Why do large industries rely on ammonia for refrigeration? And why is it the most used refrigerant in the industrial cooling system? This is mainly because of its working efficiency and high reliability.
Read on, and determine its potential and learn why it is the ideal choice in refrigeration.
What is Ammonia?
It is an inorganic chemical compound and a colorless gas with a noticeably strong, sharp smell. Ammonia, also known by its formula (NH3), is a chemical compound composed of 1 nitrogen and 3 hydrogen atoms.
It naturally exists in the environment and is part of the nitrogen cycle. It can easily turn to liquid under pressure and reaches the boiling point at around -33 °C, which is why it is widely used.
What Type of Ammonia is Used in Refrigeration?
In refrigeration, the ammonia used is anhydrous ammonia, meaning it doesn’t contain water. For efficient operation and to protect equipment, it must be pure (usually 99.98% pure). R717 is considered a natural refrigerant.
Why Use Anhydrous Ammonia?
First, because it prevents moisture problems. Water freezes, which then blocks valves or corrodes system components. Second, it maximizes efficiency. Pure ammonia deals with heat more efficiently than a water-ammonia mix.
Application of Ammonia in Refrigeration
Anhydrous Ammonia (R717) is the preferred refrigerant for large-scale industrial cooling due to its high heat absorption capacity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Here’s how it is used across sectors.
Food and Beverage Industry
- Industrial slaughterhouses and Food Processing Plants: Ammonia is used in blast freezers and cooling tunnels to quickly lower meat and poultry temperatures. This is to inhibit the growth of bacteria and retain their freshness.
- Dairy Product Industries: Ammonia is used for temperature control for pasteurization, fermentation, and storage of milk and other dairy products.
- Fishing Industry: Ammonia refrigeration is used to freeze the fish and seafood immediately after being caught, both on factory ships at sea and in shore-based processing plants. This quick-freezing process preserves freshness, prevents food from getting spoiled, and maintains seafood’s quality throughout the cold chain.
- Beverage Factories: Ammonia is used to control the temperatures of liquids from mixing and carbonation to bottling and storage. In this way, the taste and quality are kept while spoilage is prevented.
Cold Storage and Logistics
Centralized ammonia refrigeration is used to cool large storage areas and warehouses that hold frozen or temperature-sensitive products. The centralized system maintains stable zero temperatures needed for long-term storage of foods and other goods.
Ammonia absorbs heat faster. This reduces energy consumption as well as operating costs while keeping products safely preserved throughout the storage and distribution.
Industrial and Chemical Processing
- Petrochemical and Chemical Industries: Ammonia refrigeration is used for process cooling, where the heat produced is removed. Through the control and stabilization of the process temperatures, the equipment is protected, production efficiency is maintained, and the risk of overheating or hazardous operating conditions is prevented.
- Plastic Industry: In plastic manufacturing, high-capacity chilled water is used to cool molds and extrusion equipment during production. The process allows plastics to solidify correctly. The shape is maintained, and strength is preserved, which retains quality and prevents defects.
Benefits of Using Anhydrous Ammonia (R717)
Ammonia remains as the top choice for industrial cooling due to its working efficiency, sustainability, and product reliability. Listed below are what make R717 the ideal choice.
Efficient Performance
Ammonia has a very high latent heat of vaporization. This enables it to absorb and transfer more heat per pound compared to most synthetic refrigerants. This makes it effective for large-scale cooling where consistent temperatures are important.
Systems using ammonia operate three to ten percent more efficiently, which equates to energy savings. Moreover, Ammonia’s heat transfer coefficient allows the use of smaller, compact heat exchangers without giving up its performance.
Environmental Sustainability
As a natural refrigerant, ammonia has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP). HFCs and HCFCs, on the other hand, help cause climate change, so they must be strictly regulated.
Ammonia is friendly to the ozone layer because it does not add to greenhouse gas emissions.
It also helps the industry to comply with environmental regulations, one of which is the Kigali Amendment. Moreover, it reduces the possibility of penalties or future retrofitting requirements as regulations of synthetic refrigerants tighten.
Low Maintenance
Ammonia systems have simple maintenance requirements and are easy to monitor compared to their alternatives. The strong and somewhat pungent odor of ammonia helps you to detect it even at low concentrations.
Ammonia also does not mix with compressor oil, making oil management simpler and preventing efficiency losses. These features make the ammonia system safer and easier to operate in industrial settings.
Cost-effectiveness
Although the initial installation is higher due to the requirement for steel piping, its long-term return on investment is better.
Ammonia is widely available and is less expensive per pound than synthetic refrigerants. In addition, its high efficiency reduces energy consumption, which results in high costs for cold storage and food processing facilities. Together, these factors make ammonia a highly cost-effective choice for large-scale operations.
Low refrigerant charge
Ammonia has a high cooling capacity, which means a system needs a smaller amount of refrigerant to produce the same cooling effect as many synthetic systems. Because less refrigerant is required to move heat through the system, smaller pipe diameters can often be used in liquid lines, which improves system efficiency.
In addition, modern low-charged ammonia system designs have further developed to minimize the ammonia used on-site. This improves overall safety while maintaining its strong cooling performance and energy efficiency.
Consideration Before Using it
While ammonia is a highly efficient refrigerant, its chemical properties require a proper system and strict standards. Because ammonia is both corrosive and toxic under certain conditions, industrial refrigeration systems must follow specific standards and regulations.
Material Compatibility
As stated earlier, ammonia reacts differently with specific metals. This can affect the design and build of the refrigeration system. A system that uses ammonia must be made from carbon steel or stainless steel because these materials withstand constant ammonia exposure. Copper, brass, bronze, or often called yellow metals cannot be used because ammonia can quickly corrode them, especially when moisture is present.
In addition, seals and gaskets must be made from special materials that are resistant to ammonia. Ammonia can damage ordinary rubber by causing it to swell, harden, or break down over time, which may lead to leaks.
Safety Protocols
Because anhydrous ammonia is toxic and can become flammable at certain concentrations in air, facilities using it should adhere to proper safety procedures. These should be followed religiously to protect workers, equipment, and the surrounding environment.
Detection System: Industrial refrigeration plants install ammonia gas detectors in machine rooms and refrigerated spaces. The detectors or sensors constantly monitor the air and immediately trigger the alarm if ammonia levels rise above a safe limit.
Once activated, the system can also start emergency ventilation to remove the gas and prevent the people from being exposed.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The technicians or workers who operate the main ammonia system must always have proper protective gear available. This includes ammonia respirators, chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection. In emergencies, trained personnel may use full protective suits when repairing leaks or inspecting equipment.
Regulatory Compliance: Most countries require facilities that use large ammonia systems to strictly adhere to safety standards and regulations, as well as industrial standards.
These stated regulations involve regular equipment inspections, testing of pressure vessels, training for operators, and emergency response planning. All these to make sure that the system operates safely.
To generalize,
Ammonia is not just a simple chemical compound but an important substance in industrial refrigeration. As presented and explained, ammonia’s strong cooling performance, working efficiency, and being eco-friendly make it the best choice.
With proper system design and adherence to safety standards, ammonia continues to support industries that rely on consistent and effective cooling.
You might also find these blogs useful:
What is Refrigerant? The Ultimate Guide
Types of Refrigerants: The Complete Guide
What Refrigerant Is Used in Refrigerators?
What is the 404A Refrigerant Operating Pressure in a Walk-In Freezer?
