focus Editorial

Editorial Current negotiations to reduce the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) are progressing while the worldwide use of alternative refrigerants is expanding. However, these tend to be slightly flammable in the case of HFC-32 or HFOs, highly flammable in the case of hydrocarbons or toxic, in the case of ammonia. Greater attention needs to be paid to safety management systems in facilities and the rules governing them. The system design must take into account risks and not accept that one refrigerant can be replaced by another. Additionally, staff need to be suitably trained to ensure proper follow-up and maintenance. In the past, numerous accidents could have been avoided by following a few key safety rules. Additionally, assessment of guidelines and standards governing the use of these refrigerants is necessary in order to evaluate real risks. A country by country comparative analysis can be used as a reference for these risks which have changed along with technological developments. The case of hydrocarbons in the US is an example where certain regulations have already been relaxed. The recent creation of A2L classification for low-flammability refrigerants is another example of the establishment of new standards. It is essential for more countries to establish suitable refrigerant regulations. The future lies in diverse refrigerants. The present international implementation of security regulations and standards on an international, regional or national level is a highly significant challenge. A call is launched for all to get involved in establishing these new regulations and standards. The IIR network is here for you and will accompany you in this process. Get moving before everything freezes over! Get ahead of the flow! Didier Coulomb Director of the IIR Les négociations en vue d’une réduction de l’utilisation des hydrochlorofluorocarbures (HFC) actuels progressent et les fluides alternatifs se développent partout. Or, ils sont le plus souvent inflammables (faiblement comme le HFC-32 ou les HFO, ou fortement comme les hydrocarbures), ou toxiques (ammoniac). Il est indispensable de porter davantage attention à la sécurité des installations et aux règles qui la gouvernent. D’un côté, il est nécessaire de s’assurer que la conception de l’installation tient compte de ces risques et éviter évidemment de considérer qu’il suffit

focus Activities of the IIR’s Commission C1 on Cryobiology and Cryomedicine

Discussion at the 1st IIR Workshop on Cryoprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals and Biomaterials

Members of Commission C1 are working hard to reach their 2013-2015 objectives in cryobiology and cryomedicine research; knowledge dissemination; technology transfer and education. Continuing the workshop series on Cryoprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals and Biomaterials and introducing new series on cutting-edge themes. Promotion and preparation of programme activities for ICR2015 – 24th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration from August 31, 2015 to September 6, 2015, in Yokohama, Japan.

de remplacer un frigorigène par un autre. Il faut aussi que les personnes devant assurer le suivi et la maintenance soient correctement formées : la grande majorité des accidents pourraient être évités en respectant quelques principes simples. D’un autre côté, les réglementations et les normes régissant l’utilisation de ces fluides doivent être revues pour tenir compte de la réalité des risques, qui a évolué au fur et à mesure de l’évolution des techniques et qu’une analyse comparative, pays par pays, permet d’objectiver. Certaines réglementations ont déjà été assouplies (cas par exemple des hydrocarbures aux EtatsUnis). De nouvelles normes se mettent en place (création d’une classification A2L pour les frigorigènes faiblement inflammables…). D’autres pays doivent impérativement se doter de réglementations adéquates concernant ces frigorigènes. L’enjeu des réglementations et des normalisations en matière de sécurité qui sont en train de se mettre en place aux niveaux international, régional ou national est considérable. Il y va de l’avenir des différents fluides. Nous devons, vous devez vous impliquer dans la définition des nouvelles réglementations et normes. Le réseau de l’IIF peut vous y aider. Dépêchez-vous d’en profiter avant que le paysage ne se fige. Suivez et anticipez les mouvements en cours ! Didier Coulomb Directeur de l’IIF

Selection and definition of C1 front line topics and work plan for the First IIR Student competition to take place at the IIR Congress. Deliberation and review of establishing innovative E-training actions concerning C1 multidisciplinary needs as well as the interdisciplinary needs of the following commissions: Cryophysics and cryoengineering (A1), Liquefaction and separation of gases (A2) and finally Cryobiology and cryomedicine (C1). Examining methods to further the initiation of synergies between Commissions A1, A2 and C1. Other recent achievements were the first steps in creating communication links between the IIR-C1 and the International Society of Cryobiology to share event programmes. Additionally, the 1st “IIR Workshop on Cryoprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals and Biomaterials” held from September 4-5, 2013 in Dresden was of great interest to all who attended (47 participants and 26 papers). This extremely successful first-time scientific event, chaired by Christoph Herwig and Ralf Herzog (Vienna University of Technology and ILK Dresden) was organized as a joint scientific activity by the IIR A1 and C1 Commissions as well as being the result of a joint – Dresden and Vienna scientists’ initiative. The workshop’s main objective was to present investigations carried out to find novel approaches using low temperature physics and cryogenics in the field of biopharmaceuticals, e.g. protein solutions and biomaterials. The focus was the understanding of freezing behavior and the cold-induced biophysical effects, a key issue currently found in research and development. Also covered were attempts to discover how the effects of low temperatures can be used in industry for product improvements. The first day focused on Protein Freezing including basics, processing and simulations, Biomaterials processing and application, and Cryopreservation. The second day addressed Product freezing technical solutions and cryobanking and Biomaterials processing and applications and cryopreservation. During the Workshop, participants had the opportunity to visit the prestigious ILK (Institute of Air Handling and Refrigeration) cryolaboratories. Marija S. Todorovic President of the IIR’s Commission C1 [email protected]

