Benefits of Natural Refrigerants Worldwide
If you have a business that uses industrial HVACR, you know how difficult it can be to keep it running efficiently and effectively. With natural refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2, and hydrocarbon blends becoming more common, it is a great time to make the switch. Understanding the benefits of natural refrigerants can help you make the right choice.
Cost Effective
Making the switch to natural refrigerants in your systems and equipment does not automatically mean you will spend more money on first cost or operating costs. In fact, when applied appropriately, natural refrigerants can have lower life-cycle costs, lower operating costs, and lower costs associated with regulatory requirements when compared the synthetic HFC and HFO refrigerants. Many of the natural refrigerants are abundant and very low cost since they occur in nature, and are widely used in a number of different industries. Natural refrigerants are typically several orders of magnitude less expensive than comparable synthetics on a per pound or per kg basis.
Increased Efficiency
In many cases, when applied properly natural refrigerants offer better operating efficiencies compared to synthetic HFC and HFO refrigerants. This makes sense when considering the HFC and HFO refrigerants are synthesized from the hydrocarbons, compromising the excellent native thermodynamic properties to achieve various “desirable” properties (flammability, toxicity, etc.) synthetically. Natural refrigerants use less energy!
Environmentally-Friendly
By definition, the natural refrigerants occur in nature and are environmentally benign. In all cases, ozone depletion potential with naturals is zero. Global warming potential is zero in the case of ammonia and air, and is extremely low in the case of CO2 and the hydrocarbons. Natural refrigerants are good for our environment!
Learn More About the Benefits of Natural Refrigerants
If you want to investigate the benefits of natural refrigerants in your heating and cooling systems, contact us at Bruce V. Nelson Engineering. Our team is highly trained and well-regarded in everything from refrigeration system and equipment design, heat exchanger design and modeling, and training. Check out our reviews and publications as well as our various accreditations and memberships to get an idea of what we are all about and contact us today.
