’s first professional natural refrigerant network

News on developments and trends in policy and industry are vital to enable decision makers and stakeholders to make informed decisions for their businesses and future regulations. The display of innovative products plays an important role in demonstrating to policy makers and consumers that the technology is available, reliable and economically viable. News and products together can contribute to bringing hydrocarbon technology faster to market.

news – products – community

In August however, hydrocarbons21.com will add a new feature that is poised to reinforce and expand the momentum: an online community uniting experts, researchers and industry players in hydrocarbon heating and cooling technologies from Australia to America, passing by Europe, Africa and Asia.

The hydrocarbons21.com community will allow members to create their online professional profile and connect to key players in policy and industry around the world. More than that however, the community will offer a wealth of new opportunities:

  • a free directory where members can add their company, create a “company group” online and greatly increase their visibility amongst a well-targeted audience
  • a global network of experts that is specialised in hydrocarbon technology
  • a comprehensive events listing, where members can indicate if they attend conferences and tradeshows to set up meetings directly via the community
  • information exchange on best practices
  • discussions on difficulties of hydrocarbon technologies in different climates
  • comparisons of legislative environments around the world

and much more.

In the countdown to the global network going online, the hydrocarbons21.com community coordinators will give you glimpses at what there is to come.

Gateway to a global natural refrigerants community

To support a transition towards more sustainable refrigeration technologies worldwide avoiding the use of synthetic working fluids, the hydrocarbons21.com community will also be a gateway to a global natural refrigerant business community, joining experts from the CO2 and ammonia refrigeration professional network. In their profiles, members will be able to choose whether they want to appear on only the hydrocarbons21.com platform or also on the communities for ammonia and R744. They will furthermore have the option to post comments and information either on one, two or all three networks. Together, these platforms will constitute the world’s first natural refrigerant business network.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Keeping vaccines cool with hydrocarbons in remote areas

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

More than 20 SolarChill HFC-free vaccine coolers by a Danish manufacturer have been installed in Kenya’s dry areas, the latest one at the rural Iloodokilani health centre in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Another type of solar powered R600a vaccine cooler is offered by a British manufacturer, which in August 2011 was shortlisted for receiving a 2011 RAC Cooling Industry Award.

Solar Chill hydrocarbon vaccine cooler for Iloodokilani health centre

The Iloodokilani health centre’s vaccine cooler was donated through a partnership between the government of Kenya, PATH International, the World Health Organization, the Danish Technology Institute and the United Nations Environmental Programme. The centre’s unit has a storage capacity of 20 litres and can keep vaccines at temperatures between 2° and 8°C for five days after one initial charge of solar energy. With the new refrigerator, the centre can attend 60 to 100 babies a day.

SolarChill combines several “breakthrough” technologies, including environmentally friendly Greenfreeze refrigeration technology with hydrocarbon refrigerant and insulation foam, and unlike other solar coolers it does not rely on batteries to store the energy of the sun. Thanks to the use of a direct current (DC) compressor, solar energy is stored in ice, which keeps the vaccine cabinet cool overnight.

Commercially produced by Danish company Vestfrost, the SolarChill vaccine cooler model MKS 044 was field-tested 2 years under extreme conditions in Senegal, Cuba and Indonesia and was prequalified in March 2010 by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO), under its Performance, Quality and Safety (PQS) prequalified devices and equipment (PQS E003/009 “Vaccine refrigerator for solar direct drive with ancillary battery”).

In spring 2011, WHO carried out an annual review of E003 and revalidated the approval of the SolarChill vaccine cooler, which will be next subjected to the 2012 annual review.
The current generation of SolarChill is prequalified for 20º to 32ºC ambient temperatures. However, in field tests the units have operated under lower and higher ambient temperatures ranges of 10º to 42ºC.

R600a Sure Chill vaccine cooler by UK manufacturer

UK based company True Energy also offers a solar powered vaccine cooler. The “True Energy Vaccine Refrigerator” features “Sure Chill technology”, meaning that it can operate on intermittent or poor mains supply, battery-free solar power or a combination of the two, to make sure vaccines are stored safely even in tough environments. According to the company, the cooler can operate safely even when power is lost for over 10 days at ambient temperatures as high as 43°C.

The DC version of the vaccine cooler is HFC-free, using hydrocarbon refrigerant (R600a).

