International. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Corporation (MHI-AC&R), has recently developed a large capacity brine cooling system that adopts a nitrogen (N2) refrigerant that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) (Note 1) and zero global warming potential (GWP).
The new system can be adapted even to cryogenic temperature needs, placing it at the pinnacle of industry offerings. The company has just delivered a unit of the new system to The Honjo Chemical Corporation (Neyagawa, Osaka), a manufacturer of organic chemicals and other products, and in the future new sales will be sought in the domestic market.
The new system can cool at ultra-low and cryogenic temperatures (brine temperature: -45°C to -100°C) by applying MHI-AC&R's patented air cooling cycle technology. The unit also features one of the most compact sizes in the industry, allowing for easy handling and transportation.
Its compression expansion machine incorporates the high technologies accumulated by MHI Group in gas turbines. In addition to capturing the energy generated during air expansion cooling and using it as drive power, stable operation is achieved by integrating advanced technologies, such as energy-saving inverter control.
The refrigerant used in MHI-AC&R's new cooling system uses nitrogen, which accounts for approximately 78% of the air content, making it safe for both the environment and humans. The use of a CFC-free refrigerant also eliminates the inspection procedures required by the Fluorocarbon Rational Use and Proper Handling Act, and the new refrigerant is also exempt from the High Pressure Gas Safety Act which regulates the production of high-pressure gases and their consumption, etc.
The company highlights that another benefit of this technology is the adoption of magnetic bearings in the system's compression expansion machine, which eliminates the need for lubricating oil and allows for virtually unlimited service life, helping to alleviate the user's operational and maintenance burdens.
