Ammonia refrigeration
has been the backbone of the cold storage industry for a long time now. Every fruit, vegetable, or meat you consume has probably been stored in an ammonia refrigeration facility before it reaches the shelves of the local store. Needless to say, this kind of refrigeration is very popular in the cold storage industry. Here’s what you need to know about it.
The Natural Refrigerant
Ammonia is one of the most abundant gases on Earth. It occurs naturally in the environment and breaks down into hydrogen and nitrogen. That’s the only emission from ammonia. Considering the fact that hydrogen and nitrogen form about 80% of the atmospheric gases, ammonia doesn’t harm the environment if it’s used correctly. Because of this, ammonia refrigeration is one of the most eco-friendly refrigeration methods used by the cold storage industry.
Uses
This method of refrigeration is used to store all kinds of perishables. The items regularly stored in ammonia refrigeration are:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat and fish
- Poultry
- Beer and wine
- Milk, butter, and cheese
- Ice cream, juices, and soft drinks
- Chemicals
Ammonia is also used for air conditioning in large institutions and buildings. For example, several office buildings, university campuses, convenience stores, etc, use ammonia to condition the air. As it is cost effective and eco-friendly, many institutions prefer it to other systems.
How Long has It been in Use?
Ammonia refrigeration isn’t really new technology. In fact, it has been around for a long time. It was one of the earliest refrigerants ever used. It was a part of the early mechanical refrigeration systems developed in the 1800s. The system used the principal of vapor compression, using the closed cycle process of evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. In this, ammonia was used as a refrigerant. The same principal is still in use.
Mistakes When Handling Ammonia
While ammonia is safe for the environment, efficient, and versatile, it’s still a chemical and needs to be handled carefully. If it’s handled incorrectly, it can risk to your health and your life. It’s corrosive to your lungs, eyes, and skin. If you accidentally spill it on your skin or are exposed to about 300 PPM of it, it can cause you considerable harm. If about 15% to 28% of the air in the room is filled with ammonia, there’s a risk of fire. Accidental release of this gas in the cold storage units has cause death or serious health problems. That’s why it’s important to handle this chemical very carefully.
Hire the Right People
The right experience and education is needed to work with ammonia refrigeration. If you’re working in the cold storage or refrigeration industry, you need people who know what they’re doing. We can help you with that. We will connect you to the right people and ensure that you have a qualified team handling the useful but dangerous chemical carefully. All you need to do is give us a call and let us know about your requirements.
