Cooling Technology

Natural refrigerants are becoming increasingly important in modern refrigeration technology, especially in the context of the EU regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases). This regulation aims to drastically reduce the use of F-gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in order to reduce environmental pollution. Natural refrigerants such as ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (e.g. propane) and, last but not least, water (H2O) offer an environmentally friendly alternative. They have a significantly lower global warming potential and do not contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer. Another important aspect is the TFA problem (trifluoroacetic acid), which is produced by the degradation of some fluorinated refrigerants and is considered to be persistent and harmful to the environment. TFA can accumulate in the environment and have a negative impact on water resources and ecosystems. For these reasons, only technologies using natural refrigerants can be considered for further research into refrigeration systems.

The development of such technologies is crucial to meet the increasing demand for sustainable refrigeration solutions and to support the transition to a more environmentally friendly future. In addition to energy optimization and the development of safety concepts, the development of solutions for the systemic integration and modernization of existing systems are key research topics.

As an alternative to compression circuits, we are also working on the further development of adsorption and absorption refrigeration systems with water as a refrigerant.

Our R&D-Services on the Topic "Cooling Technology" include:

Concepts for charge reduction (propane)
Thermodynamic evaluation of components (heat exchangers, compressors, evaporators) with climate-friendly refrigerants
Acoustic and structural dynamic evaluation of components (compressors) and devices
Fatigue analysis of connections and refrigeration circuits
Component, device and system simulation