HVAC&R Nation November 2019 by AIRAH

Reclaim. Recycle. Repeat. The profits and pitfalls of re-using R22

Skills

WORKSHOP

Update on new refrigerants

Thrills and chills The Bend Motorsport Park leads the way with refrigeration technology

November 2019 / ISSUE 126

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November / ISSUE 126

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HVAC&R Nation is published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (Inc). AIRAH – National Office James Harrison Centre 3/1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Tel: 03 8623 3000

Fax: 03 9614 8949

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Magazine team Communications Manager Matthew Dillon matt.dillon@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3000

Editor Mark Vender mark.vender@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3022

The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia is the place to go for burning rubber – and cutting-edge refrigeration technology.

Contributing writer Sean McGowan

Above photo and cover © VUE Images and Red Bull Content Pool

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HVAC&R Nation regulars

Skills Workshop

Glenn Douglas glenn.douglas@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3018

The Toolshed

Global Update

Cool Tech

John McGrath john.mcgrath@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3007

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HVAC&R Nation is printed on paper sourced from well manned forests and other controlled sources.

19 Disclaimer HVAC&R Nation is an official publication of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. Statements expressed in HVAC&R Nation do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of AIRAH or its members. or HVAC&R Nation’s supply partners for the accuracy of information or for errors or omissions. HVAC&R Nation is distributed without charge to all financial members of AIRAH. The publisher reserves the right to alter or omit any article or advertisement submitted and requires indemnity from advertisers and contributors against damages or liabilities that may arise from material published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the Publisher.

13,314 March 2019 PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP IT.

See what’s new in the ‘Shed

Industry news from around the world

AIRAH News

Around the Nation

29 30

Exclusive to this issue

Australia’s leading HVAC&R maintenance guide has been updated

Safety Matters

Update on new refrigerants, designations and safety classifications

Cut the crap with this old-school blade

No responsibility is accepted by AIRAH, the Editor

What is pre-cooling, and how can it help you beat the heat?

Who’s in the news?

Green Wedge

A high-flying approach to electricity generation

Refrigerate. Reclaim. Recycle. Repeat.

What happens at the end of the refrigerant life-cycle? As Sean McGowan finds out, it is often recaptured and re-used – especially in the case of R22.

Smoko with . . .

Q&A with Shane Docking

Lighter Side

The shonkier side of the nation

November 2019

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HVAC&R Nation

Ed’s letter

IN PRAISE OF COLD SHOWERS A couple of months ago a mate told me about a new health regime he was doing. It was called the Wim Hof Method, and he reckoned I should try it too. Wim Hof is a Dutch extreme athlete also known as the Iceman. They call him that because he has set records for swimming in icy water, running a half‑marathon barefoot on ice and snow, and sitting in an ice bath – all while regulating his core temperature through sheer mind power.

While I tried not to squeal like a Bee Gee I counted down the 30 seconds till I could turn the tap off. And then something weird happened. I realised it wasn’t so bad. Afterwards, it actually felt good. Maybe Hof is onto something. Modern technology has provided us with an unprecedented amount of comfort. With just the press of a button or the turn of a dial we can ensure that our homes are always at 22°C, even if it’s blazing hot or freezing cold outside. But what if our quest for technology‑enabled comfort has actually made us lose some of our evolutionary strengths?

Here is a guy who doesn’t need comfort heating and cooling. In fact, he says no one does. According to Hof, decades of molly-coddling have made humans soft. To truly thrive, we need to embrace the cold. A key part of his method is a daily cold shower.

Hof reckons you can get loads of benefits from cold therapy: better resistance to sickness, improved mental health, better circulation, lower hot water heating bills (actually, that last one is mine).

You know the deal. When a mate suggests eating a blinding hot curry, riding your bike down that too steep trail or ordering just one more flaming humdinger, it somehow drowns out the voice of common sense.

Now, heading into summer, I’m still doing the cold showers. And with December 22 not far away, maybe it’s time for the ice bath. In fact, I’ve got a mate who might be interested. ■

So sure, cold showers, why not. I started on June 22, the shortest day of the year, figuring if I could hack it then I could hack it anytime.

@AIRAHnews

Mark Vender Editor mark.vender@airah.org.au

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Toolshed 1

R32 chiller from Daikin

“It also features vacuum and pressure hold functions, that along with super heat and sub cooling, are all logged on the screen and are exportable in an Excel format via cable or Bluetooth communication.”

Daikin has introduced a new-generation air-cooled scroll chiller with R32 refrigerant. The new EWAT-B range features free cooling migration, enabling building systems to switch from mechanical cooling and take advantage of prevailing outdoor temperatures to meet cooling demands for air or water. According to Daikin, this significantly reduces power consumption. “R32 is the only refrigerant that allows migration to free cooling without the need for other add-on devices,” says Daikin. “Addition of glycol is not required, unlike standard water free‑cooling technologies, where its use is mandatory.” The new refrigerant migration system is available in two options: Light and Full. The Light refrigerant migration system delivers up to 25 per cent of nominal cooling capacity. The Full option includes an additional flood evaporator per circuit that works in parallel to the standard heat exchanger, to improve the system’s performance. The cooling capacity of the Full system extends up to 75 per cent of the standard unit’s nominal cooling capacity, making it suitable for cooling in larger buildings.

analogue and digital readouts simultaneously, as well as a high‑level Bluetooth app for both Apple and Android.

The units are supplied in their own backpack with four hoses, two temperature probes and a vacuum sensor from the Super Evac range. They are now available from all leading wholesalers. Go to www.skyrefrig.com ■

4 Plastic intelligence Frigel has launched a new version of its Ecodry System for process cooling in the plastics industry. According to the company, Ecodry System 4.0 is based on full digital connectivity between mould temperature control and the moulding machine, and incorporates several innovative engineering improvements.

Go to commercial.daikin.com.au ■

“From complex automotive injection-moulded parts to high‑speed thin wall packaging, this new process-synchronized cooling approach covers all cooling demands in plastics moulding with unbeatable performance improvements, cycle time reduction and cost savings, together with outstanding reductions of environmental impact,” says Frigel.

2 Next-gen evaporators

The system is based on two technologies: processsynchronised mould temperature control units with an operating temperature range from 5–200˚C; and a central adiabatic water-cooling system.

The EWAT-B range is available for cooling only and heat recovery applications from 80kW to 700kW cooling capacity at nominal conditions.

Kirby has launched a new range of evaporators. According to the company, the Guardian range incorporates advanced engineering and innovative features to meet the future requirements of the refrigeration industry.

According to Frigel, the new system brings overall performance to a higher level in plastics processing. In most applications the net result can be cycle time reductions of up to 50 per cent, with improved part quality, along with even higher resulting electrical power savings.

The range is specifically designed for next-generation, low‑GWP refrigerants, including R450A, R448A, R449A, R507A and R513A.

“Ecodry System 4.0 achieves remarkable running cost savings when compared to traditional central systems: power savings (up to 30 per cent), water savings (up to 95 per cent) and maintenance and safety cost savings (up to 90 per cent),” the company says.

Guardian evaporators feature the Series 9 coil design for additional capacity, more stable room conditions, reduced frost accumulation and more efficient air defrost, through the use of sine wave technology and a larger surface area. Kirby says the result is greater efficiencies and lower cost of ownership. “The efficient design is further supported by Ziehl-Abegg owlet fan blade technology that achieves larger air volumes, optimal flow properties and improved noise ratings,” says Kirby. “Easy‑access panels and a fully reversible drain pan complete an exciting new range that is everything you have come to trust in Kirby.”

Go to frigel.com ■

5 4

Hisense on the scene

Chinese electronics giant Hisense is launching a range of air conditioners onto the Australian market.

Go to kirbyhvacr.com.au ■

The range consists of six models and includes reversecycle units as well as cooling-only models. They will be available at The Good Guys nationwide from November 2019 and will start at $799. All come with a five-year warranty as standard.

3 Touch-screen technology

Hisense says the units have been specifically designed by an R&D team with the Australian climate in mind – it is claimed they can withstand ambient temperatures of up to 50°C.

Kirby is planning to extend the range soon. The Guardian Ultra, Guardian Ready Connect and Guardian Ecocool will include models to suit a variety of specialised applications.

Although the Yellow Jacket P51 digital touch-screen manifold has been available in the US for several months, local representative Sky Refrigeration reports that the P51 has been hard to source for Australia. Because of the huge demand in Yellow Jacket’s home market, only 14 units were allocated in the first 12 months. But now that a third production line is up and running in the Minnesota factory, a greater supply is headed Down Under.

Other features include an Eco Mode, Smart Mode, Silver Ion filter, Quiet Mode, and “IFEEL”, which uses a temperature sensor located in the remote control to adjust room temperature based on where the remote is located in the room.

“The P51 is a ground-breaking new digital service manifold based on the tried and proven YJ Titan,” says Sky Refrigeration.

“We are thrilled to launch our range of air conditioners into the Australian market,” says Hisense Australia head of marketing Andre Iannuzzi. “Reliable cooling solutions are incredibly important to consumers – especially in Australia with its typically long and hot summers.”

“It is unique with its colour touch screen that features both

hisense.com.au/airconditioners ■

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Toolshed 6

Need a lift?

