Dan Radford, managing director of Parasense, calls for system owners to adopt a more holistic and socially aware approach to the refrigeration industry instead of simply looking for the cheapest options
TECHNICAL innovation is the lifeblood of any industry, and refrigeration and associated leak detection technologies have both progressed significantly in recent years.

However, the full benefits of this progression will never be realised unless system owners and managers take an holistic view and invest in all areas of the business, not just the newest, most exciting pieces of technology.

If more organisations had channelled investment into the skill set of system operators and engineers, for instance, perhaps we would have avoided the current saga surrounding the mismatch between actual competencies and the requirements of the F-Gas legislation.

The current situation has put a spotlight on disparities within our industry and they need to be addressed. There are simply not enough training courses to enable the UK’s refrigeration engineers to rise to the challenge within the tight time frames we have available.

This shortage further compounds the wider problems of implementing the F-Gas regulations. Unfortunately far from encouraging owners of air conditioning, refrigeration or heat pump systems to take a more environmentally responsible approach, in many cases F-Gas has forced short-term planning to become the norm.

Rather than taking the time to develop a medium to long-term strategy and invest more effectively in environmentally sustainable solutions, owners are looking for the cheapest option that will tick the compliance box.
Legislative decisions

Now that R22 phase out is on the horizon, we have a situation where many system owners are running from one compliance issue to another. The wider – and potentially harmful – issue here is that the constant legislative developments are driving decision- making, rather than being incorporated into ongoing planning. The upshot of this is that businesses themselves and potential environmental improvements are hindered more than helped.

Despite its ban in new systems in 2000, R22 remains one of the most widely used refrigerants in the UK. It is commonly found in air conditioning units and is used extensively in food manufacturing and storage.

Many sources advise owners of systems containing R22 to replace or modify their plant, but is this really the best option in terms of cost effectiveness and environmental impact? Or does it risk throwing the baby out with the bath water?

To avoid having important business decisions dictated by legislative changes, system owners using R22 need to thoroughly evaluate all the possible options and their potential implications. For instance, simply converting to an entirely different refrigerant may mean that existing plant will not be compatible with it.

Likewise, modifying the plant to use an alternative HFC refrigerant might on the face of it seem like the most sensible option, but the logistical factors and related costs involved may not prove to be viable. A further consideration needs to be the temperature range control requirement as replacing the R22 with an alterative refrigerant can affect the duty provided.

For many organisations, a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution is to improve the containment of R22. The Institute of Refrigeration recently acknowledged that leaks are still the number one issue affecting our industry and that leakage does not have to be an inevitable by- product.

Improving trace detection capabilities and enabling precise and rapid repair in the very early stages of a leak before large quantities are lost makes business and environmental sense. This is regardless of which refrigerant you use and whether or not legislation dictates that you do it.

Return on investment

It is worth remembering, if your existing system does contain R22, that you could experience a significant return on investment by improving containment when other system owners are struggling with large-scale modifications or plant replacement.

In the midst of all this legislation, smarter refrigeration system operators are taking a step back, assessing the facts and implementing strategic plans rather than making reflex decisions. Instead of always chasing after the newest technologies looking for a magical solution, we can use existing, proven technologies more effectively to realise their full benefits. Adopting a more considered and holistic approach will ensure the longer term health – and social responsibility – of our refrigeration industry.
Parasense 01452 724123