Ammonia Risky Refrigerant? Leak Leaves One Dead in Boston
In the last five years, anhydrous ammonia has become the go-to refrigerant for many companies — it’s cost-effective, efficient and free of the environmental impacts associated with CFCs and HCFCs. Despite its many benefits, however, businesses must still treat this colorless gas with respect: Prolonged or large-volume exposure can result in serious injury or even […]
Read More»Video Podcast: Ammonia as a Refrigerant in Food Processing and Distribution
After over five years of publishing the Just Venting blog, we noticed the topic “ammonia as a refrigerant” has been hugely popular year after year. So it stands to reason our first video podcast would revolve around this very topic. Recently, we had a chance to chat with Jeremy Williams, directing manager of the Garden […]
Read More»Supermarkets Sold on Ammonia as a Refrigerant
Richard Heath, a senior manager for the Supervalu/Albertsons line of grocery stores, says his company’s ammonia-based refrigeration system is “operating like a champ.” The ammonia refrigeration system was one of the first to be installed in the United States. The grocery chain has implemented the technology in one of its stores in Caprinteria, California, Heaths […]
Read More»Risk Management When Using Ammonia as a Refrigerant
Ammonia is looking like one of the more plausible solutions for replacing refrigerants that damage the environment including HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), as we note in our previous post, Ammonia As A Refrigerant: Pros and Cons – Follow Up. Our 2009 post, Ammonia As a Refrigerant: Pros and Cons, has become one of our most popular blogs, possibly because […]
Read More»A Greener Choice: Ammonia as a Refrigerant
Supermarkets are high energy users, with more than half of their energy usage attributed to refrigeration, according to an article in Environmental Protection. The online publication points to a paper from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory that puts the average supermarket energy usage at 1 million to 1.5 million kWh per year. Compare that to the 11,040 […]
Read More»Ammonia As a Refrigerant: Pros and Cons – Follow Up
(Editor’s note: The Just Venting blogging team identified the top three Just Venting blog posts since launching in 2008. The next three posts will be a follow up to each.) It’s no surprise one of the blog’s most popular posts is Ammonia As a Refrigerant: Pros and Cons. In a 2010 newsletter published by Alfa […]
Read More»Innovative Energy Solutions: Ammonia as a Refrigerant, Cogeneration, Concentrating Solar Power
Every building needs an HVAC system. Whether you’re heating, cooling, or ventilating, you need a system that will work efficiently and also save you money. But different facilities require different systems. As technology develops, and green buildings become the norm rather than the exception, there are some innovative energy technologies you might want to consider […]
Read More»Ammonia As a Refrigerant: Pros and Cons
Last month, a 5000 pound ammonia leak occurred at a Boston-area seafood warehouse that killed one worker and forced a shelter-in-place order from Boston Police. Problematic procedures may be to blame. So as you read the pros and cons of Ammonia as a refrigerant below, remember these key takeaways: ongoing, scheduled evaluations and preemptive maintenance are critical for any ammonia storage solution — […]
Read More»Where is Scale Likely Hiding in Your Facility’s HVAC Equipment?
If your facility’s machinery uses water as a heating or cooling medium, you likely know any water formed deposits will negatively impact energy efficiency and equipment life expectancy. When higher amounts of water and evaporation deposits settle, scale builds up. Keep in mind that a good portion of scale is hiding out and building up […]
Read More»When Groundwater Goes Bad: How to Clear Leachate Systems
In Pennsylvania, the Keystone Sanitary Landfill is coming under fire for contaminating groundwater. A recent set of tests performed by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) found “increasing concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen, chloride, nitrate, sodium, and total dissolved solids in one of the landfill’s groundwater monitoring wells,” according to the Times-Tribune. These rising levels indicate […]
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