In August 2011, True Energy’s Sure Chill Refrigerator was shortlisted for receiving an award under the 2011 RAC Cooling Industry Awards that will take place on 28 September 2011 in London, United Kingdom.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

UPDATED: DOE’s proposed efficiency standards have impact for hydrocarbons

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Highlighting current trends toward eco-efficiency, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced new proposed energy efficiency standards for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.The proposed rulemaking committee also explored the use of hydrocarbon and other natural refrigerants in the efficiency standards discussion, though eliminated hydrocarbons as a design option for most product classes. Update: The DoE adopted the standards on 25 August 2011, however they do not consider hydrocarbon refrigerants as a design option to reduce the energy use.

With the proposed standards, the energy use of most refrigerator-freezers will decrease by 20% to 25% by 2014 compared to today’s appliances.

Consideration of hydrocarbon refrigerants

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), Earthjustice, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) all stated that the Department of Energy (DOE) must consider hydrocarbon refrigerants as a design option because hydrocarbons are in widespread use overseas.

This was in response to the DOE’s decision to eliminate alternative refrigerants as a design option for most product classes. Reasons given for the decision included: potentially lower thermodynamic efficiencies, lack of current approval for use, or, in the case of hydrocarbons, current UL safety requirements allowing use in only limited quantities.

Earthjustice and NRDC both claimed that the DOE has not provided evidence to support the exclusion of isobutane as an alternative refrigerant, which the DOE considered as a design option only for compact refrigerators.

Although the DoE has acknowledged that isobutane refrigerants may soon become available, it has not considered hydrocarbons as a possible alternative in the final rule on Energy Standards for Residential Refrigerators and Freezers, due to consumer concerns as well as insufficient information with regards to the energy savings characteristics.

Current allowable use of hydrocarbons

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) commented that the relevant safety standard—Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 250—currently limits the quantity of hydrocarbon refrigerants permitted in refrigeration products to 50 grams, suggesting that the quantity is insufficient for most typical refrigeration products. It was noted that UL had recently reopened the rulemaking process for UL 250 under a proposal calling for a higher hydrocarbon limit.

The UL proposal for modification of UL 250 calls for a transition from an allowance of 50 g refrigerant being permitted to escape from a refrigeration product in case of a leak to a higher limit of 60 g total charge. UL’s next step would be to convene a Standards Technical Panel meeting, which would likely be held no earlier than autumn 2010.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a proposed rule addressing hydrocarbon refrigerants, which includes a proposal to include isobutane on the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program list of allowed alternative refrigerants. The EPA proposal calls for a total charge limit of 57 g of isobutane.

General Electric (GE) stated that although the UL restriction may make it difficult to use isobutane, it does not make it impossible, and that UL may consider increasing the limit.

Sub Zero agreed with GE’s comment but pointed out that there can be a capital expenditure associated with adopting isobutane refrigerant or hydrocarbon blowing agents. However, Sub Zero made no reference to potential longer-term savings or environmental benefits regarding hydrocarbons or isobutane.

The US Department of Energy has refused to make any speculations about the limits of isobutane refrigerant until the EPA rule and the revision of the UL 250 standard are final.

Concerns with HFCs

Many stakeholders noted the trend away from HFC use both worldwide and in the United States, commenting that the DOE’s analysis should more thoroughly consider this trend in order to avoid becoming immediately outdated, and that the DOE should develop cost-efficiency analyses that account for a mandated phase-down of HFC substances.

  • AHAM commented that upcoming regulations and legislation on the phase-down of HFCs could have a substantial impact on efficiency in refrigeration products
  • AHAM and Whirlpool argued that analysis that does not account for an HFC phase-down would likely result in unattainable energy consumption standards

Large Companies Resistant

Discussions among several large manufacturers have identified some resistance to an industry-wide voluntary acceptance of natural refrigerants.

  • GE advocated for a transition to low-GWP foams and refrigerants
  • Whirlpool and Sub Zero both stated that they believe a phase-down of HFCs would have a net negative impact on energy efficiency and manufacturing cost
  • Whirlpool stated that it would not switch to non-GWP substances unless required by legislation.

Initial investigation of the compressor vendors supplying high-efficiency compressors and variable speed compressors during the preliminary analysis phase indicated that one compressor supplier, Embraco, served as the primary source for these components.

