There are only five natural refrigerants. The other four are air, water, ammonia and carbon dioxide. We call them 'The Famous Five'.
Engas Hydrocarbon Refrigerants are simple and safe and there is no need for retrofitting or modification of new and existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Engas Hydrocarbon Refrigerants provide a safe and easy drop-in solution for trained engineers and technicians.
All existing fluorocarbon refrigerants will be phased out in some shape or form over the coming years because of their ozone-depleting properties or global warming potential. However, there is an answer created by nature, not by a chemical company — hydrocarbon refrigerants.
Hydrocarbon refrigerants are not just good for the environment they can also save you up to 36 per cent on your energy costs. Air-conditioning systems are the largest consumers of electricity for any building. The energy used in cooling generally accounts for 60 per cent of a building's total energy consumption. By converting to hydrocarbon refrigerants, substantial energy savings can become a reality.
Hydrocarbon refrigerants are 50 per cent more efficient conductors of heat than fluorocarbon refrigerants and their operating pressures are about 20 per cent lower than that of fluorocarbon refrigerants. These lower operating discharge pressures reduce the work that the compressor has to do thus reducing wear and tear. There is less pressure on pipe work, joints, hoses, fittings and the like, reducing the likelihood of leaks. This can and will extend the working life of your equipment.
All these advantages equate to an energy saving of between 17 per cent and 36 per cent with an average of 25 per cent.
Many European manufacturers of commercial and domestic refrigeration equipment have changed to hydrocarbon technology. Every year approximately eight million hydrocarbon-based refrigerators are produced in Europe, each using around 30 per cent less energy than refrigerators using fluorocarbon refrigerants. These include companies such as Bosch, Electrolux, Miele, Whirlpool and AEG. The large supermarket chain in the UK called Sainsburys has built six new stores using hydrocarbon refrigerants to refrigerate the entire store.
In Asia LG produces over 11,000 refrigerators per day using hydrocarbon refrigerant. In China, hydrocarbon refrigerants are used by three out four of the largest refrigerator manufacturers.
The technology to convert existing refrigeration or air-conditioning systems to hydrocarbon refrigerants has been available for the last 20 years. Properly trained technicians and engineers can ensure adequate control of health and safety risks associated with any use of hydrocarbon refrigerants.