news Past events The IIR organized the 8th International Conference on Compressors and Coolants in Castà Papernika, Slovakia, on September 2-4, 2013. 61 papers were presented during this highly successful event attended by 170 participants from 21 countries. Among the topics covered were all aspects of compressors with a focus on energy efficiency, optimization studies and design as well as issues on low GWP refrigerants (natural refrigerants and HFOs) (see “Technology” section). A joint meeting of the Commissions B1, B2, E1, E2 of the IIR took place. The occasion was also marked by the 20th anniversary celebration of the “Slovak Association for Cooling and Air Conditioning Technology”. We’re looking forward to the next conference in April 2017 in Bratislava, Slovakia! For more details visit: szchkt.org/compressors The highly successful IIR Workshop on Cryoprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals and Biomaterials (see focus) held in Dresden on September 4-5 united 47 participants. The two main topics of the workshop were “Product freezing in pharmacy and biotechnology” and “Cryogenic solutions in biomaterial development and application”. Both themes were covered in great detail in 21 papers presented during 6 workshop sessions and 5 posters displayed during the entire workshop period. Additionally participants enjoyed a technical visit to ILK Dresden. The IIR co-sponsored Pôle Cristal Conference took place in Dinan, France on refrigerants, heat pumps and alternative systems on October 10, 2013. The Director presented the international context of fluorinated gases. The IIR participated in a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Conference held in Dubaï, United Arab Emirates, on September 10-11, 2013. The 3rd Regional Symposium on “Alternative Refrigerants in High-Ambient Temperature Countries” was attended by Gulf-country participants with a main focus on the replacement of HCFCs and HFCs in these countries. A new association of industries in that sector was built for Gulf countries: ARAMENA.

Conference update The 13th IIR CRYOGENICS 2014 will take place on April 7-11, 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic. The programme will cover equipment and technology problems found at temperatures below 120 K (-153°C), as well as topics related devices and technologies. www. cryogenics2014.cz

The IIR will co-sponsor for the first time the 7 th Ibero-American Congress of Refrigeration Science and Technology (CYTEF2014) to be held in Tarragon, Spain on June 18-20, 2014. This well-established biennial event focuses on overall topics related to refrigeration, additionally offering networking and knowledge exchange opportunities in the Ibero America refrigeration sector. The UK will host the 3rd IIR sponsored  International Conference on

Sustainability and the Cold Chain (ICCC2014). The conference will take place June 23-25, 2014 at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, London. A Call for Papers is open until November 1, 2013. www.ior.org.uk/ICCC2014 Abstract submission for 2014 Purdue Conferences on July 14-17 2014 is open until December 20, 2013. The conference covers compressor engineering, refrigeration and air conditioning, and high performance buildings. Abstracts can be submitted online at www.conftool. com/2014Purdue

Get ready for the 11th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants (GL2014) from August 31 to September 2, 2014 in Hangzhou, China. With the replacement of CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerants with natural refrigerants taking place increasingly within the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump industry, there remains a vital need for national and international strategy as well as knowledge exchange. Join world leaders in the field to discuss the latest research results and advances related to the use of natural refrigerants in different types of systems and application areas. gl2014.org August 16 – 22, 2015, the 24th ICR takes place in Yokohama, Japan. The programme, call for papers, registration, technical tours, and social activities (visits to historical sites and places of interest) will be announced on the congress web site: www.ICR2015.or.jp

IIR member news The IIR welcomes the following new members: Senior member Mihail-Dan Staicovici, Romania. Private members Jean Boubour, France; Ulla Lindberg, Sweden; Ruben Martinez, Spain; Kenneth J. Schultz, USA. Junior members Milos Bogicevic, Germany; Aurélien Greff, France; Karine Prince, France. Cemafroid launches 2014 training Cemafroid’s 2014 training programme proposes 13 options covering the cold chain, measurements and tests, food hygiene and the environment. Since its inception, Cemafroid Formation has accompanied trainees in the implementation of best business practices and compliance with regulations concerning health, safety and environment. In addition, Cemafroid training centers have hosted hundreds of students from diverse professional sectors (transport, food distribution, pharmacy, state control agencies and private inspection bodies) in France and internationally. www.cemafroid.fr/formation.htm

A renewed board and ambition for the French Association of Refrigeration (AFF) September 25, 2013, the AFF elected a new President and renewed its Executive Board. Gérald Cavalier, director of Cemafroid, took over from Patrick Antoine as head of this century old association with the goal to unite refrigeration professionals in order to promote sustainable and efficient refrigeration in all its applications. www.association-francaise-du-froid.fr/

Contact : Maggy Knockaert, AFF, [email protected]

