In the United States, the multinational beverage company PepsiCo has announced a pilot project that introduces climate-friendly vending machines. Under the new programme, the Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) is placing 30 Pepsi-Cola vending machines in high-consumer traffic areas in the Washington, DC area.

The machines, which feature the new Pepsi logo along with a special green refrigerant sticker, use less energy and emit 12 per cent less greenhouse gas than current vending machines, the company stated. In addition to their energy efficiency improvements, the new machines use carbon dioxide, a natural refrigerant, instead of hydrofluorocarbons. PepsiCo says that the project is part of its commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of the vending and cooling equipment used to sell its drinks.
Source: www.tradingmarkets.com

Hawco, an international controls and refrigeration engineering service provider and distributor based in the United Kingdom, offers a refrigeration solution that combines high performance and energy efficiency. Designated the Hawco Extra Cold, the rugged condensing unit is available for R404A refrigerant across high, medium and low temperature ranges. It incorporates energy-efficient hermetic compressors and condenser coils with an energy-efficient Zeil-EBM fan.

Hawco engineers can customize a condensing unit to meet specific needs. While stock in versions are available from 1.5 kW to 18 kW, special models can be ordered for up to 28 kW. All units can be controlled with Hawcos broad line of control panels and controllers. The condensing units are fabricated from galvanized steel to ensure a rugged, weatherproof module that can be flat roof, wall or ground mounted. The heavy-duty housing allows for easy installation and maintenance, as well as providing a low operating noise level of 33dBA to 47dBA. Contact: Hawco, Abbey Mill Business Park, Lower Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2QN, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (1483) 869 080; E-mail: gary.bennett@hawco.co.uk; Website: www.hawco.co.uk.
Source: news.thomasnet.com

A marine air-conditioning manufacturer, Flagship Marine of the United States, has been analysing various new refrigerants that have been developed to comply with the increasingly stringent environmental regulations. It has finally decided to use ISCEON 59, a patented zero-ozone depleting refrigerant commonly known as R-417A.

This is the first refrigerant that has almost identical performance and operating pressures of the long-time industry standard, R22, while most importantly remaining compatible with the user-friendly refrigerant lubricating oils that have been used for decades. Flagship Marines biggest problem was avoiding the highly hydroscopic oils that some of the other refrigerants require and the dramatic alterations necessitated by the radically increased refrigerant pressures of some of the other alternative refrigerants.

R-417A and HCFC-22 refrigerants are so similar in their characteristics that they are actually interchangeable, though they cannot be mixed. Contact: Mr. Tom Martland, Flagship Marine Inc., 2427 SE Dixie Hwy, Stuart, FL 34996, Florida, United States of America. Tel: +1 (561) 283 1609; Fax: +1 (561) 283 4611.
Source: www.marinetalk.com

The Swedish company SWEP, one of the worlds leading suppliers of compact brazed heat exchangers (CBEs), has developed a double-wall unit for high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO₂) refrigeration and heat pump applications. The highly performing B16DW-U is fully reliable to protect the cooled food chain in supermarkets, saving capital, running costs and valuable retail space.

SWEP has developed a range of CBEs to work reliably in CO₂ cascade refrigeration systems, booster systems and pumped R-744 systems. The new CBE features a reinforced steel frame held together by bolts, combining double-wall safety with both thermal and cost efficiencies. It could be employed as an evaporator and gas cooler for industrial chillers of up to 50 kW cooling capacity, and in heat pump applications.

SWEP offers technology to meet the needs of smaller stores requiring up to 80 kW MT and 10 kW LT cooling, as well as for supermarkets where the cooling capacity required is up to 250 kW MT and 50 kW LT. Its ColdPlate range specifically caters for CO₂ systems with working pressures of up to 45 bar, as well as transcritical applications at 140 bar. It provides mechanical strength for CO₂ installations and aims at a high COP value in supermarket refrigeration. Contact: Mr. Henrik Ewetz, SWEP International, Hjalmar Brantings vg 5, P.O. Box 105, 261 22 Landskrona, Sweden. Tel: +46 (418) 400400; Fax: +46 (418) 29 295; E-mail: info@swep.net.
Source: www.r744.com

Emerson Climate Technologies, Germany, has added Copeland Scroll^TM CO2 compressor range, a motor-driven valve providing a precise control of the refrigerant, and a universal driver module. The scroll compressors integrates models optimized for carbon dioxide (CO₂) low-temperature sub-critical applications, such as in cascade and booster systems operating in supermarkets and industrial sites.

With nominal refrigeration capacities from 8 kW to 24 kW, the four models ZO34, ZO45, ZO58 and ZO104 offer very high efficiency and lead to a reduction of the overall system energy consumption. The compactness and reduced weight of the Copeland Scroll CO2 range 30 per cent to 60 per cent less compared with reciprocating piston compressors of similar capacity allow for not only an easier transport and maintenance, but also the design of more compact compressor packs. The nominal power varies from 2 hp to 6 hp. Contact: Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, European Headquarters, Pascalstrasse 65, D-52076 Aachen, Germany. Tel: +49 (2408) 929-0; Fax: +49 (2408) 929-570; E-mail: info@Emerson.com; Website: www.emersonclimate.eu.
Source: www.r744.com