n Refrigeration
The next step forward for the heat pumping market is to convince the right decision-makers that there needs to be an increase in the number of refrigeration mechanics as heat pumps gain popularity. By Greg Scrivener Over the last several issues, we’ve discussed heat pumping in various applications. As the technology becomes more affordable and the desire to reduce carbon emissions increases, heat pumps will be used in more and more applications. Commercial equipment is now becoming available with the ability to produce hot water to 180F using refrigerants other than carbon dioxide. Providing the proper motor and oil are selected, the application window of some compressors is significantly larger than they used to be. Figure 1 shows that application limits for a compressor from a manufacturer’s webpage. You can see that operation at very high condensing temperatures is possible.
Ammonia is one of the most efficient high temperature heat pumping refrigerants, which is being used in this industrial heat pump. (Photo taken at International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration 2022)
Figure 1: Application limits for a 6FE-50Y Bitzer compressor. (Photo by Bitzer.de)
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Plumbing & HVAC – May/June 2022
www.plumbingandhvac.ca
