Chillventa: Strong demand for large ammonia plants

By Charlotte McLaughlin, Oct 20, 2016, 10:22 2 minute reading

Beyond innovations like CO2 ejectors and fancy ice-making machines on show at Chillventa, ammonia refrigeration systems remain the standard solutions in many applications, ammonia21.com heard at Chillventa.

Hantech's motorised control valve at their booth during Chillventa 2016 

Stephan Leideck, head of technical training and project engineer at compact Kältetechnik GmbH, told ammonia21.com: “Ammonia is never new. It’s very standard, but the market is showing big demand for large ammonia plants, and lately also for smaller machines up to 200 kW. We never really have a supermarket request. But storage, supermarket distribution centres, ice rinks and so on – this is a market that will never die.”

Ammonia is a solid market and a long-term business. Now we are growing even more – especially in the Middle East.”
- Ulrick Klauck, Hansen Technologies 

Ulrich Klauck, manager for Europe and the Middle East at Hansen Technologies (Hantech) – a manufacturer of controls and valves for ammonia –, echoed this sentiment. “Ammonia is a solid market and a long-term business. Now we are growing even more – especially in the Middle East.”

Hantech’s motorised control valve helps to control the flow of ammonia and increase overall system efficiency. It is a sensitive control with more than 1,400 different settings. 

Ammonia developing into new market spaces

Compact Kältetechnik was exhibiting what it claims are one the biggest and smallest ammonia systems on the market with single compressors. "One with the biggest Bitzer screw [compressor] on the market, with 600 kW of refrigeration capacity. It’s big, so it’s for storage cooling. We also show one of the smallest ammonia machines on the market, with a piston compressor from GEA Bock. Complete with control panel and a capacity of about 25 kW. Both machines go to -10 degrees Celsius,” Leideck said.

“We also do low-charge ammonia solutions,” he said, showing off a machine with 6 kg of ammonia and a low capacity. ”We are aware that limiting the refrigerant charge is efficient and safer,” he added.

Mathias Bethke, sales manager for industrial cooling at Evapco, believes going low-charge could hold the key to ammonia’s future. “The ammonia industry is becoming more self-aware of the need to improve efficiency and safety,” he said.

By Charlotte McLaughlin

Oct 20, 2016, 10:22




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