Tech Watch: Maersk Invests in Carrier’s Natural Refrigerant Container Units

100 NaturaLINE units ordered for operational testing

Technology advancements are progressing at an exponential rate in virtually every industry and the HVAC/R industry has been seeing it’s fair share of “tech”.

The world’s largest container shipping line, Maersk Line, is striving to further reduce the environmental impact of its global shipping operations. They have ordered the first 100 of a total of 200 refrigerated containers to be chilled by Carrier Transicold’s NaturaLINE natural-refrigerant based system.

“To meet our sustainability goals and stay ahead of the new EU legislation, Maersk Line is keen to carefully evaluate all alternatives to the current synthetic refrigerants,” says Ingrid Uppelschoten-Snelderwaard, head of global equipment, Maersk Line. “The NaturaLINE system is an advanced technology with interesting potential for reefers. We chose it after laboratory testing of the unit’s performance with perishable and frozen commodities and look forward to gaining further operational experience with the system.” => Read full article 

R-32: The Eventual Replacement For R410A

We see R-32 as the eventual replacement for R410A in residential air conditioning equipment.  R22 prices are increasing due to impending supply shortages, and R410A prices are rising in the face of antidumping duties.  As the price of R22 and R410A continue to rise, R32 will become a more cost effective and environmentally friendly solution for equipment manufacturers.

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Global manufacturers, such as Daikin Industries, LLC. encouraging manufacturers worldwide to develop, commercialize and adopt sustainable cooling and heating technologies using HFC-32.

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Here is a Fact Sheet from Daikin Industries on this next generation refrigerant and technology

 

Europe Revokes HFO-1234yf Patent

A tribunal of the European Patent Office (EPO) heard oral arguments in March of this year after formal objections to Honeywell’s HFO-1234YF patent were filed by Daikin Industries, Daimler AGE, ACEA, BMW AG, Mexichem, Solvay Fluor and others in November of 2009.  The tribunal’s decision is as follows-
“The patent is revoked under Article 101(2) EPC as at least one of the grounds of oppositions prejudices its maintenance unamended, and under Article 101(3) (b) EPC because taking into account the amendments made by the proprietor during the opposition proceedings, the patent and the invention to which it relates do no meet the requirements of the EPC.”
(European Patent Convention)
Honeywell has filed a Notice of Appeal.