Danfoss India: Full marks for research, training and test lab promoting ammonia refrigeration

By Robert Davidson, Sep 07, 2015, 14:58 3 minute reading

As Indian Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with Barack Obama earlier in the year suggests, India is looking to re-examine its use of HFCs. Nowhere else is this shift more apparent than in Danfoss’ innovation campus in Chennai where they have installed an ammonia training unit as well as equipment to help manufacturers improve energy efficiency in residential air conditioning.

In November 2014, Danfoss India inaugurated its new manufacturing, R&D and administrative campus in Oragadam, Chennai in the south-east of India, a stones throw away from the Bay of Bengal.

The campus aims to improve R&D, skill development and product development along with a customer application development centre, and testing labs with a focus on innovation for customised solutions. The campus generates 10% of its electricity requirement through the use of a solar power plant, substantiating its green credentials.

The campus also features an ‘ammonia training unit’ in its Danfoss Learning Centre, this unit serves as an operational demonstration of the technology, providing training for ammonia systems. This falls in line with Danfoss’ overall aim to improve awareness of ammonia and to improve training due to its desirability as a feasible natural refrigerant alternative in India and abroad.

Danfoss’ campus majors in energy efficiency for RAC

Since its operational debut in 2014, the campus has only prospered and developed further, with Danfoss introducing a one-of-a-kind Psychrometric (PSR) lab into its Chennai campus. In addition to Danfoss’ mission to improve the knowledge and use of ammonia, the PSR lab looks to address India’s energy security by helping improve energy efficiency.

The PSR lab, unveiled in August 2015, will help stakeholders improve energy efficiency by performance testing their air conditioning components that contribute to a surplus load on power grids.

The PSR lab joins the state-of-the art refrigeration and air conditioning learning centre, the ammonia training unit and the export orientated production centre to complete the large array of equipment helping drive forward India’s HVAC&R sector to a greener and more efficient future.

New RAC energy efficiency testing equipment could help India graduate to R290 RAC

The development of India’s room air conditioning (RAC) sector shows a promising role for R290 RAC units in Indian homes. As reported earlier in the year by hydrocarbons21.com, the sale of R290 RAC has topped 100,000 in India, with the global phaseout of R22 being seen as one of the key catalysts to the use of R290 as an alternative.

As of July 2015, the import of R22-based air conditioners is banned in India as part of a gradual plan by the government to help India meet their Montreal Protocol duties to have 97.5% of HCFCs phased out by 2030.

In an interview with hydrocarbons21.com in April 2015, Diptendu Bhattacharya, Godrej’s general manager, explained how it would be the economic benefits that could push R290 RAC to becoming a mainstream solution. Bhattacharya gave a clear insight into the case for R290 RAC when he noted:

“R290 naturally has a much higher energy efficiency performance, so right now we are attaining a performance of about 3.9 EER (energy efficiency ratio) compared to 3.5 for R22. So in the five-star rated category of energy efficient air conditioners we have the highest rating for a normal compressor.”

This shows a clear path for naturals in India, with companies such as Danfoss and Godrej lighting the way for others to follow.

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By Robert Davidson

Sep 07, 2015, 14:58




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