Embraco is a business unit of Whirlpool S/A, a majority- owned subsidiary of the Whirlpool Corporation.

Isobutane as a Proposed Design Option

The DOE calculated the potential range of isobutane charge levels that could replace the HFC-134a refrigerant in the products purchased for reverse engineering as such:

  • The actual charge of each product was converted to an equivalent isobutane charge (measured in grams), by adjusting for the lower density of isobutane
  • The equivalent isobutane charge levels for these products were in excess of both the EPA-proposed limit and the charge limit in the UL 250 standard, except for compact refrigerators
  • The DOE proposed that engineering changes (ex. adding a second refrigerant loop) would be needed for a standard-size refrigerator-freezer to meet those charge levels
  • The DOE maintained that it wishes to avoid promulgating standards that would reduce the utility of a product, believing that isobutene engineering changes needed for meeting existing charge levels would do exactly that.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Carbon equivalent price on HFCs becomes reality in Australia

Monday, January 16th, 2012

On 8 November 2011, the Australian Senate passed the controversial government’s Clean Energy Act establishing a price on carbon Carbon equivalent price on HFCs becomes reality in Australiaand imposing carbon equivalent pricing on HFCs. As of 1 July 2012, the legislation will put an initial price of $23 AUD (about €17) per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalence on HFCs.

The Clean Energy Act entered legislation on 8 November 2011 after 36 senators voted in favour and 32 against and will become law on 1 July next year. The package of bills includes amendments to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act under which hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and equipment containing such gases will face an equivalent carbon price.

The HFC charge is the step in the right direction in facilitating the widespread transition to climate-friendly refrigerants, such as hydrocarbons.

At least €17 per tonne of CO2eq to be levied

The central pillar of the adopted plan establishes a carbon pricing mechanism that determines the applicable carbon charge per tonne of CO2 equivalence over the first three years at:

  • $23.00 (about €16.94) in 2012-13
  • $24.15 (about €17.67) in 2013-14
  • $25.40 (about €18.71) in 2014-15

This translates to a charge of about €22 per kg of HFC134a in 2012-13, assuming a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1,300 for the refrigerant, rising to €24.32 in 2014-2015. Using the more accurate GWP figure of 1,430, the carbon charge would amount to about €24.2 per kg of HFC134a, rising to €26.75 in 2014-2015. The HFC levies will be adjusted annually to reflect the prevailing carbon price.

In 2015, the carbon tax will be replaced by an emission trading scheme with permit prices contained between a $15 (about €11) minimum price and a maximum price of $20 (about €15) above the expected 2015 international permit price (to be decided in 2014).

The double dividend

With the carbon price being paid by Australia’s largest polluters, the government estimates that 9 out of 10 households will receive compensation from a combination of tax cuts and increases to family benefits.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

First mobile app for hydrocarbons21.com is live

Monday, January 16th, 2012

hydrocarbons21.com is proud to announce that it released this week its first mobile application on the App Store, giving readers the First mobile app for hydrocarbons21.com is liveopportunity to keep up-to-date on the latest hydrocarbons news. Find the link to download the App at the bottom of this article.

The application is more than a mobile version of the website: it is a user-friendly tool designed to efficiently provide readers with the information they need when on the road.

“Many of our members are constantly traveling and have limited time to catch-up on news. That is why we have gone mobile with our first App for the iPhone platform. This is the first version. It will provide access to real time news, direct access to our partners as well as events. Hope you like it” – Marc Chasserot, hydrocarbons21.com’s Editor in Chief.

The App displays three major types of information accessible via the menu at the bottom of the screen: News, Partners and Events. In the news section, you can directly add comments, as you can send information requests to companies in the partners section.

Another big advantage is that the App can be consulted offline, which is very convenient when commuting internationally.

Yet more to come

A second version is already in the making and will integrate the hydrocarbons21.com community coming up next year. This gateway to the worldwide natural refrigerants community will give you constant access to experts around the world and a wealth of information with real time updates.

We hope you will enjoy the App as much as we already do, and we will keep you informed about the future release of our Blackberry and Android versions. Do not hesitate to let us know what you think about the App!

