Refrigeration Systems
Refrigeration systems provide the irreplaceable ability to maintain a certain temperature within a given area. Refrigeration systems are energy consuming machines which are used throughout the world in almost every industry sector. This guide is designed to provide a general overview of refrigeration systems, their uses and applications, and types of refrigerants used to promote system efficiency.
Refrigeration systems work using the same fundamental principles utilized by artificial cooling methods for over a century. By using a compresser to cause a substance to evaporate and then condense, refrigerators can control temperatures in enclosed environments. As the condensing substance releases its cold volume, the area around the processor is cooled. This process is then repeated constantly, allowing refrigerators to reliably control temperature.
Refrigeration systems are primarily used to maintain food in a safe to eat temperature. This can range from simple household appliances in homes and restaurants to larger commercial refrigeration systems used by industrial food suppliers. Without refrigeration, food would degrade rapidly, making it unappetizing and even dangerous to consume. However, apart from food storage, refrigeration systems can be used in many other sectors like industrial processes and medical applications.
Industrial processes commonly use refrigeration systems to cool highly sensitive materials which would degrade rapidly in higher temperatures. For instance, refrigeration is used in the chemical industry to regulate the temperature of chemical mixtures, the paper industry to control the ambient temperature of paper rolls and the printing industry to cool freshly printed materials to harden inks and prevent excess runs.
Medical applications like cryogenics are highly dependent on efficient refrigeration systems. Cryogenics is the practice of maintaining temperatures close to absolute zero to facilitate the preservation of physical materials, including organs and human tissue. These materials are often stored for long periods of time without any risking of staling, rotting or denaturement. In addition, cryogenics requires reliable temperature control and is the primary use of refrigeration in the medical sector.
The efficiency of refrigeration systems largely lies in their ability to control temperatures. This is achieved by using refrigerants, materials which can easily absorb and produce heat. Common refrigerants used in refrigeration systems include: ammonia, chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) like R-134a. While these materials are very effective, they are also extremely ozone-depleting and can cause health risks if mishandled.
All refrigerants are highly regulated due to their environmental impact and are only approved for use in certain application types and systems. For instance, R-22 is slowly being phased out in favor of the ozone friendly R-134a, but many older systems still use the more ozone damaging R-22. It is important to understand the types of refrigerants being used for an application in order to ensure efficient system performance as well as safe operation.
Overall, refrigeration systems have become an integral part of every major sector in the world, providing safe and reliable cooling solutions to industrial, medical and residential applications. Working through the evaporation and condensation of a porous material, refrigeration systems can actively maintain a fixed temperature and is the primary form of temperature maintenance for many industries and products. By understanding the fundamentals of refrigeration systems, the types of refrigerants being used, and the various uses of systems, it is possible to ensure reliable system performance and operator safety.
