Major advancement in industrial refrigeration efficiency by HB Products

Danish sensor and control supplier HB Products has received DKK 2.5 millions from the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUPD) to develop a new technology capable of measuring, monitoring and regulating the relationship between gas and liquid in a refrigeration system. This all-in-one new sensor, the HBDX, has been announced as a “game changer” for the industry as it should offer a truly effective control of industrial refrigeration systems.

This project, titled “Development, testing, and commercialisation of a new sensor principle for refrigeration systems,” is based on a patent-pending sensor technology, the HBDX sensor, which was introduced at the Chillventa trade fair in 2012. In addition to an innovative design leading to substantial energy savings, the HBDX sensor is expected to allow for reduction of the refrigerant charge in the system by a factor of 30-50.

HBDX sensor technology

This sensor technology enables the refrigeration system to operate in Direct Expansion, hence the name HBDX. The sensor is based on the capacitive measuring principle. It measures the gas quality as wet/dry at the outlet/suction pipe in an evaporator. The sensor measures the degree of dryness “X” of the gas, and the value is converted into a 4-20 mA analogue signal.

From a technological design perspective, the sensor technology is also energy efficient, as it allows the sensor to not be affected by water in the refrigerant in ammonia-based systems, nor to generate any kind of pressure drop in the system. Apart from the sensor’s design, HB Products A/S has introduced another technical innovation by simplifying and integrating regulation functions in its sensor.

What is at stake?

Driven by a shared political agenda of lowering CO₂ emissions, several international component suppliers, manufacturers and end-users have joined the project: the Danish Technological Institute, Alfa Laval A/S, Grundfos A/S, A/S Dybvad Stål Industri, Thermofin GmbH, Claus Sørensen A/S and S.V.K. Energi A/S.

The energy savings and other advantages of using the new HBDX sensor technology are expected to revolutionise the refrigeration industry over years, especially in the U.S., where legislation limits the refrigerant charge in industrial refrigeration systems. Market opportunities seem to be exponential as other components of the refrigeration system, such as pumps, condensers and heat exchangers, will need to be adapted to the new HBDX technology.

Further Information

For further information on the project, contact HB Products A/S General Manager Michael Elstrøm using the link below.

About HB Products A/S

For over 30 years, the company has specialised in the development, manufacture and sale of sensors for the refrigeration industry. The sensors are found on refrigeration compressors, refrigeration tanks and in cooling pipes, a particularly harsh environment where low temperatures, high pressure and corrosive refrigerants put high demands on sensor design. The company sells products globally to large and small players in the industrial refrigeration market.