Snowman backs NH₃ as ideal for industrial heat pumps

As natural refrigerants continue to make headway in diverse areas of application, ammonia (NH₃) is an ideal refrigerant for large-sized industrial heat pumps, according to Rüdiger Rudischhauser, vice-president sales (international) for Chinese system manufacturer Fujian Snowman Co. Ltd.

Rudischhauser told ammonia21.com about the growing potential for ammonia use in the heat pump sector in Europe.

“The market is definitely growing for heat pumps, due to the fact that electricity is getting cheaper as we are generating electricity in more diverse ways now,” said Rudischhauser.

“The market is also growing for NH₃, because it is natural, and a very potent and efficient gas.”

Rudischhauser said that Fujian Snowman is looking into overseas markets for potential growth areas and sees opportunities for NH₃-based heat pumps in applications such as food processing and district heating.

In the Americas and Southeast Asia, Rudischhauser believes, “the main driver will be processing heat, which is otherwise wasted and emitted into the atmosphere”.

“This will be recovered, and the heat pump will come from that side,” he said.

“In Europe, and countries such as Japan or even China, the heat pump market is growing much more from the perspective of district heating.”

NH₃ safety perception a barrier

However, Rudischhauser did say that the perception of NH₃’s safety was still a barrier to its uptake in the heat pump sector.

“NH₃ is still not considered a ‘safe’ refrigerant,” said Rudischhauser.

“It’s slightly flammable, it’s toxic, and it smells. But the smell, from my point of view, is a positive because when it smells you know that there is something wrong.”

Rudischhauser argued that NH₃’s long history of use in the industrial sector, combined with proper safety precautions, makes it an ideal alternative refrigerant for the future.

"Let’s not forget that NH₃ is an industrial refrigerant that was used in the industry for many decades,” he said.

“There is still some reluctance, but step by step, with the phasing out of f-gases and HFCs, NH₃ will be the natural replacement on the market.”