ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 27 REFRIGERANT "A robust supply chain relying on multiple global sources, together with putting into action existing contingency plans, has allowed us to offer a near-to-normal service to customers" and recharged 380kgs R134a, and tapped the oil (58.8 kgs), in just 2.5 hours. This included the time taken for set-up and the job highlighted how a quick turnaround can be achieved. The Benelux team also successfully tackled two recovery and recharging jobs at supermarkets involving cascade systems featuring CO2 and R134a. Nearer to home, A-Gas has been helping to protect frontline workers in the NHS. A-Gas Rapid Recovery completed a job at a hospital maternity unit three weeks into the lockdown. This involved the removal of high GWP refrigerants R422D and R407C from a redundant air conditioning system and the installation of a more ecient new chiller system. The ease with which the refrigerants were removed from two redundant chillers on the sixth floor of the hospital block was made possible by the mobile A-Gas Rapid Recovery unit which could be moved up and down the building. All the equipment could be transported in a lift and this allowed the recovery team to complete the work in an impressive four hours. The job was carried out under the physical distancing restrictions – workers on site stayed two metres apart from each other and wore personal protective clothing supplied by A-Gas. The importance of keeping the food production chain running was illustrated when A-Gas Rapid Recovery tackled a job on behalf of a large food processor and key supplier. In a remarkable turnaround, over three days 1,478 kgs of refrigerant was recovered from 25 refrigeration systems at a chicken processing plant and replaced with a low global warming potential alternative. R404A, R507, R407F and R422D were recovered at the plant from various chiller- based and mobile systems serving a multitude of areas including cold stores, cutting rooms, freezers, packing and dispatch. R448A (Solstice® N40), a non-flammable HFO blend, typically used as a replacement for R404A and R22 in low and medium temperature refrigeration applications, was chosen as the new low GWP refrigerant. It provides an excellent combination of low GWP (1387) and high energy eciency. Dedication All this is happening while the current phase down of high GWP gases driven by the F-Gas Regulation continues at a pace. This legislation is ramping up the pressure on end users to ensure that refrigerants are recovered, cleaned for re-use and replaced with a more environmentally- friendly gas. Refrigerant sent to A-Gas reprocessing centres becomes fully reclaimed product and is returned to the market in line with the AHRI 700 standard. At Portbury near Bristol and Eygelshoven in The Netherlands used refrigerant undergoes chemical analysis, is cleaned of contaminants and goes through a separation plant to produce a product that matches that of virgin refrigerant requirements. The cooling industry has provided key support for essential services during the Coronavirus pandemic. At home and abroad people working at all levels have risen to the challenge and adopted new working practices to provide support where it is needed most. They should be praised for their dedication and their willingness to up their game at a time of crisis. www.agas.com