Two new lifters have been launched by Sumner Australia.

7 Fin-tastic development Fan manufacturer Ziehl-Abegg is well known for using biomimicry in its products. The new ZAbluefin fan incorporates features from the humpback whale.

“We understand wholeheartedly that air conditioning work is physical and dangerous,” says the company. “The team have made it their mission to take the struggle out of everyday lifting and now have available two new models in the Sumner Series 2000 Short Stack Material Lift range. These lifters are the ultimate unit for lifting duct, AC units, garage doors, awnings, beams or just about anything into place safely and easily.

According to the company, the airflow in centrifugal fans hits the fan blades at different angles, depending on the volume flow. Whales face similar challenges when swimming in the sea: the movement of the fins causes their angular position to constantly change. If the pectoral fins were to be positioned at too steep an angle to the opposing current, strong turbulence would result in the water separating from the fins.

“Purchasing a Sumner Series 2000 lift from Sumner Australia is not only cost-effective but is also an investment in your staff, helping to reduce the cost of injury and giving your workers a safe environment.”

Over millions of years, the design of the humpback’s fins has evolved so that the leading edges contain golf-ball-sized nodules called tubercles. This allows an animal weighing 25 tonnes to swim very quickly and nimbly.

According to Sumner, the Series 2000 lifts can lift up to 360kg, have a stored height of 161cm and can reach heights of 3.9m and 4.9m. They have been designed to be easy to move – a mast hold-down secures the mast for safe transport.

“We recreated this aspect at the leading edge of the fan blades and implemented it in the form of a rippled surface,” says Ziehl‑Abegg’s Dr Walter Angelis.

“There is nothing difficult about these lifters, and with a quick tool‑free assembly there is no complicated set-up and you can get on with doing the important things safely,” says Sumner.

The flow engineers also took a closer look at the whale’s tail fin, the fluke. The V-shaped contour of the tail fin section delays any potential flow separation, so the fan can be used for numerous pressure ranges.

Go to www.sumner.com.au ■

Go to www.ziehl-abegg.com ■

DO YOU HAVE A NEW PRODUCT TO GO IN THE TOOLSHED?

Email mark.vender@airah.org.au All submissions received will be considered, though publication cannot be guaranteed.

November 2019

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HVAC&R Nation

Global Update

QATAR

USA

STADIA FANTASIA

HELLISH CONDITIONS

Qatar had a test run of its facilities for the FIFA 2022 World Cup when it held the IAAF World Championships in the capital Doha last month.

Thieves have stolen a brand-new air conditioning unit worth more than Au$5,000 from the Akron Alliance Fellowship Church in Akron, Ohio.

While temperatures soared to 35°C outside the recently opened Al Janoub stadium, the trackside temperature inside was just 21°C.

Pastor Gus Brown says that the culprits used special tools to cut the pipework and that at least two people must have been involved, because of the size of the unit.

This was thanks to an air conditioning system of nozzles that blow out chilled air along the side of the field. Stands are kept at a comfortable 24–26°C through angular diffusing ducts fitted beneath the seats.

In response, the church has changed the message on its sign as shown above. According to Brown, this is an appeal for the thieves to repent.

“We pump the exact amount of cold air in the exact place and then recycle it all the time,” says Dr Saud Abdul Ghani – aka Dr Cool – the mechanical engineer in charge of the project. “There are grilles on the floor. We take it from the top and recycle it back.” ■

“Staying on this path will only get you one place,” he warns. “And we don’t want you to go there. Our desire is to even see the thief at our church one day.” Bible studies and services continued, despite hot conditions. The church was planning to hold an offering plate for the air conditioning fund. ■

BELGIUM Zone 2 Zone 0

Zone 1

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FLUSH WITH SUCCESS

ADVICE ON FLAMMABLES

An innovative toilet flushing system that uses waste water from air conditioning condensate drains has won the prestigious CIBSE “Energy Saving Product or Innovation of the Year” award.

The European refrigeration and air conditioning components manufacturers group Asercom has published a guide for the safe handling of components used in compression refrigeration circuits that have flammable refrigerants.

Unlike a traditional toilet, which empties the cistern with each flush, the Encore has a dual-chamber 18-litre tank to store condensate. This means the system only needs to use mains-fed water after multiple flushes.

“The component manufacturers organised in Asercom have noticed a high degree of uncertainty among refrigeration and air conditioning specialists when dealing with flammable refrigerants,” says Asercom president Wolfgang Zaremski. “We would like to counteract this uncertainty with this guideline.’

The system has passed punishing endurance tests and has been trialled in hotels and office buildings, where it reduced mains water consumption by up to 50 per cent – enough to fill several Olympic swimming pools. It can also be connected to other grey water sources. The makers believe the product will prove especially popular in countries where water is scarce but AC units are plentiful – such as Australia. ■

The 20-page document is designed to provide engineers, manufacturers and installers of systems that are operated in non-hazardous areas with handling recommendations on both A3 and A2L refrigerants. The guideline covers valves, heat exchangers, compressors and other mechanical, electronic and electro-mechanical controls. It focuses on the main stationary applications: chillers, split and multi-split AC systems, rooftop units, self-contained commercial refrigeration appliances and remote commercial refrigeration systems. Go to asercom.org/guides ■

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Feature

REFRIGERATE. RECLAIM. RECYCLE. REPEAT. With the import quota for virgin HCFCs now at its lowest level and the volume required to maintain existing R22 systems exceeding that amount, the Australian HVAC&R industry has reached a critical juncture. Sean McGowan reports on the growth of refrigerant reclaim and recycling in the sector. You will know that as part of the Australian government’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) such as R22 are being phased out.

Cold Hard Facts 3 estimates

That program began in 1996 through import controls under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989. The Act has seen Australia’s annual import of HCFCs drop from 250 ODPt (ozone depleting potential tonnes) a year to an annual limit of just 2.5 ODPt from 2016 to 2029.

the installed bank of R22 to still be in the vicinity of 6,000 tonnes

This phase-out has been supported by bans on new equipment containing HCFCs.

by the Expert Group, estimates the installed bank of R22 to still be in the vicinity of 6,000 tonnes.

The impact on R22, commonly used in residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems in the wake of the phase-out of CFCs in the 1990s, has been significant.

Naturally, this bank requires servicing and maintenance like any other. So where is the shortfall required to maintain these systems coming from?

Today, about 45 tonnes of R22 is imported into Australia annually. And from January 1 next year, R22 imported into the country can only be used for servicing existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. By 2030 – little more than 10 years from now – imports of R22 will be banned entirely. Equipment and plant operating on R22 is gradually reaching the end of its useful life and will be replaced with new equipment using different refrigerants. However, the 2018 report Cold Hard Facts 3, produced 10

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The answer is, at least in some part, reclamation and recycling. According to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA), the amount of refrigerant being recovered from systems throughout Australia has reached almost 500 tonnes per year. Of this, about 400 tonnes is destroyed by the RRA while the remainder is reclaimed. And it’s nearly all being done by fridgies who are recovering a few grams to a few kilos at a time. Hats off to you! Recently appointed as general manager of RRA, Kylie Farrelley says that while the early days of the program

November 2019

saw some refrigerant reclaimed to meet a shortfall in supply due to the rapid phase-out of CFCs, most of the attention has now turned to the reclaiming of R22. “Over the last few years, there has been a shortfall in the supply of R22 as it is phased out – creating demand for reclamation,” Farrelley says. “The volume of R22 being reclaimed averages out at around 100 tonnes per annum, and we expect this to continue for a couple of years. After that, demand for R22 will decline quickly as installed systems become obsolete and alternatives more attractive.” Importantly, reclaimed refrigerant needs to be treated in the same way as new refrigerant in terms of sale, handling and usage. The Australia and New Zealand Refrigerant Handling Code of Practice 2007 – Part 2 states that refrigerant which is to be re-used in a system other than that from which it was removed must be disposed of or tested, and may be recycled or reprocessed to ensure it complies with the provisions of AHRI700-2004. This standard is used to establish purity specifications, to verify composition, and to specify the associated methods of testing for acceptability of fluorocarbon refrigerants. Reputable wholesalers will only offer reclaimed refrigerant that meets this AHRI standard, and thankfully, a large proportion of the industry is adhering to it.

Feature

R22 certificate of analysis (left) and sample results of R22 testing.

RECLAIMING R22 Cold Hard Facts 3 estimates that 210 metric tonnes of R22 was recycled and/or reused in 2016. “The demand for reclaimed R22 is huge in our industry due to the limited availability of it on the market,” says Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors’ Association (RACCA) president, Kevin O’Shea. “It has become highly viable to clean it up and re‑use.” And O’Shea says the market for reclaimed refrigerant is expected to continue growing. “Changing practices have motivated contractors to clean up refrigerants for re‑use and created demand for pump-down cylinders to the point that for a short time last year, the industry had run out of pump-down cylinders,” he says. “There have been small operators who have been cleaning (recovered) refrigerants for over 20 years, and now the big refrigerant companies have joined in, offering the service of having your refrigerant tested and cleaned,” he says, adding that quality control is vital. Just how much recovered R22 is recycled to the AHRI700 standard is unknown, but given the cost of the cleaning process, one would expect there to still be widespread re-use of substandard R22. This represents a concern for the industry. “Although lucrative, this behaviour impacts performance and energy efficiency of the system and can lead to components – especially the compressor – being damaged,” says A-Gas business development manager, Graeme Dewerson, Affil.AIRAH. Through the analytical services A-Gas offers to market, it has a great deal of visibility over the general quality of gas within working systems, including those systems with operational issues. “The results we see strongly back up the requirement to recycle refrigerant to AHRI700 before re-use,” Dewerson says. “Damage to systems will inevitably occur otherwise.”

