7.4. ICESR 04-08-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ELK RIVER ICE ARENA—ICE SYSTEM EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is now pressure to consider phasing out refrigerants that contribute to global warming as measured by their global warming potential (GWP), in addition to those affecting the ozone. This affects mainly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) like those used in blended refrigerants such as R- 507A and R-404A. Europe has been on the leading edge of this change. The European Parliament passed legislation called the F Gas Directive that became effective in 2007, that requires very strict inspection of systems for leakage, rigorous record keeping and mandatory training and certification on systems using HFCs. With the changing of environmental regulations, careful consideration of all refrigerant options should be made. The new refrigerants and replacements for R-22 are "blended" HFC refrigerants meaning they are a mixture of several different, individual refrigerants. Since refrigerants have different properties, each one reacts differently to changes in its properties such as pressure and velocity. When a leak occurs, varying amounts of each refrigerant may leak out, throwing the original mixture out of balance. Ammonia refrigerant is making a comeback from when it was pushed aside in the early 1970's for R-22. Ammonia's low cost, high efficiency and zero ozone depleting and global warming potential make it a very attractive option. Large global companies, such as Coke Cola, are leading the charge to ban HFCs and use natural refrigerants such as CO2, hydrocarbons and ammonia. Many ice skating facilities in Europe have switched over to CO2-based systems. The first CO2-based ice system in North America recently opened in Les Coteaux, Quebec, Canada. • Quality of Materials and Equipment: Balancing the initial cost of materials and equipment with energy savings can be difficult during the budgeting process of the project. For example, the phrases "commercial grade" and "industrial grade" systems, used throughout the report, refer to quality and operational efficiency differences in the refrigeration system. Commercial grade systems are similar to supermarket type refrigeration systems, built on a rack package, and have a lower life expectancy (15-20 years). These systems typically use copper and PVC pipe in place of steel, disposable type compressors in place of rebuildable ones, direct expansion type heat exchangers in place of flooded type systems, etc. Industrial grade systems are typically stick built on site, have a longer life expectancy (25-35 years), and are generally more efficient to operate. 15