Is ammonia the answer for industrial refrigerant?

Dubai, UAE: With the HVACR industry across the globe initiating discussions and measures to switch to refrigerants with zero ozone-depleting potential (ODP) and low global warming potential (GWP) to slow the rate of climate change, Henrique Pereira, Managing Director at Seabra, lists three advantages of ammonia over other commonly used industrial refrigerants that could prove beneficial:

To begin with, Pereira says that ammonia is environmentally compatible. “Having an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) rating of 0 and a Global Warming Potential (GWP) rating of 0,” he says, “ammonia does not deplete the ozone layer and does not contribute to global warming.”

Secondly, Pereira explains that as ammonia possesses superior thermodynamic qualities, ammonia refrigeration systems use less electricity.

“Third, ammonia’s recognisable odour is its greatest safety asset,” he adds. “Unlike most other industrial refrigerants that have no odour, ammonia has a proven safety record, in part, because leaks are not likely to escape detection.”