Source: A-Gas.

With the quality and purity of refrigerant found in some systems questionable, A-Gas strongly advises that recycled R22 is only purchased from a reputable supplier and that a Certificate of Conformity is requested. But with the launch of analytical products such as the A-Gas Refrigerant Health Check and Kirby’s Gas2Go Gas Doctor Testing Service, greater accountability is coming. Such products now make it possible to sample gas from HVAC&R systems and receive a full report on the fluid quality. “This is increasing accountability in the market and means it is not so easy to get away with poor practices such as refrigerant re-use without appropriate cleaning,” says Dewerson.

SEPARATION ANXIETY One of the challenges of recycling refrigerants is that, in many cases, the quality and/or composition of the refrigerant cannot be known for sure without appropriate testing. While this can be overcome through analysis, reclaiming refrigerants where more than one refrigerant type exists can be difficult. “The fractional distillation process uses the thermodynamic properties of the refrigerants to separate one from the other,” says Farrelley. “The more disparate the properties, the easier the refrigerants are to separate. But often, recovered refrigerant is a mixture of many different refrigerants that are difficult to separate as some have similar physical properties.”

WARNING SIGNS be fractionated,” says Dewerson. “That is, the constituent gases can be in the wrong percent composition.”

Used refrigerant recovered from existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems will usually have elevated moisture and non‑condensable gas levels. In rare cases, the refrigerant can also be acidic. Moisture, if not removed by driers, can block valves with ice in extreme cases, but is more likely to react slowly with the refrigerant to form hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid. According to Graeme Dewerson, Affil.AIRAH, acids attack seals, motor windings and discharge valves, especially in the compressor. Acids also react with POE and mineral oils causing a build-up of sludge and reduced lubrication of moving parts in the compressor. Non-condensable gases collect in the heat exchanger and hamper heat transfer. Elevated pressures on the high side of the system lead to increased compressor energy use and reduced energy efficiency. “Used refrigerant can also be contaminated with other gases, and 400 series blends can

In both instances, it means that that the pressure/ temperature relationship for the gas differs from expectation and system controls cannot be accurately set. “Often the gas will be short of higher-pressure components – reducing volumetric capacity, increasing system run times and reducing energy efficiency,” says Dewerson. The lesson? Ensure the refrigerant you are using meets the AHRI700 standard. “The AHRI700 standard provides maximum contaminant levels of moisture, non-condensable gases and acidity,” says Dewerson. “It also specifies purity and compositional requirements to ensure the gas is practically as good as new.” By buying properly recycled refrigerant, you can be sure that re-use of the refrigerant is 100 per cent safe and no damage to your system will result.

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Feature A plasma arc destruction plant, used for destroying refrigerant.

FREON FELONS BEWARE The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act sets out the legal requirements for handling controlled HFC, HCFC and CFC refrigerants. These requirements are designed to prevent discharge of refrigerant to the atmosphere. By law, all refrigerant must be recovered. It is an offence to deliberately emit HCFC, HFC or CFC refrigerants. All work on equipment containing these refrigerants must be done by appropriately licensed technicians who must comply with all relevant laws and standards. A penalty of up to $63,000 for an individual or $315,000 for a corporation may apply for breaches of these refrigerant handling laws. A good example of this problem exists in the ability to separate the components of the common refrigerant R410A. Made up of a blend of R32 and R125, the two refrigerants form a near azeotropic bond that makes them very difficult to separate.

wholesale branch and agent network – there is no good reason for industry members to not be returning unwanted, recovered refrigerant. In fact, it is a legal requirement that all refrigerant be recovered.

“R32 is likely to be in long-term use, making it suitable for re-use. But R125, with its high GWP, is a good candidate for disposal and destruction,” Farrelley says.

Every cylinder of gas that RRA receives is analysed, identified and then decanted into bulk storage through a set of vaporisers that remove oil, moisture and particulates from the refrigerant.

“Given the volume of R410A installed in Australia, it is necessary to develop reclamation technology to economically break down this refrigerant.”

Most refrigerant returned to RRA is destroyed using the argon plasma-arc process that safely transforms it into salty water.

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION

MORE WORK TO DO

Established in 1993, Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) is the industry-funded, not-for-profit organisation charged with the responsibility of facilitating the collection, reclamation and safe disposal of used, contaminated and unwanted refrigerant. Since its inception, RRA has taken back more than 7,000 tonnes of used contaminated and unwanted refrigerant – equating to more than 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent being prevented from emission.

As former general manager of RRA, Michael Bennett has seen the industry transition through the phase-out of CFCs, HCFCs, and now the HFC phase-down. He says while contractors and technicians in the Australian refrigeration, air conditioning and automobile air conditioning industries do an outstanding job in recovering and returning contaminated and unwanted refrigerant, more needs to be done. “Australia performs poorly compared to some other nations regarding recovery from end-of-life equipment and motor vehicles, and the amount of refrigerant

With over 500 RRA collection points throughout Australia – largely using the industry’s existing

Unfortunately, many systems are topped up with incorrect refrigerants, leading to contamination.

being recovered from the split-system air conditioning sector is problematic,” Bennett says. As well as advising RRA on a part-time basis and consulting to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Bennett is now steering a project to determine the lifespan, leak rate and residual volume of refrigerant in split air conditioning systems at end of life. He says if over one million split system units are sold every year in Australia, it stands to reason that eventually one million will reach end of life annually. “This means there may be 500 to 1,000 tonnes of refrigerant available for recovery just from this sector alone, each year,” Bennett says. “Obviously, it is vital that this refrigerant is recovered and either reused or safely destroyed.” While larger companies are more likely to recover refrigerant from removed and decommissioned split systems, many more units are simply uninstalled and put out on the nature strip as hard waste, with the refrigerant left to escape to atmosphere. “There’s no economic incentive for the guy working for large retailers on a fixed price installation to recover the refrigerant from the old system because he can’t charge for it,” Bennett says. “That has to change.” ■

FRIDGIES TAKE NOTE! Fridgies who are recovering refrigerant under a Refrigerant Handling Licence issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) are reminded that they may only sell reclaimed gas if they also hold a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) issued by the ARC or are engaged by an RTA holder. According to a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment and Energy, this requirement is in place to ensure the reclaimed gas is properly maintained and recorded as part of the obligations of an RTA and is not traded without record between licence holders.

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ARE YOU READY TO MEET THE FUTURE CHALLENGES OF REFRIGERATION? Like never before, increasing energy costs, avoiding food loss and waste, changes in refrigerant technology and additional requirements for cool room efficiency are making the need for sustainable solutions an urgent priority for all. Designed in Australia, the KirbyÂŽ Guardian range represents our next-generation in evaporators, incorporating advanced engineering and innovative features, like our Series 9 coil and Ziehl-Abegg owlet fans to meet the future requirements of the refrigeration industry for installers, specifiers and asset owners alike. KirbyÂŽ Guardian - The first line of defence just got stronger.

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Cool Tech

THIS IS A KNIFE Handy and durable, an Opinel No.8 will cut true, and doesn’t cost a fortune. Sure, we might live in a high-tech digital world, but there’s still a place for an old-school pocket-knife. Whether it’s on the job or at home, there’s invariably a piece of rope, cord or mesh that needs cutting. (Ed’s note: Or perhaps a target that needs throwing at?) The versatile Opinel No.8 will do the job. Boasting an 82mm blade and an overall length of 194mm when open (110mm when closed), the knife is compact and lightweight enough to sit in a pocket (where else?). A Virobloc safety ring locks the blade in a closed or open position.

Opinel employs about 100 people, produces four million knives per year, and sells to more than 70 countries across the world.

feels great in your hand, and can last basically forever if you use it right.”

The No.8 model is Opinel’s best seller.

Price: About $25 ■

“Not only are these knives remarkably handy and durable,” says one online review, “but they’re iconic, classic, and have the potential to outlast a wide range of competitors despite their low entry fee.” “An Opinel knife will never win a ‘World’s Sexiest Knife’ competition,” opined another reviewer. “But it cuts like crazy, weighs nothing,

Here is a blade with history on its side. Established in Chambery in the Savoie region of France, the company was founded in 1890 by Joseph Opinel, whose descendants still own the company.

efficiency and flexibility

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MODULE

125 126

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UPDATE CONTROLS

ON NEW REFRIGERANTS FUNDAMENTALS DESIGNATIONS AND SAFETY CLASSIFICATIONS

Controls are an increasingly important consideration in new building design and existing building renovation. They are directly linked to building performance and energy management, commissioning and retro-commissioning, operation and maintenance and broader links Curated by ASHRAE and UN Environment, the purpose of this to building sustainability, building health andmonth’s safety, andSkills ultimately and productivity. Workshop is to provide anbuilding updatesatisfaction on ASHRAE standards for refrigerants and

Skills summary

to introduce the new refrigerants that have been awarded an «R» number operation and control of environmental systems in buildings is a ■ What? over the last few yearsThe and introduced into the international market.

compositions at a specific pressure).