Tags: ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Ghana: over 600 technicians trained in hydrocarbons

Monday, January 16th, 2012

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation reports that more than 600 technicians and engineers in Ghana have received training onGhana: over 600 technicians trained in hydrocarbonshydrocarbon technology, according to statements of Mr. Daniel Amlalo, Acting Executive Director of the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr. Amlamo was speaking at this year’s celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, held in Oyoko, Ghana.

Training of technicians on hydrocarbons is part of Ghana’s efforts to encourage and spread good refrigeration practices and support the retrofit of domestic refrigerators to hydrocarbons. For example, a delegation of technicians from Ghana recently received theoretical and practical training on the safe handling and design of equipment with hydrocarbon refrigerants at the headquarters of the Centro Studi Galileo, Casale Monferrato, Italy.

Hydrocarbon training a key part of Ghana’s HCFC phase-out plan

The current stage of the implementation of Ghana’s HCFC phase-out management programme (2010-2014), which focuses on the establishment of safe hydrocarbon and natural refrigerant use culture to enable their safe use, comprises for example:

  • developing codes of good practices,
  • training and certification of technicians,
  • activities to curb growing phase-in of HCFC-based refrigerant blends
  • an incentive programme to retrofit HCFC-based equipment to environmentally sound alternatives

Total ban on second hand refrigerators and ACs as of 2013

Moreover, emphasising Ghana’s efforts to avoid becoming a dumping ground for second-hand electronic products, the Minister of the Environment, Science and Technology Ms Sherry Ayitey, has announced that as of January 2013 there will be a total ban on imports of used refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. Not only do used appliances consume more energy than new ones, but also contain in most cases certain ozone depleting substances that have been banned in the country.

To enforce the ban, the Environmental Protection Agency is registering dealers of used refrigerators and air conditioning.

Towards energy efficiency standards and labelling of appliances

Moreover, to encourage the uptake of energy efficient refrigerators, Ghana is considering the adoption of a standard and labelling programme that will help consumers make informed choices when purchasing refrigerators. The country’s Energy Commission estimates that the implementation of standards and labelling on refrigerating appliances will save the country over $100 million (€70.7 million) annually, while extending the standards and labelling regime to air-conditioners is estimated to save about $52 million (€36.7 million) annually.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

AHX, new semi-hermetic compressors by Frascold

Monday, January 16th, 2012

The Italian manufacturer, specialised in commercial and industrial air conditioning and refrigeration compressors, is adding a AHX, new semi-hermetic compressors by Frascoldcomplete new range of reciprocating semi-hermetic compressors to the hydrocarbons21.com product database. The compressor series AHX is optimised for the use with hydrocarbons and features high safety and reliability.

Frascold has developed a new range of reciprocating semi-hermetic compressors suitable for all the most commonly used hydrocarbons like propane R290, propylene R1270 and isobutane R600a. Based on its traditional semi-hermetic compressors, the new AHX range has been technically modified to guarantee the safety standard requested by the ATEX 94/9/EC Directive for the flammability of hydrocarbons in classified areas.

The new AHX series compressors

Hydrocarbons do not have any corrosive effect on copper and can be easily used with semi-hermetic compressors with enclosed electric motors.

AXH reciprocating semi-hermetic compressors are equipped with electrical components conform to the safety requirements necessary for the installation in classified ambient with presence of flammable gas according to ATEX Directives.

With this new AHX compressors line, Frascold enlarges its range of products dedicated to natural refrigerants and takes the growing environmental concerns of the market into consideration by offering innovative solutions. Frascold’s semi-hermetic compressors running on R290 play also a key role in the hydrocarbon refrigeration platform being rolled out by Waitrose’s stores in the UK since 2009.

Main caracteristics different to standard type compressors:

  • Mechanically optimised for use with hydrocarbons
  • Special oil charge
  • Equipotential connection of all electrical components
  • Electrical connection box
  • Crankcase heater
  • PTC sensor for discharge temperature control
  • Electronic oil differential pressure switch
  • Electronic control module INT69/INT69TM for remote installation
  • Capacity control head / unloaded start head

Please find all technical specifications, performance data and dimensional drawings for all models in the attached brochure.

About Frascold

With more than 70 years of experience in the industry, FRASCOLD produces currently 70.000 compressors per year in Italy, in addition to the production of condensing units. Based in Milan, Italy, Frascold has extended its sales network worldwide, including Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

« Older Entries