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In This Issue
CO2 In Your Future ........................................................... 1
How To Become A Fan Of Savings .......................................... 2
Unfrozen Asset: Refrigeration Engineering & Contracting Co., Inc. ... 3
What Does The MSCA Star Rating Mean?............................................ 3
What Do You Know? .................................................................................. 3
To Our Readers ............................................................................................... 4
CO2 In Your Future: Breathe a Sigh of Relief?
Issue 1 By Peter Comeau
S
hould you plan on using CO2 (carbon dioxide) refrigerant for cold storage
or freezing in your facility? It is listed as non-toxic and non-flammable and
interest in its use is gaining interest from facility operators and owners.
Your decision depends on:
• your individual requirements
• considerations for cost of operation
• cost of construction
• reliability and availability of new types of system components
• the current knowledge and experience base of local designers and contractors.
At this point, possibly the greatest deterrent from designing and installing a major
refrigerated facility using CO2 could be the lack of good experience over an ex-
tended period of time. These systems are gaining popularity in Europe, driven by
regulations banning the use of CFC’s and HCFC’s. Some countries also have severe
regulations on the use of NH3. OSHA and EPA regulations in the US and Canada
concerning the use of NH3 have not changed dramatically in the past decade. It
remains to be seen how much the increased use of CO2 in industrial refrigeration
will be scrutinized by OSHA and EPA.
Recently, there have been reports from European refrigeration experts that the
interest in CO2 refrigeration for industrial facilities might be slowing. I am not
certain about the reasons for this shift, but I am aware that recent manufacturer
problems with CO2 compressors are of concern.
The more important advantages and disadvantages when you compare CO2
Peter, a mechanical to an NH3 (anhydrous ammonia) system are as follows:
engineer with advanced
CO2 INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION
professional training
degrees, has completely PRO CON
mastered the field • Ammonia leaks although rare can be hazardous. • It is critical that CO2 and NH3 do not mix,
of industrial and creating a corrosive compound.
commercial refrigeration. • Can eliminate ammonia within refrigerated spaces.
• It is critical that CO2 and water do not mix,
• Drastically reduce ammonia charges and
creating a corrosive compound.
confine to mechanical space.
• CO2 operates at higher pressures, requiring
• CO2 is non-toxic and non-flammable.
special components.
• CO2 can be used with many metals, reducing
• CO2 cost of operation is higher than NH3
weight of unit coolers.
systems for storage freezers.
• CO2 cost of installation is higher due to more
specialized and additional components.
• There is currently less knowledge base on CO2
than on NH3 refrigeration.
Continued on page 2
Refrigeration Engineering and Contracting Co., Inc. • www.reccousa.com
GUEST CORNER
How To Become A Fan Of Savings
From a presentation by John P. Flynn, summarized by Peter Comeau (CO2 in Your Future? Continued from page 1)
M
ost of today’s refrigeration 7. Reduced “wind chill” and noise Conclusion
systems take advantage of for workers. CO2 industrial refrigeration systems
VSDs (Variable Speed Drive) are being built in the US and the
DRAwbACk?
or VFDs (Variable Frequency Drive) to number of future projects of this
One of the major concerns in making
maximize cooling efficiency on their type will increase. Facility owner
the change to VFDs is that it will be
main compressors and reduce energy demands for more CO2 systems will
difficult to maintain consistent room
costs.* Most of tomorrow’s systems will drive the refrigeration industry to
temperatures—that the far reaches of
go even further. Savvy refrigeration gain more knowledge, produce better
the room might not receive the cold
designers are starting to apply the VFD components and provide contractor
air or that there will be stratified room
principle to evaporative condenser and operator training. The level
temperatures. However, in practice it
fans and evaporator fans in refrigerated of interest will increase as more
is often the case that there is very little
spaces. facilities are built with this method of
difference in temperature throughout
7 ADvANTAGES: the space with VFD driven evaporators. cooling. However, CO2 refrigeration
There are at least seven reasons this In any event, a knowledgeable refrig- will not completely eliminate NH3
method of saving energy through eration designer can recommend refrigeration, as both refrigerants
these airside components is becoming minimum evaporator speeds when are equally important parts of the
so popular: considering required air throw distances, same system. A careful study must be
1. The aggregate horsepower on airside product requirements of airspeed, and made of many more facts about both
equipment is substantial. temperature uniformity requirements. refrigerants before you can make
an educated decision on which type
2. The reduction of consumed
of system to select. We are ready to
horsepower of the fans on airside The VFD drives represent a large
work with you to plan either a CO2
equipment is much greater than with capital expense, but a review of the
or NH3 system.