Although there are classifications, there are extreme ambient conditions which, coupled with the refrigerant nature, can lead to higher toxicity.

Hazard classification

ASHRAE recently updated the safety classification matrix to include a new flammability subclass 2L, for flammability class 2 refrigerants that burn very slowly. Some HFOs, which have very low global warming potential, are mildly flammable and are classified as A2L. This indicates that they are of lower toxicity and have low burning velocity.

Standard 34 assigns an identifying reference letter and number to each refrigerant to classify it according to the hazard involved in its use. The capital letter designates a toxicity class based on allowable exposure. The numeral denotes flammability.

ASHRAE Standard 34 R

Examples using the methane series of refrigerants

F = Number fluorine atoms H+1 = Number of hydrogen atoms + 1

CC = Number of unstaturated carbon-carbon bonds (omit if zero)

R10 3

C-1 = Number of carbon atoms -1 (omit if zero)

R11

rin

R20

o Flu 2

R30

R21

R12 1

ASHRAE Standard 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, establishes a simple means of referring to common refrigerants rather than by their chemical name, formula, or trade name. ASHRAE assigns numbers and safety classification to the refrigerants based on toxicity and flammability data submitted by the refrigerant’s producer. For pure compounds, the numbers are based on chemical formula. For blends, numbers are assigned sequentially based on the completion of a satisfactory review of data provided by the refrigerant’s producer. Information is available in the current edition, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2019.

flammability, there are three classifications This Skills Workshop provides a broadFor overview of control system and one subclass. The three main flammability Refrigerants having the form R-4xxx are zeotropic fundamentals and explains commonare terms when that do not classifications class 1,used for refrigerants (blends of two or more refrigerants whose some liquid of the propagate a flame when tested as per the standard; control phasediscussing and vapor phase alwayssystems. have different class 2, for refrigerants of lower flammability; and composition), while those with the form R-5xxx class 3, for highly flammable refrigerants such as are azeotropes (blends of refrigerants whose the hydrocarbons. liquid phase and vapor phase have the same

STANDARD 34

number (for example, R-401A and R-401B).

ine

Maintenance service providers, controls vendors and integrators, designers and contractors, construction and project managers, facility managers, building owners and developers, tenants and occupants.

lor

■ Who?

critical activity in terms of operating costs, environmental footprint, occupant comfort, and indoor environment quality. The operation of many building systems is sub-optimalFor and the performance of these case letter after the number (for example, example, Standard 34 defines two safety classifications for toxicity. Class A denotes R-134a). Refrigerant blends having the same pure systems can improve with better control strategies. Efficient buildings refrigerants of lower toxicity, and class B denotes components but with different compositions need efficient controls. refrigerants of higher toxicity. are identified with an upper case letter after the

An overview of building controls and the terms commonly used when discussing them.

R31

R50

R42

R22 R32

R13 R23

R14

H H C H H Methane R–50 (CH4)

Isomers (molecule with the same chemical formula as another molecule but with a different chemical structure) are identified with a lower

R40

Refrigerants are numbered with an R-, followed by the ASHRAE-assigned number.

ASHRAE’s numbering system

Hydrogen

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HVAC&R Nation

HVAC&R Skills Workshop ASHRAE Standard 34

– Basis of standard Safety group classifications Increasing flammability

Safety Group Higher flammability Lower flammability No flame propagation

A2L*

B2L*

Lower toxicity

Higher toxicity

Increasing Toxicity * A2L and B2L are lower flammability refrigerants with a maximum burning velocity of ≤3.9 in./s (10cms)

New refrigerants The following tables list the approved refrigerant numbers from the latest edition of Standard 34 and addenda that were assigned from 2010 onward. Global Warming Potential data listed in the table are taken from Tables 3 and 4 of 2017 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals, Chapter 29. Safety Group classifications are taken from Tables 4-1 and 4-2 of Standard 34, and temperature data are taken from Tables D-1 and D2 of Standard 34.

Refrigerants Numbera

STANDARD 15

1130(E) 1132a

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Normal Boiling Point, °F (°C) a

trans-1,2-dichloroethene

N/Ac

117.9 (47.7) –122.5 (–86.7)

1,1-difluoroethylene

N/A

1224yd(Z)

(Z)-1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene

N/Ac

58.1 (14.5)

1233zd(E)

trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene

64.6 (18.1)

1234ze(E)

trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene

A2L

trifluoroiodomethane

1336mzz(E)

trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene

1336mzz(Z)

cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexaflouro-2-butene

13I1

Personal injury and property damage can result from a number of origins, such as rupture of a part with flying debris, release of refrigerant from a fracture or fire resulting from or intensified by burning, or deflagration of escaping refrigerant or lubricant. In addition, personal injury can result from the accidental release of refrigerants in inadequately ventilated spaces; narcotic and cardiac sensitization effects; toxic effects of vapor or the decomposition products due to vapor contact with flames or hot surfaces; corrosive attack on the eyes, skin, or other tissue; or freezing of tissue by contact with liquid.

Global Warming Potential (GWP100b)

Unsaturated Organic Compounds

ASHRAE Standard 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems, sets forth requirements to help protect people and property where refrigeration facilities are located. Further information is available in the current edition, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15‑2019.

Safety Groupa

Chemical Namea

–2.2 (–19.0) c

N/A

–7.4 (–21.9)

N/A

45.3 (7.4)

91.4 (33.4)

Safety Groupa

Global Warming Potential (GWP100b)

Normal Boiling Point, °F (°C) a

Refrigerant Blends Number

Composition (Mass %)

Azeotropes 511A

R-290/E170 (95.0/5.0)

–43.7 (–42.1)

512A

R-134a/152a (5.0/95.0)

196

–11.2 (–24.0)

513A

R-1234yf/134a (56.0/44.0)

573

–20.6 (–29.2) –20.6 (–29.2)

513B

R-1234yf/134a (58.5/41.5)

N/A

514A

R-1336mzz(Z)/1130(E) (74.7/25.3)

N/Ac

84.2 (29.0)

515A

R-1234ze(E)/227ea (88.0/12.0)

N/A

–2.0 (–18.9)

516A

R-1234yf/134a/152a (77.5/8.5/14.0)

A2L

N/A

–20.9 (–29.4)

ASHRAE and UNEP cooperation United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), represented by the OzonAction-Law Division, and ASHRAE have a Memorandum of Understanding to establish technical cooperation and mutual coordination toward providing professional technical services to the refrigeration |

November 2019

and air‑conditioning stakeholders (governmental, private, and public). The organisations work to ensure that up-to-date related technical information and standards are properly introduced and promoted. ASHRAE is a worldwide technical society of more than 57,000 individual members. ■

HVAC&R Skills Workshop Refrigerant Blends Number

Composition (Mass %)

Safety Group a

Global Warming Potential (GWP100b)

Bubble Point, °F a

Dew Point, °F a

Bubble Point, °C a

Dew Point, °C a

1670 N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac 2740 N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac 1830 156 5 1750 4 89 295 118 461 572 N/Ac 1360 1280 1300 N/Ac 547 133 146 1952 N/Ac N/Ac 1640 238 467 N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac N/Ac

–51.0 –20.6 –48.5 –39.6 –48.8 –26.9 –35.3 –43.2 –42.7 –61.6 –13.9 –43.4 –51.7 –48.6 –29.7 –48.3 –58.5 –56.9 –56.7 –58.2 –50.6 –50.8 –51.0 –48.3 –10.1 –23.4 –23.8 –52.6 –59.8 –53.5 –44.0 –55.1 –59.6 –50.8 –60.9 –22.7 –44.9 –39.6 –58.6 –47.2 –48.3 –49.4 –20.6 –44.0 –44.7 –73.1 –51.7 –61.2 –40.9 –60.3

–39.5 –17.0 –35.7 –27.4 –42.7 –20.6 –24.7 –33.5 –39.1 –61.2 –11.7 –4.7 –39.8 –42.2 –11.7 –30.8 –10.3 –47.2 –47.6 –50.8 –39.6 –39.8 –40.4 –36.6 –9.0 –22.9 –23.1 –45.8 –58.5 –47.6 –31.0 –42.9 –58.0 –36.0 –38.4 –14.1 –31.9 –26.3 –55.5 –33.0 –35.0 –34.8 –14.8 –38.0 –33.9 –52.4 –34.4 –40.0 –27.9 –38.2

–46.1 –29.2 –44.7 –39.8 –44.9 –32.7 –37.4 –41.8 –41.5 –52.0 –25.5 –41.9 –46.5 –44.8 –34.3 –44.6 –50.3 –49.4 –49.3 –50.1 –45.9 –46.0 –46.1 –44.6 –23.4 –30.8 –31.0 –47.0 –51.0 –47.5 –42.2 –48.4 –50.9 –46.0 –51.6 –30.4 –42.7 –39.8 –50.3 –44.0 –44.6 –45.2 –29.2 –42.0 –42.6 –58.4 –46.5 –51.8 –40.5 –51.3