In the news Figures and markets The importance of the Australian RAC sector The Cold Hard Facts 2 report, prepared by Expertgroup for the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, provides a detailed insight in the refrigeration and airconditioning (RAC) sector in Australia. Around 173,000 people (1.5% of the Australian workforce) are employed in over 20,000 businesses operating in the RAC industry. The most obvious responsibility of the industry is the transport of nearly USD 30 billion worth of perishable food per year from farm to domestic refrigerator, using over 28,000 refrigerated trucks. Air conditioning is now installed in the majority of the country’s estimated 8 million homes and in the 16 million registered road vehicles. There are over 45 million individual pieces of RAC equipment operating in Australia that consumed more than an estimated 59,000 GWh of electricity in 2012, equivalent to over 22% of all electricity used in Australia that year. Stationary air conditioning, refrigerated food cold chain and domestic refrigeration represented respectively 62%, 25% and 13% of the total electricity consumption. Total indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a result of energy consumption to power RAC systems are estimated to be 57.1 Mt CO2 eq per annum. Combined with an estimated 4.1 Mt CO2 eq of synthetic greenhouse gas direct emissions from losses of refrigerants to air from operating RAC systems, the Australian RAC sector is responsible for about 11.1% of Australian GHG emissions in 2011. www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/publications/cold-hard-facts-2.html

US: increasing use of air conditioning For the past 20 years, the use of air conditioning has increased throughout the US with the most pronounced increase being in the South, according to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Nationally, electricity consumed for air conditioning has increased 39% since 1993 and accounts for 14% of all electricity consumed. In the South, electricity consumed for air conditioning has increased 43% and now accounts for 21% of all electricity consumption in the region. By 2009, 96% of households in the South used air conditioning (vs 89% in 1993). www.achrnews.com/articles/124111-aug-19-2013south-leads-growth-in-use-of-electricity-for-ac

France: refrigeration (excluding air conditioning) accounts for almost 11% of electricity consumption According to the CEREN (Centre for Economic Studies and Research on Energy), energy production in the refrigeration sector accounts for 52 TWh in total annual electric energy consumption: 25 TWh for tertiary use, 17 TWh for domestic use and 10 TWh for industrial use. Based on these figures, refrigeration (excluding air conditioning) accounts for almost 11% of electricity consumption in France. The CEREN estimates 16 TWh in potential energy savings in tertiary and industrial sectors with the industrial sector seeing a 40% return in less than 3 years. www.ceren.fr/clubs/froid.aspx

Heat pump market figures JARN estimates that the 2012 world air-to-

water market increased 5.4% year on year to 1.37 million units. This increase is mainly attributed to ongoing robust growth in the Chinese market. According to European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), the 2012 European market for heating only air-to-water heat pumps came to nearly 214,500 units, an increase of 6.7% over 2011. The 3 major markets are France (about 89,100 units), Germany (48,100) and the United Kingdom (14,500). JARN, July 25, 2013 www.ehpa.org/market-data World air conditioner demand on the rise According to JARN, world air conditioner demand in the first half of 2013 increased by 5.6%. The key to growth is expanding demand in the emerging markets of SouthEast Asia and Latin America to make up for ongoing stagnant growth in the European market. JARN, August 25, 2013 China: the market share of energysaving ACs increases to 70% Since 2007, China has continually implemented subsidy programs for high-efficiency household appliances, which consume over 450,000 GWh of electricity each year. In particular, from June 2009 to May 2011, the central government subsidized RMB 150250 (18-30 €) for each energy-saving air conditioner according to its cooling capacity and energy efficiency level. According to the Ministry of Finance, the market share of energy-saving air conditioners increased from 5% before the subsidy program to 70% after, and the average unit price decreased from RMB 3,000-4,000 (363-483 €) to about RMB 2,000 (242 €). JARN, August 25, 2013. LNG : a tight global market In 2012, the global LNG market predictably tightened: there was a 2.5 million ton (mt) reduction versus 2011, the first year on year (yoy) reduction in LNG in over 30 years, according to the BG Group. In contrast with the robust growth in 2012 demand, the supply side was restricted by a combination of delays and lower-than-expected production. Yoy reduction in delivered supply dropped from 242 mt in 2011 to an estimated 239 mt in 2012. However, Asian demand continued to grow, with imports up by 15.6 mt (10%) in 2012, especially in Japan which represented 50% of Asian growth. The growth was counterbalanced by US and Northern Europe hub markets and more surprisingly, by the usually less flexible mainland European market. The impact of the tightness on spot prices was also moderated by the effects of a mild summer in Asia. However, despite Asian demand softer than expected, the market balance was not sufficiently loose for large volumes to be pushed in Europe. www.bg-group.com

HFC news G20 leaders declaration on HFCs During G20 Summit on September 5-6, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia, G-20 leaders expressed their support for “initiatives, through multilateral approaches that include using the expertise and the institutions of the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), based on the examination of economically viable and technically feasible alternatives.  They “will continue to include HFCs within the scope of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol for accounting and reporting of emissions.” This was agreed by the following countries:  Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia,

South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union, as well as Brunei, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Singapore and Spain. Bilateral agreement between the US and China In a separate agreement at the G20 summit, US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed “to establish an open-ended contact group on HFCs under the Montreal Protocol to consider all relevant issues, including financial and technology support to Article 5 developing countries, cost effectiveness, safety of substitutes, environmental benefits and an amendment.” They reiterated their “firm commitment to work together and with other countries to agree on a multilateral solution.” www.whitehouse.gov/thepress-office/2013/09/06/united-states-china-andleaders-g-20-countries-announce-historic-progres

Still several obstacles to an international agreement, however, at a BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) meeting on climate change held on September 15-16 in Brazil, ministers from the four countries issued a joint statement saying discussions on HFCs should be guided by the principles and provisions of UNFCCC and Kyoto P r o t o c o l . w w w. l i v e m i n t . c o m / P o l i t i c s / faYtJXGVJ6LjbEQ1KO8NyO/China-holding-dualstand-on-HFC-gases.html

Next steps The next steps of the international negotiations on HFCs are the 25th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 21-25, 2013 and the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be held in Warsaw, Poland, on November 11-22, 2013. The IIR, as an intergovernmental organization, participates in these two important meetings and the Director will present statements during the high-level segments. The current discussions in Bangkok do not show any progress on a possible phase down of HFCs at an international level.

