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Water as refrigerant.

Voda kao rashladni fluid.

Author(s) : PACHAI A. C.

Summary

Not many of us consider the fact that one of the most commonly used secondary refrigerants is water, in competition with air. For use below the freezing point, we often add some freezing point suppressant, such as glycol or various salts. Water has previously been used in absorption systems as one part of the working pair, with ammonia or lithium bromide as the other. This paper will discuss the use of water as a primary refrigerant in a compression system. Water as refrigerant is not new, but the majority of companies have neglect-ed it as a primary refrigerant for many years. New advances in technology and the increased pressure on conventional fluorine-based refrigerants due to climate concerns, on ammonia due to toxicity and flammability and on hydrocarbons due to high flammability, mean that the focus is now more on carbon dioxide, and on water and air for extremely low temperatures. Water as a refrigerant in its pure form is only for temperatures above the water freezing point, or some degrees over. For special applications, for example when using seawater as a heat source to produce ice slurry in the winter, this is an exemption from the general rule. The ice slurry technology can be applied for air conditioning, mine cooling and for intermediate cooling/freezing of foods, such as fish. The advantages of water as refrigerant are many, including toxicity and flammability not being issues. The environmental benefits are evident, as it is not causing ozone depletion or global warming. Water is available in large parts of the world. In some parts, seawater can be used, and the technology can even help produce potable water as a side product. This enhances the benefits of the system. Even water that might have some micro algae can be used, because the temperatures can be as high as 150°C in the compressor, which will kill any bacteria.

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Pages: 9 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Voda kao rashladni fluid.
  • Record ID : 30020186
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 47th International HVAC&R Congress and Exhibition.
  • Publication date: 2016/12

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