–39.7 –27.2 –37.6 –33.0 –41.5 –29.2 –31.5 –36.4 –39.5 –51.8 –24.3 –20.4 –39.9 –41.2 –24.3 –34.9 –23.5 –44.0 –44.2 –46.0 –39.8 –39.9 –40.2 –38.1 –22.8 –30.5 –31.0 –43.2 –50.3 –44.2 –35.0 –41.6 –50.0 –37.8 –39.1 –25.6 –35.5 –32.4 –48.6 –36.1 –37.2 –37.1 –26.0 –37.0 –36.6 –46.9 –36.9 –40.0 –33.3 –39.0

Zeotropes 407F 407G 407H 407I 417B 417C 419B 422E 436C 439A 440A 441A 442A 443A 444A 444B 445A 446A 447A 447B 448A 449A 449B 449C 450A 451A 451B 452A 452B 452C 453A 454A 454B 454C 455A 456A 457A 458A 459A 459B 460A 460B 460C 461A 462A 463A 464A 465A 467A 468A

R-32/125/134a (30.0/30.0/40.0) R-32/125/134a (2.5/2.5/95.0) R-32/125/134a (32.5/15.0/52.5) R-32/125/134a (19.5/8.5/72.0) R-125/134a/600 (79.0/18.3/2.7) R-125/134a/600 (19.5/78.8/1.7) R-125/134a/E170 (48.5/48.0/3.5) R-125/134a/600a (58.0/39.3/2.7) R-290/600a (95.0/5.0) R-32/125/600a (50.0/47.0/3.0) R-290/134a/152a (0.6/1.6/97.8) R-170/290/600a/600 (3.1/54.8/6.0/36.1) R-32/125/134a/152a/227ea (31.0/31.0/30.0/3.0/5.0) R-1270/290/600a (55.0/40.0/5.0) R-32/152a/1234ze(E) (12.0/5.0/83.0) R-32/152a/1234ze(E) (41.5/10.0/48.5) R-744/134a/1234ze(E) (6.0/9.0/85.0) R-32/1234ze(E)/600 (68.0/29.0/3.0) R-32/125/1234ze(E) (68.0/3.5/28.5) R-32/125/1234ze(E) (68.0/8.0/24.0) R-32/125/1234yf/134a/1234ze(E) (26.0/26.0/20.0/21.0/7.0) R-32 /125 /1234yf /134a (24.3/24.7/25.3/25.7) R-32/125/1234yf/134a (25.2/24.3/23.2/27.3) R-32/125/1234yf/134a (20.0/20.0/31.0/29.0) R-134a/1234ze(E) (42.0/58.0) R-1234yf/134a (89.8/10.2) R-1234yf/134a (88.8/11.2) R-32/125/1234yf (11.0/59.0/30.0) R-32/125/1234yf (67.0/7.0/26.0) R-32/125/1234yf (12.5/61.0/26.5) R-32/125/134a/227ea/600/601a (20.0/20.0/53.8/5.0/0.6/0.6) R-32/1234yf (35.0/65.0) R-32/1234yf (68.9/31.1) R-32/1234yf (21.5/78.5) R-744/32/1234yf (3.0/21.5/75.5) R-32/134a/1234ze(E) (6.0/45.0/49.0) R-32/1234yf/152a (18.0/70.0/12.0) R-32/125/134a/227ea/236fa (20.5/4.0/61.4/13.5/0.6) R-32/1234yf/1234ze(E) (68.0/26.0/6.0) R-32/1234yf/1234ze(E) (21.0/69.0/10.0) R-32/125/134a/1234ze(E) (12.0/52.0/14.0/22.0) R-32/125/134a/1234ze(E) (28.0/25.0/20.0/27.0) R-32/125/134a/1234ze(E) (2.5/2.5/46.0/49.0) R-125/143a/134a/227ea/600a (55.0/5.0/32.0/5.0/3.0) R-32/125/143a/134a/600 (9.0/42.0/2.0/44.0/3.0) R-744/32/125/1234yf/134a (6.0/36.0/30.0/14.0/14.0) R-32/125/1234ze(E)/227ea (27.0/27.0/40.0/6.0) R-32/290/1234yf (21.0/7.9/71.1) R-32/125/134a/600a (22.0/5.0/72.4/0.6) R-1132a/32/1234yf (3.5/21.5/75.0)

A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A2 A1 A3 A2 A2 A3 A1 A3 A2L A2L A2L A2L A2L A2L A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A2L A2L A1 A2L A1 A1 A2L A2L A2L A2L A1 A2L A1 A2L A2L A1 A1 A1 A1 A2 A1 A1 A2 A2L A2L

a Source: ASHRAE Standard 34 b Source: 2017 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals c “N/A” indicates a refrigerant for which no GWP information is currently available in ASHRAE Handbook — Fundamentals. Data on some of these refrigerants may be found in reports of the Refrigeration Technical Options Committee, or, for blends, the GWP may be calculated from the GWP of the pure compounds. Green-shaded cells indicate refrigerants added since the previous version of the Factsheet. This list is not intended to be complete or definitive. Please refer to the latest edition of ASHRAE Standard 34 for complete information on refrigerant designations and safety classifications.

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Reprinted courtesy of ASHRAE. Content from ASHRAE Standard 34-2019. For the full standard visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Next month: Maintenance strategies November 2019

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November 2019

AIRAH News

A MODEL FOR MAINTENANCE AIRAH’s DA19, the industry reference for HVAC&R maintenance, has been updated. Technical consultant Vincent Aherne, F.AIRAH, gives us the lowdown. HVAC&R systems provide comfort conditions within buildings, support many processes and enable many systems. Owners, managers and operators rely on these often complex systems to successfully run their businesses.

AIRAH’s DA19 application manual, now in its fourth edition, has been the definitive reference for HVAC&R maintenance in Australia for more than 20 years. This is a document that is designed for, and used by, the HVAC&R maintenance sector.

Failure to maintain HVAC&R systems reduces their useful life, increases their operating costs, and introduces unreliability, dissatisfaction and risk to a business’s operation. Good maintenance practices underpin the performance of HVAC&R services. They promote safety, reliability and comfort and help us manage operational costs, meet environmental ratings and comply with legislated duties. Failure to maintain is risky; it creates costs and reduces returns.

As with any such tool, it must respond to the market’s needs in order to stay relevant and useful. The latest edition of DA19 has been developed with considerable industry engagement, and features significant updates relating to energy efficiency, system sustainability, asset management and the digitisation of maintenance (smart maintenance). The emergence of data-driven digitally enabled maintenance is probably the biggest challenge – and opportunity – facing the industry today.

Digitisation is occurring at all stages of the process, during maintenance planning, management, delivery and review. The new edition of DA19 includes important guidance on digitally enabling maintenance, including leveraging existing asset data, managing data and data security, and the application of rulesbased data analytics and digital optimisation. Assets with high performance expectations require performance-oriented outcomes-based maintenance approaches. The new edition of DA19 and its associated user guide helps define such approaches. Because DA19 covers the fine detail of HVAC&R maintenance but is also a key reference for non‑specialists, this edition is accompanied by a user guide. The user guide is designed to assist building owners and facilities managers better understand the steps they can take to use DA19 to specify their maintenance needs. ■ WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? Go to www.airah.org.au/DA_Manuals or www.DA19_FM_userguide.com

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November 2019

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Cover Feature

THRILLS AND CHILLS

The recently completed Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia is a world‑class racing circuit with a world‑class refrigeration system to match. Sean McGowan reports. In late August more than 35,000 motorsport fans flocked to the second running of the OTR SuperSprint at The Bend, stamping the venue as one of the highlights of the Australian Supercar Championship calendar.

Inspired by some of the world’s most iconic race circuits, the track is the only circuit in Australia to comply with the FIA Grade 2 and FIM Category A standards set by the governing bodies for world motorsport and motorcycling respectively.

Considered one of the most significant developments in Australian motorsport history, The Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend – an hour’s drive south-east of Adelaide – is a state-of-the-art facility catering for all motorsport disciplines.

“As far as a permanent circuit goes, this has got to be number one – this is our best circuit by a long shot,” says 2017 Australian Supercar Championship winner and current Red Bull Holden Racing team driver, Jamie Whincup.

As well as hosting the Australian Supercar Championship and the Australian Superbike Championship, The Bend features circuits for drift, karting, rallycross, drag racing and rally/off-road racing events. 4WD adventure and driver training is also supported.

“Just the quality of it – it’s an F1-style circuit.”

And The Bend is setting its sights even higher for the future.

Off the track, visitors and spectators to The Bend are well served by a purpose-built central Welcome Centre.

In early January, international motorsport will return to South Australia, with The Bend hosting Round 2 of the 2019/2020 Asian Le Mans Series – the only regional pathway into the World Championships.

Those who wish to stay onsite have a choice of accommodation options ranging from the 100-room hotel located in the four-storey pit building, to a caravan and camping tourist park. An airstrip suitable for light aircraft and helipads for fast commuting between Adelaide and the park are also being built.

Needless to say, The Bend has put the small town of Tailem Bend on the world motorsport map.

