In the ice making machine industry, ammonia refrigeration and fluorine refrigeration have always been the focus of controversy. The choice of refrigeration method can maximize the economic, environmental and social benefits. This article objectively analyzes the nature of ammonia, fluorine refrigerants and ammonia and fluorine refrigeration systems, and summarizes the application status, existing problems, and research directions of the two refrigeration methods in the industry, which will help people have a clear understanding of these two refrigeration methods. To understanding.
1. Comparison of properties of ammonia refrigerant (R717) and fluorine refrigerant (R22 and R404A)
In terms of safety: the explosiveness and toxicity of ammonia greatly limit its application, and with the frequent news of ammonia refrigeration systems in recent years, people have a certain fear of ammonia refrigeration systems. The high safety of fluorine refrigerants is the main reason for the rapid development of fluorine refrigeration systems in recent years.
Environmental protection: ODP of ammonia is zero, and GWP is also zero. R404A is a more environmentally friendly refrigerant, and R22 refrigerant due to its poor environmental performance, developing countries will restrict its application before 2020. At present, people in the industry are actively looking for alternative refrigerants that are more environmentally friendly.
Material compatibility: When ammonia contains moisture, it is corrosive to copper. Therefore, copper and copper alloys cannot be used for the pipes and valves of the ammonia system. There are certain limitations in the selection of system equipment materials. Fluorine refrigerants have high chemical and thermal stability, and theoretically they are not corrosive to all metals. Interaction with water: the allowable water content of ammonia is less than 0.2%. Because ammonia is easily soluble in water, even if there is a trace amount of water, it will not appear "ice plug" like Freon, so it is necessary to dry the ammonia refrigeration system to the pipeline system. The requirements are not as strict as Freon. Freon is difficult to dissolve in water, so if there is water in the system, it is easy to cause ice clogging. Usually we have a filter drier in the system. Interaction with oil: At present, the lubricating oil of ammonia refrigeration system is mineral oil, which cannot be miscible with ammonia. Equipment such as oil separator and oil collector are usually installed to return the lubricating oil to the compressor through automatic or manual control. R404A is not miscible with mineral oil and alkylbenzene oil, but it can be miscible with polyester oil (POE). However, at high temperatures (around 50°C), there will be insoluble stratification, and R22 is also slightly soluble in lubricating oil. Therefore, large-scale fluorine refrigeration systems are usually equipped with oil and oil reservoirs. Take R404A as an example. The difference between the two compressors is only the refrigerant. Compare the cooling capacity of R717, R22 and R404A under the same evaporating temperature (-10°C), condensation temperature (45°C), liquid subcooling (0K) and suction superheating (10K). Ammonia has more advantages than fluorine in terms of cooling capacity, COP, and mass flow. However, the exhaust temperature of R717 is much higher than that of R22 and R404A, which will increase the configuration requirements of system components. Ammonia has a much larger refrigeration capacity per unit mass of fluorine, indicating that ammonia has a better refrigeration capacity. However, when the evaporation temperature reaches -33.33℃, the gauge pressure of ammonia is 0. In order to avoid the system working under negative pressure, ammonia is generally used For systems where the evaporation temperature is above -33.33°C.
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2. System complexity
Tube ice machine Ammonia refrigeration is a pump-supply system. Since the mineral lubricating oil used in the ammonia refrigeration system is not miscible with ammonia, the ammonia system is indispensable for oil separators, oil collectors and other equipment to ensure the oil return of the system and reduce the system temperature, so that the ammonia The oil system is very complicated. These make the ammonia system huge, many auxiliary machines, complicated pipelines, many valves, complicated construction, and long construction period. The fluorine system has a compact structure, a small footprint, and few accessories. The configuration of the unit has been very complete, and most of it can be completed in the factory of the unit supplier.
3. Equipment investment
The ammonia system includes a lot of equipment, mainly including compressors, evaporators, condensers, oil separators, high and low pressure storage tanks, intercoolers, recoolers, ammonia separators, low pressure circulation tanks, and emergency ammonia discharge devices. , Air vent, oil collector, ammo
Contact Person: Mr. Henry Lin
Tel: 86-180 2621 9032
Fax: 86-20-39199299