R1234yf news Decision by Daimler to refuse to use R1234yf in new mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems due to risks of ignition in a head-on collision detected by the manufacturer thanks to its own tests – see IIR Newsletter No. 54 and 55 – generated new developments during this Summer. On August 18, 2013, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) carried out tests using three different levels of severity and concluded that while R1234yf was more hazardous than R134a, it did not comprise a serious danger. However, it recommended further examination of the new refrigerant in an official report sent to the European Union. The EU accepted to review the KBA report. On June 12, France banned registrations of Mercedes A-class, B-class and CLA-class models assembled after June 2013 because of Daimler’s refusal to stop using R134a, which was considered as a violation of the EU MAC Directive by the French authorities. However, on August 27, the French Conseil d’Etat lifted the ban with immediate effect and considered that the vehicles may be licensed again until a definitive ruling has been given. On August 23, Toyota decided to switch back to using R134a for some Toyota and Lexus models. A Toyota spokesman explained that 3 models had been equipped with R134a “in order to respect our consumer’s safety concerns because of the controversy in Germany”. However, Toyota

specified it is still “very confident” about R1234yf safety.

www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/08/honeywellgermany-idUSL6N0G932J20130808 w w w. m o t o r a u t h o r i t y. c o m / n e w s / 1 0 8 6 5 4 8 _ mercedes-wins-french-court-ruling-in-r134arefrigerant-case

Honeywell recently announced that a new independent, peer-reviewed paper published in the Reviews of Geophysics had found that its refrigerants, R1234yf, had a GWP (100 years) of less than 1, four times lower than previously calculated. In this paper*, the authors also estimated that the GWP of R1234ze was less than 1 and that of R134a was 1300 (instead of 1430 in the IPCC 4th Report). * Global Warming Potentials and Radiative Efficiencies of Halocarbons and Related Compounds: A Comprehensive Review, O. Hodnebrog et al. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 51, Issue 2; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rog.20013/pdf

Arkema, French leading supplier of refrigerants, announced in September 2013 the construction of a R1234yf production plant in Changsu (near Shanghai), China. Arkema is executing a two-phase strategy based on proprietary technology: this first phase, based in Asia, is a project capable of supplying the emerging needs for 1234yf and a second phase investment in Europe with the objective to fully replace R134a after 2017. Arkema is reportedly investing about 200 million € in the two units – China (start up in 2016) and Europe (start up in 2017). Currently, only Honeywell has a production site in China with DuPont.

Briefs Irregularities found in deadly ammonia leak accident in China A liquid ammonia leak from the refrigeration unit of Shanghai Weng's Cold Storage Co in Shanghai, China, on August 31, 2013, killed at least 15 people, injured 25 others and caused a direct economic loss of RMB 25.1 million (3 million €). The municipal government said that the cause of the accident was a cap that broke off the company's liquidammonia pipeline system, and ordered a safety check at all companies that use the refrigerant. Investigators found that the company illegally built the workshop after completing construction of the plant's main body, blocking the fire exits, according to a statement from the Shanghai work safety supervision bureau. The workshop was designed and constructed by unqualified workers, the statement said. Additionally, the company never provided training to the workers before starting production. In the latest issue of the IIR Newsletter, we mentioned a paper* presented during the IIR Ohrid conference on ammonia refrigeration technology highlighting that over 92% of Chinese cold stores had adopted ammonia as a refrigerant but that many ammonia refrigeration systems in China were in dilapidated condition sometimes with insufficient funding and poor attention paid to repairs and maintenance. As a result, many accidents in ammonia refrigeration plants have been reported in recent years in China. A national standard “GB28009-2011 Safety Code for Cold Stores” came into force in December 2012. According to this document, design, construction and management of cold stores become mandatory topics, which will undoubtedly lead to a reduction in accidents. In addition, other national standards are currently being developed. w w w. c h i n a . o r g . c n / c h i n a / 2 0 1 3 - 0 9 / 0 5 / c o n tent_29931853.htm *Status and Analysis of Ammonia Refrigeration Technology for Cold Stores in China, Jianji Zhang