BEYOND THE TRACK

It will be the first event to race on The Bend’s purpose-built 7.77km GT Circuit – the second-longest permanent racetrack in the world. It will also host the opening round of Enduro Cup in the 2020 Supercars season. 20

HVAC&R Nation

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The Bend was developed and primarily funded by the Peregrine Corporation – South Australia’s largest privately owned company, with annual revenue of over $2 billion. November 2019

A key part of the group is the On The Run (OTR) convenience store operations, with over 135 sites across South Australia. Combined with the group’s other retail and property interests, Peregrine’s operations consume a large amount of electricity. Many of its refrigeration systems are also being affected by the HFC phase-down. In 2016, Glaciem Cooling Technologies – a senior industry partner of the University of South Australia (UniSA) – approached Peregrine to explore an alternative refrigeration platform for the OTR sites. “Due to the significant increase in the price of energy in South Australia, more and more businesses are turning to renewable energy as a way of controlling their energy cost,” says Glaciem’s managing director Julian Hudson, M.AIRAH. “Peregrine’s commitment to sustainability meant the corporation had already begun an internal process aimed at reducing overall energy costs across its OTR operations. And because Glaciem has a proven track record of providing innovative, energy efficient cooling solutions – as well as being SA-based – it seemed a natural fit.” It was during these discussions that Peregrine identified The Bend as an ideal candidate for a commercial trial of Glaciem’s new refrigeration platform, Dew Point Carbon Dioxide-only (DP-CO2) refrigeration.

Cover Feature “We were looking for an opportunity to install this newly developed technology platform on a large, greenfield site and The Bend – being under construction at the time – ticked these boxes.”

The facilities at The Bend got a serious workout when the OTR SuperSprint was held in August. © VUE Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The system was designed to be installed within the pit building to serve the 10m² freezer and coolrooms used by the commercial kitchen, dining rooms and hotel. For Peregrine, the ability of the proposed system to meet the group’s sustainability objectives while addressing life-cycle costs and mitigate environmental risks were key to the project proceeding.

RESEARCH DELIVERS Glaciem has conducted research and development targeted towards the HVAC&R sector for many years as a senior industry partner of UniSA. Among its more recent projects has been the commercialisation of a phase-change material and thermal energy storage (PCM TES) system. The system installed at The Bend integrates Glaciem’s DP-CO2 refrigeration system with the more recently developed PCM TES system to provide highly efficient energy storage. “Each component, on its own, represents a significant technical advancement for the industry, but when coupled together, they are well placed to leave a measurable and long-lasting legacy” says Hudson. The combined DP-CO2 and PCM TES refrigeration system deployed at The Bend operates entirely on natural refrigerants. R744 (CO2) is used as the primary refrigerant for the medium temperature system, which cools a heat transfer liquid, HC30. “CO2 was selected to demonstrate the advantages of using dew point (or indirect evaporative) cooling in high ambient conditions,” says Hudson. “This is particularly salient given summer daytime temperatures in Tailem Bend regularly exceed 45°C.” The low temperature (LT) side of the system is a CO2 cascade system, and the medium temperature (MT) side is “more or less” a standard CO2-only system. “The difference is that a heat transfer fluid (HTF) is circulated between the two LT and MT loops to enable the CO2 systems to exchange heat with the thermal energy store (TES).” The HTF performs several functions.

Figure 1: Dew point operation

When the TES requires charging, the MT CO2 system cools the HTF to -9°C, which in turn freezes the -6°C phase change material. When the TES is required to discharge, the MT system is cycled off and the energy stored in the TES is used to cool the coolroom and to condense the LT CO2 cascade system. Peak power consumption is therefore dramatically reduced. The system also takes advantages of onsite solar PV power generation, with algorithms developed to optimise the generation of this renewable energy and offer a “hedge” to users exposed to spot market electricity pricing fluctuations. But to enable the MT system to operate sub-critical, even in ambient temperatures above 45°C, it has been designed with the addition of indirect evaporative cooling installed in series with its main condenser.

“To achieve this, the incoming air is indirectly cooled close to the dew-point temperature of the air,” says Hudson. “Tests show that with ambient dry bulb air temperatures above 40°C, condenser air inlet temperatures of below 20°C could be achieved, thereby allowing the CO2 to condensate at 25°C.” The indirect evaporative cooling uses existing technology – found in commercial systems – that has been integrated in series with the main condenser coil (see Figure 1).

COMPLEX CHALLENGES

“This integration turned out to be quite complex – particularly around the balance between low condensing temperature and fan power,” says Hudson.

Identifying a cost-effective refrigerant with high efficiency to charge the PCM store proved challenging to the research team. Synthetic refrigerants were ruled out due to their environmental impact and long-term sustainability performance.

To allow the system to operate at sub-critical, an automatic bypass valve is installed around the high‑pressure expansion valve, thereby simplifying the cooling cycle. Hudson says from a pressure enthalpy diagram perspective, it is identical to a standard HFC DX cycle.

This left natural refrigerants only. CO2 was adopted due to being non-toxic and non-flammable.

2. This cooled air is then supplied to the gas cooler chamber via precision controlled centrifugal fans.

4. CO2 condensing temperatures remain significantly below the critical point of 31°C, esuring subcritical operation and high operational efficiency.

The application of this technology was developed with the assistance of Tech in SA – a South Australian government funding program. Research and development was carried out at UniSA Mawson Lakes over an 18-month period. It has resulted in a worldwide patent, as well as the creation of a new control algorithm.

3. An advanced control algorithm “floats” the CO2 condensing temperature, optimising fan and compressor input power.

1. Ambient air is drawn into the mid chamber of the unit through the indirect evaporative pads, where it cools down to below the wet bulb temperature approaching its “dew point”.

Source: Glaciem Cooling Technologies

But as CO2 systems have low efficiencies in ambient temperatures above 25°C, the solution adopted by Glaciem and UniSA integrates indirect cooling technology to allow it to operate in high ambient conditions.

CHANGING PHASE Although water in the form of ice has been used in the HVAC&R industry for many years to provide chilled water at 6°C, it has had limited use in refrigeration applications due to the fact that ice melts at 0°C. “A lot of research has taken place into chloridebased salt solutions for refrigeration applications, but due to the corrosive nature of chlorides the PCM is usually encapsulated within a ball,” says Hudson. “This encapsulation brings several prohibitive aspects – namely cost and poor heat transfer characteristics.” Although researchers at UniSA had already overcome these issues by developing a -11°C PCM suitable for -6°C process cooling, it was only suitable for use with an ammonia or R404A system.

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Cover Feature “We identified the need for a new PCM with a higher freezing point because R404A has no real longevity due to its high GWP. And not everyone is comfortable using ammonia either.”

The main circuit combines technical corners and fast‑flowing sections for good racing.

This led to the development of the -6°C PCM by the Barbara Hardy Institute at UniSA – as part of an Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) research and development project. A low-cost, non‑chloride-based salt solution, it enables ice to be built up directly on coils, thus eliminating the need for encapsulation and reducing the overall cost of the TES tank. When used in the system installed at The Bend, this new coil and dynamic melt design increases the efficiency of the TES system by allowing more of the latent heat to be extracted, and thereby reducing the installed footprint. “The system has to cope with a very diverse load profile – from extremely low loads where here are no events on and the kitchen is only serving hotel guests and general visitors, to large events when they have over 1,000 covers to cater for,” says Hudson.

Source: The Bend Motorsport Park.

“The use of PCM TES means that the system handles these diverse loads extremely well. Having the PMC TES fully charged before an event acts as a boost to the main system, while during low loads the refrigeration system is charging the ‘battery’ at a high Coefficient of Performance (COP) such that this charge can be trickled out at the required rate.”

Initial analysis of the first

THE FINAL STRAIGHT

cooled refrigeration system

year’s operating data by UniSA suggests that it is the

“We want to deliver research that makes an impact, that meets industry at the coalface and helps them to deliver great outcomes for the environment, for society and for business.” The Bend refrigeration project won the 2018 AIRAH Excellence in Refrigeration Award, and the 2017 Carbon Neutral Adelaide Award for Applied Innovation. ■

world’s most efficient air-

PROJECT AT A GLANCE

Since being commissioned in April 2018, the DP-CO2 refrigeration system at The Bend has been considered a resounding success. It breaks new ground for the performance of CO2 systems operating in warm climates.

The data has also shown significant improvements in system performance with smart algorithm control, and the major impact on energy savings when dew-point cooling is integrated with a CO2-only system compared to the use of an adiabatic gas cooler.

“The performance of the DP-CO2 system and control algorithms has met expectations,” says Hudson. “In fact, the design and nature of the system has proven to be extremely reliable.”

As well as now offering the Peregrine Corporation with a tried and tested platform to roll out across the OTR convenience stores, the technology has also attracted interest from a supermarket group and smaller retailers.

▲▲ Data analytics: UniSA Ventures

Such was the reliability of the system last summer, when temperatures in the region exceeded 47°C, that The Bend was the only one of Peregrine’s sites to not have a call out for refrigeration during the period.

In this way, the collaboration between Glaciem and UniSA is achieving its objectives.

▲▲ Refrigeration contractor:

“Initial analysis of the first year’s operating data by UniSA suggests that it is the world’s most efficient aircooled refrigeration system,” says Hudson.

