Refrigeration sector monitoring

Benefits of thermal energy storage

The use of thermal storage, coupled to a refrigeration unit, allows the user to reduce the cooling capacity of installed units, to lower operating costs and electric bills, to increase plant reliability and to provide an effective solution for...

• Publication date : 2013/03/29

IJR highlights: review of low-GWP alternative refrigerants

In a recent review article based on over 60 published studies and published in the International Journal of Refrigeration, Chinese researchers have compared nearly 40 alternative low-GWP refrigerants in terms of...

• Publication date : 2021/06/28
• Subjects: HFCs alternatives

For IIR members only

China’s cold chain growth: increased capacity and sustainable practices in 2024

In 2024, China’s cold storage capacity grew by about 8% year-on-year, and sales of low-emission refrigerated trucks tripled, thanks to recent energy policies.

• Publication date : 2025/02/06
• Subjects: Figures, economy

LHC season 3: cryogenic cooling system upgrade

The particle accelerator returned to service in 2022 after numerous improvements, including an increase in cryogenic cooling power at point 4. 

• Publication date : 2022/05/30
• Subjects: Technology

How to evaluate the refrigerating capacity of compressors?

Most compressor manufacturers express the capacity of their compressors using the "nominal capacity" of the motor, expressed in HP (1 Horse Power = 0.735 kW) which does not give precise information on the refrigerating capacity of the compressor....

• Publication date : 2007/05/04

The French air-conditioning market is growing significantly

According to Clim'info, in France, sales of individual air conditioners (with capacities below 17.5 kW) have undergone a very strong progression - about 40% - in 2003 compared with 2002. Sales of small mobile units, in particular, have benefited...

• Publication date : 2004/07/15

Charge minimization in hydrocarbon systems

This paper was presented at the IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference in Glasgow (Sep. 2004). It presents the results of the project to minimize charge in a R290 system that has 1-1.5 kW refrigeration capacity. Currently, there are many guidelines...

• Publication date : 2004/11/24

LNG vessels

The world's largest LNG vessel, Mozah, recently made its maiden visit to the South Hook LNG Terminal in Milford Haven, UK, heralding a new era in the history of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation. The Q-Max ship measures 345 metres long,...

• Publication date : 2010/03/07

Sorption chillers

Sorption chiller technology is rapidly developing, especially that using solar energy. - As highlighted by Jacob and Kohlenbach* during the latest IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Working Fluids in Sydney, in Europe, numerous new...

• Publication date : 2011/02/07

French supermarkets turn to ice slurries

- Carrefour 's Collégien, France, hypermarket is using indirect refrigeration for over 6100 m 2 out of a total 15 000 m 2 surface area: CO 2 (in a 4-loop system) for temperatures below 0°C (refrigerating capacity: 232 kW) and ice slurries...

• Publication date : 2005/02/11

Magnetic cooling takes off

- The principle of magnetic cooling is based on the magnetocaloric effect, which was discovered in 1881 by Warburg. Magnetocaloric materials heat up when they are positioned in a magnetic field and cool down to a lower temperature than their...

• Publication date : 2005/02/11

Trends and Figures: Cold storage capacity per capita, a global glimpse

IARW published a list showing their member countries' public refrigerated capacity in 2006 and we thought it might be interesting to calculate the refrigerated-warehouse capacity per capita by country. The list is topped by The Netherlands (551...

• Publication date : 2006/11/15

Figures: the cold chain in Germany

According to the VDKL's latest survey on refrigerated and frozen storage capacities in Germany, in 2005 there were over 728 cold stores with a capacity over 2000 m3. Overall capacity amounted to 20 million m3. There are over 55 000 lorries and 43...

• Publication date : 2007/11/20

Marine refrigeration

The use of natural refrigerants is gradually spreading. Here are two examples of their use in the marine sector: - Environmentally-friendly fish transport American Freedom is one of the world's largest refrigerated ships and can hold up to...

• Publication date : 2007/11/20

Cold storage: figures

According to the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW) Global Cold Storage Capacity Report, public refrigerated warehouse storage is increasing around the world. Data from over 40 member countries was collected for the 2008...

• Publication date : 2008/10/25

R&D

The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a new air-conditioning system combining membranes, evaporative coolers and desiccants into a single device with the objective to suit to all climates,...

• Publication date : 2011/02/07

Refrigerated storage trends

Several cold store building projects illustrate trends currently observed in the refrigerated storage field: - by building in Harnes the largest cold store in France, frozen chip producer Mc Cain intends to house under one roof in April 2010 its...

• Publication date : 2009/05/18

Fresh out of Africa

The annual production of fruit and vegetables in Burkina-Faso is estimated at over 300 000 tonnes. It encompasses more than 30 000 producers and 25-30 km² of market garden produce and 120 km² of orchards. The official opening of the SOBFEL, the...

• Publication date : 2006/01/24

Autonomous systems for refrigerated transport

The refrigerated transport sector is looking for solutions to reduce fuel consumption, refrigerant emissions and noise emissions. - Autonomous systems cooled by cryogenic secondary coolants offer alternatives. A system developed in Germany uses...

• Publication date : 2009/02/25

Ice storage

The Paris Palais des Congrès, a vast building comprising a Congress centre, a hotel and a shopping mall is equipped with an ice storage system allowing it to optimize its power-bill management in winter, but also to shave summer peaks and to...

• Publication date : 2007/11/20

Energy storage thanks to refrigeration

Electrical energy is notoriously difficult to store, especially on a large scale and this can be particularly problematical when dealing with irregular sources such as wind power for which there can be a great mismatch between energy supply and...

• Publication date : 2009/02/25

Briefs: CO2 heat pumps in a retirement home

Villa Laura, a retirement home near Florence, Italy, is equipped with 4 water/water ground-water heat pumps operating with a transcritical CO2 cycle providing heating, air conditioning and hot water. This technology is already used to produce hot...

• Publication date : 2007/11/20

China receives 265 million USD from the Multilateral Fund to reduce HCFC use

During its 64th meeting in Montreal, Canada, from July 25 to 29, 2011, the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) – a  financial body established to help developing countries meet their Montreal Protocol commitments – has assessed...

• Publication date : 2011/08/16

World AC and compressor trends

In its recent report, JARN estimates that the HVAC&R market in 2006 was about 66 billion USD and about half of sales were air conditioners and related products. - Regarding the AC market, China, the US, Japan and major European countries make...

• Publication date : 2007/05/04

Heating and cooling ceilings

The upcoming translation of European Directive 2002/91/EC on improving energy efficiency in buildings into EU national legislation in January 2006 calls for a clear improvement in the energy efficiency of cooling and heating systems. In view of...

• Publication date : 2005/10/26