An ice barrier to stop radioactive water leaks at Fukushima In early September, Japan’s government gave the go ahead on a project to create a mile-long artificial permafrost barrier around the Fukushima power station to stop radioactive water from leaking. Every day approximately 400 tons of groundwater flowing down from the nearby mountains, enters cracks in the reactor buildings damaged by the meltdowns and explosions at Fukushima in 2011. It then pollutes the ground water downstream and ultimately spills into the sea, according to an April 2013 Tepco briefing document. Responses so far have been ineffective, consisting in pumping contaminated groundwater into holding tanks, adding to over 300  000 tons of radioactive water already stored at Fukushima. The USD 473 million project requires burying refrigeration pipes to a depth of 100 feet, approximately every yard for almost a mile around the site. The pipes would freeze the ground to keep water flowing in and out, thanks to brine or another type of ice slurry, cooled down to temperatures from -20 to -40°C. Theoretically there are other ways to seal off the site from groundwater, digging huge trenches and filling them with clay or concrete, is one example, but ice has a self-healing quality which represents a big plus. It could also last for months in the event of a power outage. An ice barrier was already used at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, but the Fukushima project is 150 times bigger and ironically, will require enormous amounts of energy, until the plant is successfully dismantled.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7374249/ Frozen-vegetables-more-nutritious-than-freshvegetables-says-report.html www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/ Frozen-foods-don-t-deserve-such-a-bad-rap-saymanufacturers-preparing-image-overhaul www.e-ditionsbyfry.com/Olive/ODE/FPG/Default. aspx?href=FPG/2013/06/01

Out of the ordinary Natural air-conditioning designs inspired by nature Janine Benyus, a biologist, innovation consultant, and author of the book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, thinks that copying the way plants and animals solve natural problems can provide many benefits, from environmental sustainability to economic efficiency. One of the most famous examples of biomimicry when it comes to heating and cooling is ventilation inspired by termites. In fact, big termite mounds in Africa stay remarkably cool inside, even in blistering heat. The insects accomplish that feat with a clever system of air pockets, which drive natural ventilation through convection. The firm Arup borrowed that idea to build Eastgate Centre, a large office and shopping center in Zimbabwe that is cooled with the outside air. The system uses only 10 % as much energy as conventional air conditioning to drive fans that keep the air circulating. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2013/07/130703-air-conditioning-biomimicrynatural-cooling/

www.nbcnews.com/science/japan-build-ice-barrieraround-fukushima-nuclear-ruins-8C11067684 www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23940214

Frozen food “bad reputation” According to an online survey of 1013 Americans conducted by Braun Research for ConAgra Foods in March, four out of five US consumers believe that frozen foods are highly processed and not as nutritious as fresh foods. Frozen food sales totaled more than USD 40 billion in the US in 2011, but 98% of frozen products have flat or declining sales, according to Mintel Global Market Research. To change the way consumers think and feel about frozen food, the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and the Frozen Food Roundtable (FFR), a consortium of major food manufacturers, have signed a USD 50 million deal with two prominent ad agencies. Expected to be launched before the end of the year, the campaign message is that frozen food equals fresh and presents many advantages: fewer preservatives, less food waste and more nutrients. This assertion is backed up by a recent study carried out by the Institute of Food Research on behalf of Birds Eye, the frozen food manufacturer. According to this study, up to 45% of important nutrients are lost in fresh vegetable by the time they are consumed since it can take up to two weeks for fresh produce to reach the table from being picked. Produce which is frozen soon after being picked will have more nutrients sealed in, scientists from the Institute of Food Research claimed.

The systems with the best scores – obtained by taking into account criteria such as CO2 equivalent emissions, yearly investment + energy costs and safety – were a direct evaporation system of R1234yf (mediumtemperature range) cascaded with R744 (low-temperature range); a booster system with R1234yf; a booster with ammonia and CO2 as secondary fluid. However, the authors stress that R1234yf still needs to prove its safety despite moderate flammability and the fact that ammonia is not currently an option since it is prohibited in the supermarket sector. Hence, the best system is a booster with R290 and CO2 as secondary fluid. * Life cycle performance of refrigeration systems in the Dutch supermarket system, C. Infante Ferreira et al.

Another paper* by H. Wijbenga deals with the Dutch food and beverage sector, which consumed 129 PJ primary energy in 2008, 13% which is used by the refrigeration plants in the form of electricity. The best energetic performance for cold storage (temperature maintained at 2°C) was obtained by the following systems: liquid overfeed of ammonia (11% savings compared to the reference system), direct evaporation of R1234yf (3% savings) and the reference system itself, a direct evaporation of R22. The best energetic performance for freezing storage (temperature maintained at -20°C) was obtained for a 2-stage liquid overfeed of ammonia system (11% savings compared to the reference), a liquid overfeed of ammonia cascaded with liquid overfeed of CO2 (3% savings) and a liquid overfeed of ammonia system cascaded with direct expansion of CO2 (4% savings). * Life cycle performance of refrigeration systems in the Dutch food and beverages sector, H. Wijbenga et al.

Compressors2013 highlights

Termite mounds have excellent cooling, even in blisteringly hot conditions. Credit: Hemis/Alamy

Technology Several news items in the “Technology” section summarise papers from recent IIR conferences or co-sponsored conferences, or articles from the International Journal of Refrigeration. All these articles can be downloaded via the IIR’s Fridoc database (free for IIR members within the framework of their quota of free downloads): www.iifiir.org [email protected] Remember to log in or register first!

TPTPR conference highlights During the 4th IIR International Conference on Thermophysical Properties and Transfer Processes of Refrigerants held in Delft, the Netherlands, in June 2013, within the 3rd meeting of the IIR Working Party on Life Cycle Climate Performance Evaluation, two presentations dealt with the comparison of possible alternative refrigeration systems and refrigerants in the Dutch supermarket/ food and beverage sectors. These comparisons are based on life cycle performance, including economic aspects. A paper* by C. Infante Ferreira et al. is dedicated to the Dutch supermarket sector, which consumed 10.9 PJ primary energy in 2008, 61% of which is being used by refrigeration plants in the form of electricity.

