Daikin Announces First Retrofit Installation of New Low GWP Refrigerant Creard R-407H in a Cold Storage Warehouse.
Daikin Creard R-407H, a new, high efficiency, economical, lower GWP refrigerant gas based on proven chemistry was chosen to replace R-22.
ORANGEBURG, NEW YORK, February 15, 2018: Daikin America, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd, has completed the first United States retrofit installation of its new low global-warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, Creard R-407H, in the refrigeration system of a cold storage warehouse. Creard R-407H was used to replace the system’s existing R-22, and this successful conversion demonstrates that this new refrigerant from Daikin is an ideal option for similar conversions from R-22.
Daikin Creard R-407H, with a GWP of 1,380 GWP*, provides best-in-class retrofit performance for R-22 and R-404A systems in commercial refrigeration, as well as best-in-class performance for new refrigeration applications.
System Details
The warehouse, located in upstate New York, is a 240,000 bushel, 12-room refrigerated fruit storage facility. It has one major loading season and performs continuous storage and delivery throughout the year.
System components at the warehouse include four 50hp Bitzer 6F.2 open-drive reciprocating compressors mounted on a Hillphoenix rack, an Evapco water-cooled condenser, 24 Kramer and 6 Colmac evaporators; with two evaporators per storage room and six for the loading areas/overflow storage. The storage temperature target between 30°F to 34°F.
Customer Requirements
The customer had five major requirements when it came to selecting a replacement refrigerant for their system’s existing R-22. The replacement refrigerant must be:
- Low GWP to mitigate regulatory and market pressures for the lifetime of the system.
- A close match in full efficiency to R-22, to maintain low energy-demand charges during the warehouse’s loading season.
- A match in temperature, pressure, and mass flow to R-22, to maintain the same equipment and piping.
- A proven match in material compatibility with R-22 components, to avoid future leaks.
- Cost-effective.
The Retrofit Process
For this project, Daikin partnered with mechanical contractor Van Ernst Refrigeration Inc., East Rochester, New York. Daikin’s engineering team met with the customer and contractor to discuss the retrofit steps and product details, and to address any final concerns prior to kick-off.
To prepare the system, the contractor began the retrofit process early with the complete replacement of mineral oil with polyolester (POE) oil. The oil was changed out over a period of two months during regular system check-ups, which included several oil changes.
The final retrofit took place over the course of four days directly prior to the harvest season.
The system was pumped down and all R-22, a total charge of 3,200lbs., was recovered. Van Ernst’s technicians replaced all Schrader cores and caps, filter-drier cores, and other rubber seals. A deep vacuum was pulled on the system over-night, and the Creard R-407H refrigerant was added the next day.
Superheat was checked upon system startup. Evaporator distribution was found to be similar to R-22, and most of the system’s thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs) required only minor adjustments (closing). The compressor discharge pressure was higher than with R-22, and this required some adjustments to the system controller’s programming.
Customer Reaction
“Post retrofit the system performed as the modeling suggested. With a 2 to 4 psi pressure rise at the evaporator and a 7 to 20 psi pressure rise at the compressor exit depending on outdoor ambient,” said Chris Harland, sales engineer, Van Ernst Refrigeration Inc. “Discharge temperatures fell 30°F to 40°F depending on outdoor ambient. “The thing that I am happiest about was that we only had to make very small expansion valve adjustments, and coil distribution was perfect,” he added.
Harland concluded that he would like to use Creard R-407H for new construction projects.
“I would like to use R-407H for new construction work, now that refrigerants R-404A/R-507A are getting tricky,” he said. “We have used R-407A in gas defrost condensing units up to 200,000 BTUs, but getting good evaporator distribution is tougher than with R-507A, and given the GWP number of R-407A I’d prefer to move on to R-407H for new equipment.“
About Daikin America
Daikin America, Inc. provides, refrigerant gas, Polytetrafluoroethylene molding resins, fine powders, aqueous dispersions, melt processable fluoropolymers, and fluoroelastomers for many critical applications.
Daikin America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd of Osaka, Japan. Daikin Industries, Ltd. is Japan’s leading manufacturer of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and fluorochemical products.
For further information, please contact:
Daikin America Inc.
20 Olympic Drive
Orangeburg, NY 10962
USA
(800) 365-9570
daikin-america.com
