Ammonia as a refrigerant: find out why it is the preferred choice for efficiency and sustainability in industrial refrigeration.
When ammonia is used as a refrigerant in industrial refrigeration systems, ammonia (NH3) has several advantages over nitrogen (N2)
Increased cooling capacity
Ammonia as a refrigerant has a much higher cooling capacity than nitrogen.
It can absorb and release more heat per unit mass, which makes it more efficient in heat transfer and in cooling large volumes of air or liquid.
Energy efficiency
Due to its higher cooling capacity, ammonia can achieve lower temperatures with lower energy consumption compared to nitrogen.
This can result in more efficient operation and lower energy costs for the refrigeration system.
Lower cost of using ammonia as a refrigerant
One of the most striking advantages of ammonia over nitrogen lies in its economic impact. While the expense associated with nitrogen as a consumable tends to be considerably high, driving up production costs, ammonia presents a more cost-effective alternative.
This is largely because ammonia systems operate in a closed loop, meaning that there is no actual consumption of ammonia during the refrigeration process.
In addition, the availability of ammonia and its relatively low cost make it an economically attractive option for many industrial applications.
Material compatibility
Ammonia is compatible with a wide range of materials of construction commonly used in refrigeration systems, such as carbon steel, stainless steel and copper.
This simplifies the design and manufacture of refrigeration equipment and reduces long-term maintenance costs.
Environmentally friendly
Although ammonia has a higher global warming potential (GWP) than nitrogen, it is considered a more environmentally friendly refrigerant compared to many other synthetic refrigerants.
It has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a low global warming potential (GWP), making it a more environmentally sustainable option.
In summary, from Palinox‘s perspective, ammonia emerges as an exceptional option in the field of industrial refrigeration, thanks to its outstanding cooling capacity, energy efficiency, affordability and compatibility with various materials.