compressors. In fact, it is by a factor expected load profile including pull
of 3 (cubic). For example, if you down requirements, duration of
reduce the speed by half, the ideal storage, seasonal operating conditions
horsepower consumed will be just and the cost of power should be
1/8 of the full speed horsepower. evaluated to determine the payback
3. Because the capacity of the potential. Furthermore, many local
condensers depends upon the utilities have rebate programs to
ambient conditions, there is excess underwrite your cost and provide you
capacity during a majority of the with a quicker return on investment.
year allowing operation at less than *If you’re not sure about your installation,
full load capacity (or at energy call 781-396-8780. Refrigerated Work Room Evaporators
saving reduced speed!).
4. Newer fan drive motors are
compatible with VFDs. Older motors
should be evaluated for compatibility
and for the length of the wiring
run. Output filters may be
necessary to protect the motors
from VFD harmonics.
5. Quieter operation when at reduced
speed and the elimination of belt
noise during motor startup.
6. Reduced stress on the motors and
lower in-rush current as the motors
are smoothly ramped up to speed
upon startup.
2 • IceSage
Unfrozen Asset:
F
or Peter Comeau, the key to operate day-to-day; we took more of a
unfreezing his company’s growth long view of it. (In terms of) knowing
Refrigeration potential has come from opening what we had for assets and liabilities at
Engineering and the door to expert assistance, as well as
shaking up his business model.
any given point in time, we had to take
somewhat of a guess.”
Contracting Co. Inc. Its been 11 years since Comeau and his Beginning in 2001, the Comeaus
REFRIGERATION SERvICES FIRm wife, Lori, purchased Refrigeration engaged a series of business consulting
REALIzES POTENTIAL wITh Engineering and Contracting Co. Inc., firms to assess operations and offer
bETTER bIz PRACTICES also known as RECCO, which was advice on IT and software systems
founded by Bill Hoover and Fred Antoon training, management practices and staff
Boston Business Journal - Monday
in 1969, for an undisclosed amount. training. Over the past two years, says
October 30, 2006 - Sean McFadden
Comeau, the company’s annual fees for
Becoming chief of the Woburn-based, these services have exceeded six figures.
full-service refrigeration systems
design/installation/maintenance outfit, Ed Johnson, a partner at Feeley &
says Comeau, who had actually begun Driscoll PC, a Boston-based CPA/
his tenure with RECCO back in 1977, consulting firm that RECCO has engaged
required a fundamental shift in thinking. on an ongoing basis, observes, “Their
strength was that they had a lot of repeat
“Before we purchased the business, I had customers. So they were obviously
no idea how much more of my time would doing something operationally well.
be spent on education and managing Accountability and reporting were the big
change,” says Comeau, who had previous areas that we needed to work on.”
engineering and sales experience but
limited management expertise. To view the last half of the article,
please visit www.reccousa.com and
A major concern, says the 56-year-old go to Cool Info.
president, was that the appropriate
systems weren’t in place to grow the
company: “As a contractor, we didn’t
INSIDE RECCO
What Does the MSCA Star Rating Mean?
Now you can benefit from working
with an MSCA Star contractor. The
Mechanical Service Contractors
of America (MSCA) is the premier
organization skilled highly skilled If you’d like to
HVACR contractors. Only highly
qualified engineering companies can
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qualify for a UA Star Certification. It online or by mail,
requires the exclusively ANSI-accredited
and ISO 9000 qualified 1200 hour, five please email with
year training program and more.
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To receive the elite designation of MSCA
Star, companies have to qualify first as a preference.
UA Star. Then they have to demonstrate
industry-leading competencies and
performance in safety, training and
education, and customer service.
RECCO is proud to be among the less
than 70 nationwide firms to qualify as a
MSCA Star. It assures you of the finest
service possible.
IceSage • 3
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Refrigeration Engineering &
Contracting Co., Inc.
22 Sixth Road
Woburn, MA 01801-1735
781-396-8780
Fax: 781-938-4171
www.reccousa.com
Email: info@reccousa.com
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