Vol 91, No 6 (2002)

With the present article we start publications on the basics of selection, installation and operation of refrigeration units and compressors for commercial refrigeration equipment. The relevance of this topic is determined by the fact that over the past 5 years the country has dramatically increased equipping of commercial refrigeration equipment with new generation compressors both imported (L'Unité Hermétique, Aspera, Electrolux, Danfoss) and domestic compressors manufactured by Yaroslavl JSC "Kholodmash", which produces a wide range of compressors by documentation and technology of Electrolux Compressors. These are small-sized compressors with built-in electric motor, most of them are powered from single-phase AC network with voltage of 220 V and frequency of 50 Hz.
Refrigeration aggregates with gland compressor of FAK type and refrigeration aggregates with scaled compressors of VSE type used to be produced earlier are less demanding to cleanliness and dryness of the refrigeration system since the electric motor winding is not in contact with freon-oil mixture. They are easy to operate, but heavy and noisy. New generation compressors require a different level of preparation of the refrigeration system (clean and dry) and more qualified installation and operation personnel. Unpreparedness of installers and operators to work with compressors of new generation is evidenced by the fact that, according to Morena, up to 20% of imported compressors returned to the company in reclamation are found to be intact and workable. In addition, sometimes high-quality compressors fail due to failure to comply with the basic requirements to the refrigeration system, rules of installation and operation.
Therefore, we consider it reasonable to highlight the whole process of creating a refrigeration system in commercial refrigeration equipment: to follow step by step selection of compressors (units) depending on their characteristics and purpose, preparation of the refrigeration system for installation, installation, start-up and operational monitoring. A special section will be devoted to replacement of compressors in existing refrigeration systems already in operation. The questions of selection and application of control and automation devices, different systems of evaporator defrosting and some other problems will be also discussed. We invite all interested people to take part in discussion of these issues and send to the editorial board their comments and proposals.

A seminar dedicated to the problem was held on March 14-16, 2002 in the Oreanda Hotel in Yalta. It was organized by the French company "Atofina", private enterprise "Dneprotekhbitservis" and the regional public organization "Ecology of Cold".

The choice of refrigerants with desirable combination of such properties as contribution to greenhouse effect, flammability, toxicity, thermodynamic behavior, performance specifications is one of the most important stages in retrofitting of R12 refrigerating systems to alternative refrigerants. Transitional blends (HCFC) as alternatives for R12 are considered. Multicriteria analysis of main best-selling replacement for CFC-12 applications is carried out. The advantages (better efficiency, better cooling capacity, compatibility with mineral oil) of FORANE FX56 (R409A) are discussed.

March 12, 2002 George Anatolievich Golovko, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR, passed away.