During the successful IIR International Conference on Compressors and Coolants held in Casta Papiernicka in June 2013, several papers covered technological advancements related to refrigeration compressors. J. Brasz presented(1) the main developments achieved regarding centrifugal compressors since its introduction in 1922, including oil-free direct-drive centrifugal compression technology introduced in 2003 by Turbocor (see photo). He highlighted the potential of two disruptive technologies currently being explored that could have a major impact: shock-wave compressor and microsale compressor. Supersonic shock wave compression, which is used for the engines on supersonic aircrafts, has been tested on air prototypes; if successful, this concept could result in higher compressor efficiencies and reduced compressor size. Recent introduction of smaller capacity high-speed direct-drive centrifugal compressors has moved the capacity of centrifugal compressors down to 200 kW. Further miniaturization and/or the use of lower density refrigerants is required to reach the much slower capacities of the high volume residential air conditioning and refrigeration products.

In his presentation(2), G. Boszormenyi stressed that the new generation of semihermetic reciprocating compressors features several advantages such as multi-refrigerant design (compatibility with multiple HFC refrigerants including low-GWP options), state of the art diagnostics and two methods of capacity control: capacity modulation using variable frequency – which allows the possibility to increase the capacity from 60% to 140% of nominal but implies high installation costs and electromagnetic emissions – and Digital modulation which represents a simple and cost-effective method to match the compressor’s output to system requirements and offers the possibility of keeping the suction pressure in the desired range. A. Hafner et al., from SINTEF, presented(3) test results regarding the development of a novel high-efficient single-stage 6-cylinder CO2 compressor driven by a permanent magnet with variable volume flow rates in the range of 18 to 90 m3/h. Overall efficiencies of 80% were measured. (1) Past, present and future of turbo machinery in the

HVACR industry, J. Brasz (2) The new generation of semi-hermetic piston compressors, G. Boszormenyi (3) High efficient 18-90 m3/h R744 compressor, A. Hafner et al.

R290 flammability hazards Flammability hazards of air conditioners using R290 R290 (propane) attracts a lot of interest as a replacement refrigerant of high-GWP HFCs – mainly R410A – and HCFCs for household air conditioners, due to its negligible GWP, favourable system performance and relatively low cost. However, it raises some questions due to its flammability. A recent article presented in the International Journal of Refrigeration (IJR) provides valuable information on this issue. W. Zhang et al. report* on the results of a project – funded by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China – including an extensive series of experimental and numerical substudies carried out to examine the flammability hazards of using R290 in room air conditioners. Based on these investigations, the following general conclusions are drawn by the authors: the flammable range of a release of R290 is only located within the close locality of the indoor unit, implying that only sources of ignition present in the immediate vicinity of the indoor unit have the possibility to ignite a refrigerant leak. It is only possible for ignition to occur when the leak mass flow rate is extremely high and there are some means by which the release can be diffused to a sufficiently large flammable volume. In the event of ignition, the maximum overpressure within the room is about 6.5 kPa, which was insufficient to damage doors or windows. The most dangerous situation is if R290 is ignited during the leak process and continuous burning of the refrigerant occurs. Under this scenario, it is feasible that the secondary event of the plastic casing of the indoor unit could be ignited. If this occurs, a lot of smoke can be generated which can have a significant impact on personal safety of room occupants. If an external fire was to engulf the air conditioner charged with R290, the total heat release of the burning indoor unit may increase by about 12%, compared to one charged with no refrigerant. The heat release is about 1000 kW. It is observed that the refrigerant piping joints can give way soon after the indoor unit is ignited, acting as a sort of pressure-relief device, leading to a release of refrigerant, avoiding a dangerous

build-up of high pressure. * Research on the flammability hazards of an air conditioner using refrigerant R-290, W. Zhang et al., IJR, Volume 36, Issue 5, August 2013

Refrigerated trucks Fuel cells to cool trucks The refrigeration systems in four delivery trucks in Texas, California and New York will soon be fuelled thanks to fuel cells. The US Department of Energy (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Library (PNNL) is overseeing the project with two fuel-cell manufacturers Nuvera and Plug Tower. Industry officials estimate that approximately 300 000 refrigerated trucks with auxiliary power units are on the road in the United States. Replacing the traditional diesel-powered cooling unit, users could save approximately 10 gallons a day per unit and significantly reduce noise and pollutants emissions as fuel cells only reject heat and water. Plug Power is to work with Carrier Transicold and Air products to equip trucks making deliveries for a Sysco food distribution facility on Long Island. Nuvera also announced that plans for bringing a TRU fuel cell product into Europe were being considered.

