Refrigeration sector monitoring

Use of all-aluminum coils increasing

All-aluminum heat exchanger coils called microchannel coils have been used in the automotive industry for over 20 years, but the technology – which uses an all-aluminium brazed fin construction – has been applied to the HVAC&R industry only...

• Publication date : 2014/10/08

Heat exhangers: what's new?

Nanotechnology: the future of heat exchangers? The US Department of Energy has awarded contracts to improve energy efficiency. One such contract, awarded to TIAX, a technology development company, through the Small Business Innovation...

• Publication date : 2006/05/05

Out of the ordinary: Robots pack frozen food

In continuation of its range of "Ready to Pack" modules and machines, Cermex has just developed a new version of a wrap-around case packer. Presented at Interpack 2008 the robots load cartons or flow-packed aluminium trays of frozen food either...

• Publication date : 2009/02/25

Ice cube?

A giant ice cube has appeared in Minneapolis and isn't going to melt. Described by its Swiss architect, Jacques Herzog, as "A big ice cube for Ice City," the cube is in fact an extension to the Walker Art Center. The icy appearance of the recently...

• Publication date : 2005/07/19

Briefs: AHR Exposition Award

This year the winner of AHR Exposition Award was Delphi Corp.'s innovative micro channel evaporator, capable of performing both cooling and heating functions for residential or commercial settings. It is highly efficient as it uses a compact...

• Publication date : 2010/03/07

Trends and Figures: Increase in AC prices in Asia

According to 2 articles in JARN, the prices of air conditioning are starting to show the effects of the rising raw materials prices, including those of copper, steel and aluminium. There are claims that the prices of these essential metals, in...

• Publication date : 2006/11/15

Pioneering CO2 road vehicles

Aldi Süd, Germany's biggest supermarket chain, is investing in new road transportation for frozen food and beverages with a view to promoting CO2. The next-generation vehicles will go into serial production after being exhibited at the Frankfurt...

• Publication date : 2009/08/13

Radiative Cooling in the Sub-Saharan Desert

A new way of lowering temperatures without using electricity has recently been developed. Iterrae, a French company, has discovered a way of using radiative cooling, a phenomenon that takes place at night, when the Earth is cooled by the 0 K...

• Publication date : 2007/08/05

Better air in planes - at last!

A series of technical changes is making it possible to improve the quality of cabin air in airplanes which until now has been invariably dry and poor in oxygen. The reason: the air was derived from the jet engines. This so-called "bleed air" is...

• Publication date : 2007/02/12

Squid skin inspires research on next-generation space blanket

Next-generation space blankets could be made of a thermoregulatory material inspired by the functioning of squid skin, which changes color.

• Publication date : 2019/05/29

Low temperature transport and storage solutions for COVID-19 vaccines

Presentation of two options suitable for mRNA vaccines: one using a traditional refrigerated container adapted to storage at -35°C extending the shelf life of dry ice by 2.5 times, the other based on PCM...

• Publication date : 2022/01/28

Chilled water cooling pads to reduce heat stress in pigs

A team of scientists at Purdue university in the USA has developed cooling pads to keep pigs cool and reduce the impact of heat stress on milk output and piglet...

• Publication date : 2023/11/28
• Subjects: Technology

Radiative cooling: smart materials to switch from heating to cooling

Researchers have developed a radiative thermal management device, composed of several layers of reflective/absorbent materials, capable of switching between heating and cooling...

• Publication date : 2022/09/28
• Subjects: Technology

Assessment of the environmental impact of domestic refrigerators using LCCP

The environmental impact of domestic refrigerators over their lifetime has been quantified in different configurations (operating cycles, materials, insulation) in a recent IJR article. 

• Publication date : 2021/02/23

How to reuse the condensate water from air conditioners?

Review of the different uses of the condensate water rejected by air conditioners.

• Publication date : 2020/09/04
• Subjects: Developing country

Cryogenics 2021 highlights: applications of liquid nitrogen

Cryopreservation of biological materials to favour biodiversity and cooling of superconducting cables to allow transmission of electrical energy with zero resistance are key applications of liquid...

• Publication date : 2022/01/28

Refrigeration innovations for the avocado market

The booming global avocado market calls for increasing standards of quality. Refrigeration technologies offer cutting-edge solutions for fruit ripening and seed preservation for future crops.

• Publication date : 2020/10/22

IIR GL2020 conference: Range of CO2 applications

Almost half of the presentations at the IIR Gustav Lorentzen conference in Kyoto focused on CO2, in commercial refrigeration systems but also in many other applications. Overview of these...

• Publication date : 2021/01/26
• Subjects: HFCs alternatives

Fake refrigerants cause havoc

A series of reefer explosions could have been caused by impure refrigerants

• Publication date : 2012/03/19

Price of air conditioners to rise

Raw materials make up some 90% of the cost of a room air conditioner: 30% copper, 45% steel plate and 15% aluminium.According to World Bank data, the price of copper roughly doubled between 2009 and early 2011, that of steel plate rose by...

• Publication date : 2011/08/16

Incidents with fake refrigerants

Incidents involving fake refrigerants have hit the headlines on various occasions recently. The incidents often involve R40 (methyl chloride), a hazardous chemical compound, or other substances.

• Publication date : 2012/08/17

Global fluorochemicals market

The global fluorochemicals industry was valued at USD 15.3 billion in 2011 and is expected to generate revenue of USD 21.5 billion by 2018, growing at a CAGR of 5% from 2012 to 2018.

• Publication date : 2014/04/07
• Subjects: HFCs alternatives

Flower pot as natural bio air conditioning system.

Created by Zurich-based independent designer Thibault Faverie, Cold Pot is a terracotta pot that gradually lowers the air temperature around it through a natural evaporation process.

• Publication date : 2014/02/20

A refrigerator running on sun and water.

A student of MIT in Boston has developed The Evaptainers, an electricity-free and mobile fridge, using evaporative cooling technology.

• Publication date : 2015/07/09

French hybrid supermarket delivery vehicles for less CO2 emissions

The French supermarket group Casino is implementing “Citygreen”, a plan to cut its CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020. The plan also involves quieter urban deliveries.

• Publication date : 2011/09/16