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Identifying and addressing the major causes of ammonia-related accidents in refrigeration plant.

Number: pap. 224

Author(s) : PEARSON A.

Summary

The adoption of ammonia as refrigerant in industrial and commercial refrigeration systems has been a key step for many end users in fulfilling their sustainability goals over the last twenty years. Ammonia provides a system with minimal direct effect on climate and, with the opportunity to improve efficiency, the indirect effect can also be reduced. However the use of ammonia presents some additional hazards, including toxicity and flammability, which are probably not familiar to system operators more used to CFC and HCFC systems. Recent fatal accidents in India and China suggest that this is a growing problem in countries that are starting a large scale shift towards ammonia. This paper reviews the most common causes of accidents in refrigeration systems and considers the ways in which these hazards are changed by the use of ammonia. In some cases the assessment shows a reduced hazard, and in others there is an increased possibility of serious injury or fatality. The key measures required to address these hazards are outlined and the opportunities to make systems safer, less harmful to the environment and more efficient are explained. Measures required to ensure that ammonia refrigeration systems do not present any increase in risk are explained with reference to European directives and standards. The applications where ammonia is and is not appropriate are outlined. The paper concludes with design guidance on the construction of systems that are inherently safer than current practice.

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Pages: 8 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Identifying and addressing the major causes of ammonia-related accidents in refrigeration plant.
  • Record ID : 30012093
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: General information
  • Source: 3rd IIR International Conference on Sustainability and the Cold Chain. Proceedings: London, UK, June 23-25, 2014
  • Publication date: 2014/06/23

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