mal sensation. Previous research had already established that visual sensations could slightly affect thermal sensation, but here subjects were required to place their feet on a cooled copper board in two different temperature settings of 28 and 30 degrees. Even though the thermal impression of the subjects was unaltered at 28 degrees, at 30 degrees the copper board affected the overall sensation when it was lowered by 2-3°C. For this reason, the authors estimate that although their experimentation work is still under progress, spot cooling focusing human foot – for example a small “Peltier device installed into the shoes or slippers – could replace a general air-conditioning system. * The effect of partial body cooling on entire body thermal sensation in summer, Kurazumi et al. Infrared images of the head of a thermal test mannequin change from red to yellows and greens as the Personal Comfort System switches into cooling mode. (Credit: Center for the Built Environment)

www.acr-news.com/news/news.asp?id=3410

First naturally refrigerated truck British supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s, has announced trials of the world’s first naturally refrigerated delivery truck for frozen and chilled goods, hoping to cut its carbon footprint by up to 10,000 tonnes a year. The company announced that it teamed up with natural refrigeration-technology specialist Carrier Transicold for a two-year trial of its NaturaLINE HFC-free refrigeration system in a work refrigerated trailer. NaturaLINE was initially developed for deep-sea refrigerated containers and uses two stages of CO2 compression with a variable speed drive and a unique cylinder-uploading capability allowing the compressor to save energy in light-load conditions. www.foodbev.com/news/sainsburystrials-worlds-first-naturally#.Ul_gCBD-SzE

Unique Flow Ice application in Tasmania A Flow Ice generator, built by Pam Refrigeration in Cape Town, is now in use for the rapid cooling of freshly caught salmon in road tankers on a Tasmanian salmon farm. Road tankers charged with slurry are driven onto a barge which travels to salmon breeding pens 32km from the truck landing. The salmon is automatically harvested from circular breeding pens and sucked by vacuum pump to an onboard culling machine. Once filled the barge returns to the coast where, after being driven off the barge, the remaining space in the tanker is filled with slurry to stabilise the vehicle for the journey to the processing plant. The change from flake ice to Flow Ice has lowered the fish storage temperature from 4-5°C to 0°C and the cooling rate is much quicker after culling because of the fish being fully immersed in the slurry. www.worldfishing. net Search: Tasmania

Partial body cooling Partial body cooling as a means to save energy? Cooling parts of the body could be an energy efficient way of providing personal thermal comfort and is currently being studied by researchers, in particular in Japan and in the United States. In a paper* presented during the IIR-cosponsored CLIMA2013 conference held in Prague in June 2013, a team from Kyushu Sangyo University assessed the effect of partial thermal sensations on the overall ther-

Researchers from UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment (CBE) received a USD 1.6 million grant from the California Energy Commission to test and promote Personal Comfort Systems (PCS), using low-wattage devices embedded into a system of chairs, foot warmers and fans that can quickly warm or cool individual users, by targeting the most thermally sensitive parts of the body such as the face, head, torso and feet. The PCS’s heating and cooling tools will also interface with remote phone applications, software and sensors to relay building temperatures or turn off systems when a space is not occupied. CBE estimates that these new tools could cut natural-gas use by 39% and electricity use by 30% for HVAC in typical Californian commercial office spaces. http://dailyfusion.net/2013/08

Briefs CO2 heat pump with variable compressor and expander in the pipeline Last August, The United State Energy Department announced 12 projects aimed at developing innovative heating, cooling and insulation techniques as well as open source energy-efficiency software help homes and businesses make energy savings. One of the blueprint projects is an oil-free heat pump using no high GWP refrigerants. Leading partner in the project S-RAM Dynamics will deliver a 20-ton cooling and 240 000 BTU/h heating capacity heat pump for commercial buildings and industrial applications. It is expected to operate between -35°C and 85°C, allowing for excellent performance in both cold climates and high-temperature work environments. It will use oil-free variable-load compressor and variable expander technology, currently tested at Purdue University’s Herrick Laboratories. The variable displacement compressor/expander systems enable varying the hot-side and cold-side temperatures as desired. This allows the pre-production heat pump to demonstrate significant energy-efficiency improvement as compared to current state-of-the-art heat-pump systems. The unit will be able to run at constant speed while still allowing for variable temperatures and capacity, removing the need for variable frequency drivers. These innovations are made possible by a variable stroke compressor and the use of a mechanical expander that can recover a significant amount of energy, allowing for energy consumption savings up to an

Agenda

IIR-co-sponsored conferences

2013

IIR conferences

2015

2014

April 4-11

Prague 13th IIR Conference on Cryogenics 2014 Czech Republic

IIR Conference Commissions A1, A2, C1

June 23-25 London United Kingdom

3rd IIR Conference on Sustainability and the Cold IIR Conference Chain Commissions C2, www.iccc2014.com D1, D2

August 31- Hangzhou September 2 China

11th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural IIR Conference Refrigerants - GL2014 Commissions B1, Wangyang Hu: [email protected] B2, D1, E1, E2

August 16-22 Yokohama Japan

ICR2015 – 24th International Congress of Refrigeration [email protected] www.icr2015.org

expected 50%, as compared to classic systems. www.energymanagertoday.com/heat-pumpwith-variable-stroke-compressor-saves-50-on-energy-095037/