“These kinds of partnerships targeted at finding important solutions for real problems are part of what makes UniSA Australia’s university of enterprise,” says UniSA deputy vice chancellor of research and innovation, Professor Tanya Monro.

THE PERSONNEL ▲▲ Builder: Romaldi ▲▲ Client: Peregrine Corporation ▲▲ Funding (in part): Tech in SA Early Commercialisation Grant Glaciem Cooling Technologies (sub‑contractors)

▲▲ Refrigeration engineer: Glaciem Cooling Technologies

THE EQUIPMENT ▲▲ Compressors: Bitzer ▲▲ Controls: Schneider ▲▲ Electrical Panel PLC program: Electric Solutions

▲▲ Indirect Evaporative Cooler: Seeley ▲▲ Integrated Cooling System: Glaciem Cooling Technology

▲▲ PCMs: Barbara Hardy Institute, UniSA ▲▲ PCM Tank: Glaciem, AR Industrial ▲▲ Pumps: Grundfos ▲▲ Sensors: IFM Effector ▲▲ Thermal Energy Storage (TES): The main building also houses Rydges Pit Lane Hotel. Source: The Bend Motorsport Park.

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Glaciem, Sinobaron Source: Glaciem Cooling Technologies

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Safety Matters

BOOST YOUR COOL As the mercury starts to rise again, we look at a technique that can help you beat the heat on the job site: pre-cooling. We’ve all heard about professional athletes taking an ice bath after a match or race. But did you know some also cool themselves down before an event to improve performance in hot and humid conditions? What’s more, you can use the same strategy to stay cool while working. Pre-cooling the body’s core temperature through crushed ice ingestion and other techniques can reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly if multiple methods are applied. For fridgies and other trades, this is good news, given the heat stress dangers they face while performing physically demanding work, which is often compounded by wearing industrial clothing and PPE.

It works by increasing the body’s heat storage reserve, which is the difference between the body’s current core temperature and 40°C – the temperature at which heat-related fatigue typically occurs, regardless of acclimatisation and hydration status. In other words, by lowering the body’s temperature before physical exertion, you can delay the onset of fatigue or increase output in a set time. A 2017 meta-data analysis of different studies found that pre-cooling was most effective in improving athletes’ performance when it was vigorously applied to a large area of the body before endurance exercises in hot and humid conditions. Many pre-cooling techniques were proven to be effective to varying degrees. These included cold water immersion, cold air exposure, cooling vests, cooling packs, ingestion of cold water and ingestion of ice slurry.

WHAT IS PRE‑COOLING? Pre-cooling is the lowering of body temperature through heat removal immediately before exercise in order to reduce the likelihood of heat-related illnesses impacting performance.

Endurance exercises received the most benefit from pre-cooling, followed by intermittent sprint exercises, such as a soccer game.

In terms of duration, the effects of pre-cooling typically began to reduce after 20–25 minutes of exercise. Including cooling techniques throughout exercise could prolong these benefits.

PRE-COOLING IN THE WORKPLACE The endurance exercises mentioned above could be compared to what “industrial athletes” commonly do in their workplaces. So it makes sense to encourage pre-cooling before a shift to reduce heat-related illnesses. Of course, some techniques are not practical in the workplace. For example, immersion in cold water is often used by athletes as a pre-cooling technique, but it might be difficult to set up an ice bath onsite. Crushed ice, however, is more practical, and has been identified as a powerful tool to reduce heat stress and increase productivity and safety when offered to workers on mines and construction sites.

Crushed ice has been identified as a powerful tool to reduce heat stress and increase productivity These benefits could be increased if crushed ice or ice slurries were combined with cooling vests as part of a pre-cooling strategy, as well as offered throughout shifts. A 2012 study of eight males running to exhaustion found pre-cooling with ice slurry ingestion to be comparable to cold water immersion, while a 2018 study on endurance cycling found crushed ice ingestion to be as effective as heat acclimatisation training in improving performance. Another 2018 study of 11 males wearing firefighting gear found that consuming an ice slurry was more effective than wearing a phase change vest, forearm cooling or no pre-cooling. It recommended that those wearing PPE working in hot conditions should consume 500ml of ice slurry 15 minutes before work to reduce physiological and perceptual strain. Combining crushed ice ingestion with other pre‑cooling methods, such as cooling vests, fanning and forearm cooling is likely to be the most effective strategy in the workplace. ■ The information in this article was provided by Thorzt, which offers a wide range of icy poles, cooling apparel and hydration solutions. Go to au.thorzt.com

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CONTROL YOUR AIR IN MORE WAYS Introducing intuitive voice control with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa control compatibility*. Using your smart home devices, control your air conditioner with just your voice! Custom Routines: Example: “I’m home” Turn On/Off Adjust Temperature Change Mode Check Status

Now available with all Panasonic Air Conditioners*.

VOICE One Command

CONTROL Multiple Devices

Note: Panasonic WLAN adaptor and third party voice control devices are required to be purchased separately.

*CZ-TACG1 or CZ-CAPWFC1, Comfort Cloud App, and an existing Wi-Fi connection with voice control device is required. Additional accessories may be required. Functionality may vary by model. please refer to aircon.panasonic.com.au for further details. Google is a trademark of Google LLC. Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

aircon.panasonic.com.au Air Con VPA HVACR 310x220.indd 1

November 2019

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3/9/19 3:17 pm | 25

HVAC&R Nation

Around the Nation 1

2 5

1 DUX OF THE DUCTS

Ombudsman, small businesses account for 35 per cent of Australia’s gross domestic profit and employ 44 per cent of Australia’s workforce.

4 A DECADE OF ARBS EXCELLENCE

EcoDuct has won the coveted HIA GreenSmart product of the year award for its 300 series low-profile ducting system. The award recognises a product integral to the construction or operation of a home that has been placed on the Australian market within the past 24 months

But despite some sectors clearly suffering from the housing construction downturn, the HVAC&R and plumbing sector bucked the downward trend. It was the only sector to experience growth, with average invoiced amount rising from $132,166 to $137,150 (3.8 per cent).

In 2020 the ARBS Industry Awards will celebrate a decade of recognising excellence from across the HVAC&R and building services industries.

The EcoDuct 300 series replaces sheet metal ductwork for ventilation in wet areas and kitchens. It is built with up to 50 per cent recycled PVC, and the end product is 100 per cent recyclable.

Of the 29,629 Australian small businesses in the data set, 1,633 were in the HVAC&R and plumbing sector. ■

“We would like to extend a massive thank you to all involved for the massive support throughout the last three to four years,” says director Steve Kump. “We believe this will be a massive stepping stone for the recognition of Australian-made products and companies that are taking on the challenge to manufacture local once again.”

The course covers Bitzer Australia R744 compressors, units , rack systems and heat exchange.

Go to www.ecoduct.com.au ■

It also includes a detailed review of sub-critical and transcritical system designs, and a snapshot of the Bitzer patent for transcritical efficiency.

2 HVAC&R POSTS POSITIVE GROWTH

Last but not least, the sessions present an overview of commissioning practices – mechanical and electrical component operation, system controllers, service tips and maintenance.

A new report has found that Australian small businesses are in economic decline across all sectors – except for HVAC&R and plumbing. The findings are based on a comprehensive data review of the invoiced dollar amounts from over 29,600 Australia-based Invoice2go users over consecutive financial years (FY 2018 and FY 2019). This shows that businesses invoiced 7.6 per cent less in FY 2019 – an average revenue contraction of $8,315.

The course is designed to support industry at all levels: technicians, engineers, project managers, consultants and end-users. Sessions have already been run around Australia and sessions are running in New Zealand in November. In 2020 the course will be extended to add practical training for sessions conducted at Bitzer’s head office in St Marys, Sydney.

The figures are a particular concern for Australia, where small and micro-businesses play a vital role in the economy. According to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise |

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Bitzer has been running R744 (CO2) courses across the country. The one-day course is theory-based and is run by Bitzer Australia engineering manager Ian Suffield and Shannon Egan, Green Point general manager. The course includes an introduction to CO2 as a refrigerant – what it is, how it is produced, physical properties, and its history as a refrigerant. Participants also learn about AS/NZ standards and legislation.

The EcoDuct 300 series has also been nominated for Product of the Year at the 2019 AIRAH Awards. The winner will be announced at the gala presentation dinner in Sydney on November 14.