Low-temperature CO2 capture technologies potential Out of the targeted global annual CO2 emissions reductions – 50% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels – CO2 capture and storage from power generation and industry was estimated by IEA being about 19% of the mitigation potential. In a review paper(1) in the International Journal of Refrigeration, D. Berstad et al. give an overview of CO2 capture conditions for a broad range of different power cycles and industrial processes. CO2 capture by chemical or physical sorption and membrane separation have been the dominant fields of research within post- and pre-combustion CO2 capture from power cycles and industrial processes. Lowtemperature CO2 capture technologies have previously been more or less rejected for being too expensive, energy intensive or for having a narrow spectrum of potential application. Low-temperature capture in the notion of the present study is defined as separation of CO2 from flue gases or synthesis gases, or similar, by direct cooling and physical phase separation. Potential advantages of low-temperature CO2 capture to baseline solvent-based capture technologies are no solvents needed for CO2 capture and no requirements of steam extraction from steam turbines or utility systems. For a selected range of capture conditions, potential applications for low-temperature CO2 capture have been evaluated by the authors with respect to energy consumption and CO2 capture ratio. For all applications of low-temperature capture, specific power consumption and obtainable CO2 capture ratio are sensitive to flue-gas or synthesisgas feed CO2 concentration. However, for certain applications such as synthesis gas from coal gasification, low-temperature capture shows promising potential and highly competitive energy figures compared to baseline technology. (1)Low-temperature CO capture technologies – 2

Applications and potential, D. Berstad et al., IJR, Volume 36, Issue 5, August 2013

Japan scientists launch freeze-dry animal sperm bank Japanese scientists have launched a sperm bank for endangered animals that uses freeze-drying technology. The team at Kyoto University's Institute of Laboratory Animals Graduate School of Medicine successfully preserved sperm taken from two endangered primates and a

IIR Congress All commissions

subspecie of giraffe. They mixed the sperm with special preservation liquid and freezedried it in a way that allows them to store it at just 4°C. The temperature is much higher and less energy intensive than conventional ways of storing sperm. Previously, Professor Takehito Kaneko and his researchers successfully freezedried sperm from rats and mice without the use of bulky liquid nitrogen equipment, and were able to prove the viability of the spermatozoa up to five years later. The technology enables sperm to be stored at room temperature for short periods, making safe in the event of power failures caused by a natural disaster, for example. The challenge now is to develop a way to apply the method to the other side of the procreative equation, because for now, only fresh eggs or those frozen conventionally can be used. http://phys.org/news/2013-08japan-scientists-freeze-dry-animal-sperm.html

RegulationsStandardisation Spain introduces F-gas tax The Spanish Council of Ministries has approved a tax on fluorinated greenhouse gases. The tax will apply as of January 2014 throughout the Spanish territory to the consumption of fluorinated gases (F-gases) with GWP above 150, including HFCs. The use of F-gases in hermetically sealed systems and pre-charged equipment with up to 3 kg of HFCs would be exempt from the proposed tax. Tax levels will be calculated on the basis of the GWP of the fluorinated gases or their mixtures, by applying the coefficient of 0.020 to the GWP value of each fluorinated gas, up to a maximum of 100 € per kilogram, thus corresponding to a tax level of 20 € per tonne of CO2, a level comparable to the F-gas tax in Denmark. Making use of the GWP values referred to in the current EU F-gas Regulation would result, for example, in a tax rate of 26 €/kg for R134a. The distribution sector, i.e. shops, supermarkets and hypermarkets, estimates that this new tax will cost them 140 € million a year, almost 40% of the 340 million that the Spanish government expects to collect. www.racplus.com/news/spanish-f-gas-tax-proposal-would-send-refrigerant-costs-skyrocketing/8650837.article http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2013/08/28/ actualidad/1377719848_341880.html

USA : new energy efficiency standards for commercial equipment

Belgrade - Serbia - December 4-6 44th International HVAC&R Conference Branko Todorovic: [email protected] www.kgh-kongres.org Commissions B1, B2, D1, E1, E2

2014 Rome - Italy - February 26-28 49th AiCARR International Conference [email protected] www.aicarr.org Commissions B1, B2, E1, E2 College Park, Maryland - USA - March 31-April 3 2014 International Sorption Heat Pump Conference (ISHPC2014) Mary Baugher: [email protected] www.ceee.umd.edu/events/ISHPC2014 Commissions E1, E2 Tarragon - Spain - June 18-20 CYTEF2014 (7th Ibero-American Congress of Refrigeration Science and Technology) All commissions West Lafayette - Indiana - USA - July 14-17 22nd International Compressor Engineering Conference at Purdue 15th International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference at Purdue 3rd International High-Performance & Green Buildings Conference at Purdue www.engineering.purdue.edu/Herrick/Events Commissions B1, B2, E1 Perth - Australia - April 16-22 LNG18 - 18th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas lng18.org Commission A2

On 29 August 2013, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued long-awaited draft energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment – such as self-contained commercial fridges, freezers, and deli cases – and for walk-in freezers and coolers. Cumulatively, the two rules are expected to save USD 28 billion and cut emissions by over 350 million tonnes of CO2 over a 30-year period. The final standard for commercial refrigerators and freezers is expected to be released from February 2014. www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/08/29/ www.hydrocarbons21.com/news/view/4527

International Institute of Refrigeration Institut International du Froid 177, bd Malesherbes - 75017 Paris, France Tel.: 33 (0)1 42 27 32 35 - Fax: 33 (0)1 47 63 17 98 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.iifiir.org The Newsletter of the IIR is a quarterly publication of the IIR Managing Editor: Didier Coulomb Editor: Jean-Luc Dupont Editorial assistants: Gerard Vidal, Justine Evans, Sophie Ellec Graphic Design: EdiConseil