3 BITZER’S CO2 SCHOOL

For more information contact shannon.egan@bitzer.com.au ■ |

November 2019

The ARBS Industry Awards officially launched in 2010 in Melbourne with the purpose of honouring and rewarding the talent in Australia which sustains the industry, fostering an environment where innovation and success can thrive. Tech architect Nirosha Munasinghe (pictured) was presented with the Young Achiever Award at the inaugural ARBS Industry Awards in 2010. “Winning this award was a great honour to me at that time and really catapulted my career,” says Munasinghe. “There is no doubt the HVAC industry is really innovative and growing, a lot of the technologies that are evolving the industry is starting to use; that is why it’s great to celebrate our success through awards such as this.” The ARBS 2020 Industry Awards will be held during the ARBS 2020 exhibition, from May 19–21, 2020 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. There is still time to nominate for the ARBS Industry Awards – submissions close on the 15 November. Go to www.arbs.com.au ■

5 DOUBLE DIGITS FOR CONTROLSTORE HVAC peripherals provider Controlstore is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary. “Running a business for 10 years has had its fair share of challenges,” says Sharyn Gregory, group CEO. “Our success has been built upon our partnerships, our industry‑wide relationships and, most importantly, our team.” Gregory says that over the past decade, Controlstore has developed into more than a supplier of HVAC products. It has a multi-discipline

Around the Nation 6

team, a strong track record and can customise and recommend solutions to meet clients’ needs. “What is most pleasing is that we are now seen as the ‘go to’ HVAC equipment provider,” says Gregory, “with our clients being our main source of referrals.” Gregory also says that Controlstore is indebted to its customers and employees for its success. “We look forward to the next 10 years where we will build on our reputation and continue to provide the best fit for purpose solutions to our customers.” Go to controlstore.com.au ■

6 GROUND-BREAKING PROJECT As work gears up on the Westgate Tunnel Project in Melbourne, two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) named Bella and Vida have been lowered and assembled 22m below ground. A massive shed has also been built in Yarraville to handle the 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and dirt excavated by the machines. As the TBMs start digging, the rock and dirt they extract will be moved along a conveyor all the way into the shed. The conveyor will be 15km long by the time tunnelling is finished. Bella (pictured) will dig the 4km outbound tunnel first, then Vida will dig the 2.8km inbound tunnel. The longer tunnel will take around 18 months to complete. As the machines bore their way through rock and soil, they require constant cooling. Lakeside Cooling Towers is providing the vital water cooling on a 24/7 process. The company has supplied its MA30 induced draft cooling towers for Bella and Vida, and has assisted in the design and supplied the 5m raised platform, 100m³ storage tanks, circulation pumps and automatic dosing equipment. Lakeside Cooling Towers is a 61-year-old Australian cooling tower manufacturer based in Melbourne. This is its second tunnel boring venture with John Holland. Go to lakesidect.com.au/WP/ ■

7 CARRIER SAFETY RECALL The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a recall notice for 11 models of Carrier-branded ductless hi‑wall and cassette split heater/air conditioners. The ACCC website (www.productsafety.gov.au/ recalls) has a full list of the model numbers and capacity details of affected units. The different units have been sold over the period November 1, 2013 to June 30, 2019. According to the ACCC, the fan motor in the outdoor condensing unit may fail, which could result in a fire and cause property damage and/or personal injury. “Consumers should stop using the units until a repair has been carried out,” says the notice. “Carrier, through its Australian distributor AHIC (Australia) Pty Ltd and local agents, will contact affected consumers and make arrangements to visit the consumer’s home and repair the unit. Owners of affected units may also contact AHIC (Australia) Pty Ltd directly using the contact details below to arrange for the repairs to be carried out.” For further information email carrier.rework@ahi-carrier.com.au ■

8 HURT BY HI-VIS

“It could happen to other people as well, especially if they wear the same type of shirt and the same type of reflective tape,” says Dr Vlad, who recently wrote to the Medical Journal of Australia to describe the case. “Workplaces mandating clothes with retroreflective tape should ensure that garments with the tape in areas touching the skin are not worn in very hot and sunny conditions and consider using removable vests instead. “Manufacturers should consider designing shirts that decrease direct contact between retroreflective tape and skin, potentially by increasing the number or thickness of cloth layers under it.” Dr Vlad treated the case as a first-degree burn, with emollient aloe vera cream and pain medication. ■

9 PEAK PAYMENTS South-east Queensland‑based electricity distribution business Energex is offering consumers up to $400 for purchasing a PeakSmart air conditioner. PeakSmart air conditioning helps reduce peak demand by dropping air conditioners into a lower performance mode when the network is under stress. Customers can buy a new PeakSmart air conditioner or, in some cases, can add a signal receiver to their existing unit. The signal receiver gets a “message” telling it there is pressure on the network. When this occurs, the air conditioner operates similarly to the economy setting.

A Perth doctor has treated an engineer who suffered burns from wearing a hi-vis shirt with reflective tape in direct sunlight. The man arrived at the emergency department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital early last year, complaining of a rash on his back. Doctor Ioana Vlad noticed that the burn matched the strip of reflective tape on the man’s hi-vis shirt and put two and two together. Dr Vlad has recommended that workplace standards should be updated to ensure that workers are not wearing these types of garments during the day.

The Energex website has a list of eligible brands and models. It notes that the appliance retailer will provide a free signal receiver pack at the time of purchase, or the installer may provide one at the time of installation. It also states that the installation of the signal receiver is often included in the air conditioning installation cost or for a small additional fee. Energex is offering a reward of $200 for systems greater than 4kW and less than 10kW, and $400 for systems of 10kW or more. Go to www.energex.com.au ■

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Green Wedge

WINGING IT High above wind turbines there exists a potent potential source of energy. Fact: At a height of 500m wind power is up to eight times stronger than at 120m (the hub height of modern wind turbines).

Anyone who has flown a kite understands an essential truth about our friend the wind. The higher you get, the more the friendship is tested as the wind becomes stronger.

Swiss company TwingTec is one of the first companies to develop “airborne wind power plants”, a moniker that makes the device sound a little grander than it is: a small kite-like glider with a big wingspan connected by cord and pulley to a generator on the ground.

Indeed, so strong can these higher-altitude gusts become that it’s thought they could be harnessed and converted into power.

The glider uses strong winds to circle upwards, pulling the rope, which is connected to the generator. When the rope has been unwound, the glider heads back towards the ground station. By the time it gets there, the rope has been wound up, and the ascent can begin again.

HVAC Hygiene ad - October 2019.pdf

“The big challenge is not flying itself,” says TwingTec CEO Rolf Luchsinger. “The problem is to take off and land automatically. After all, the kite power station should be able to supply electricity 19/9/19 2:44 pm without being controlled by humans.”

CMY

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The kite power station should be able to supply electricity without being controlled by humans Last year in Switzerland the TwingTec prototype T28 was successfully tested. Starting from its base vehicle, the “kite” climbed up into the air, circled for 30 minutes, produced electrical energy, then landed on its launch platform. The aim now is to generate enough power for customers, and to do this continuously. This month testing is taking place on the T29, which is expected to generate up to 10kW of grid-compatible power. In the works is the TT100, which has a wingspan of 15m and could generate up to 100kW of power, enough for 60 family homes. ■

Smoko with . . .

Name: Shane Docking Company: Cold Logic Occupation: Welder ut working What’s the best thing abo and in HVAC&R? The versatility s. tem sys of xity ple com d in the How long have you worke rs. yea e nin er und t Jus industry? Favourite tool: My hands. ever Best on-the-job advice you e. um ass r received: Don’t eve HVAC&R If you didn’t work in the k you thin industry, what do you focusing be uld wo would be doing? I if I had – rs ppe cho tom on building cus ! rse cou of the money nt has been What’s the happiest a clie are happy nts clie st Mo rk? with your wo nt to toot my with the jobs I do. Don’t wa e had some own horn too much, but I hav good feedback.

. Dream car: Chrysler 300 SRT itzerland Dream holiday: A trip to Sw as. istm Chr r ove ily with my fam Favourite smoko snack: ast. A can of Heinz all-day breakf the What did you listen to on ay? way to work tod t. A Casefile (true crime) podcas ie Sporting hero: Probably Edd and an ngm Hall. He was a stro powerlifting competitor – . strongest man on the planet … When I’m not working I’m , gym Usually at the working on my bikes or relaxing with my family.

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The Lighter Side This month’s Lighter Side brought to you by:

Ahead of the pack APAC Commercial HVAC AC

1 WINNER

Visit apacair.com.au for more information 2

3 POST-DRINKS INSTALL?

Well, it was found out the back of an upmarket rooftop bar. “Where do we start with the issues in this photo?” asks Corey. “Have a look at the firewall penetration, uncovered cables and pipework. Had been installed by a ‘reputable company’.” ■

4 IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE

A customer in Campbelltown called Nathan and explained that her aircon wasn’t working.

1 WARMING UP FOR WORK

“My colleagues and I are always complaining of poor access to aircon/ refrigeration units,” says Craig. “But I had no complaints when I came across this split in a NSW south coast hospital physio department. They even have a stretching regime on the wall. No excuses for a workplace injury here!” ■

2 BOLT-ON SOLUTION

“After 15 minutes of searching the yard I found this hidden behind the vines,” he says. “Air conditioning really is the jack of all trades – landscaping included!” ■

5 INVERTER SYSTEM

Scott in Victoria was called out to look at a unit that wasn’t working properly.

“Found this beauty in a $1.4 million house,” says Adrian. “The guy did his own repairs.” ■

“I was amazed to find it had been installed back to front and with the pipes twisted as they went into the unit.” ■

HAVE YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING SCARY, UGLY OR JUST PLAIN FUNNY? If your entry is deemed the monthly winner, a 700ml bottle of Jim Beam will be on its way to your door. Please include a postal address with your entry. Entrants must be 18 or over. Send your hi-res (>500KB) photos to Editor, Mark Vender at mark.vender@airah.org.au

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