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Prepare now for new generation fridge
recycling, says Air Products
December 2002 - Fridge recycling plants should prepare
now for new generation fridges and ensure they have efficient
and flexible technology in place to recover volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) as well as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
says Air Products.
New generation fridges, which contain a VOC or 'solvent'
such as cyclopentane, currently account for between 2 -
4% of fridges passing through fridge recycling plants in
Europe. This figure is set to increase rapidly over the
next 10 years as fridges manufactured after 1995, when VOCs
were first used, reach the end of their life.
With European VOC Solvent Emissions regulations now in
place across all Member States, targets for the reduction
of VOC emissions have been set and are likely to become
increasingly stringent. Fridge recycling plants must ensure
they have technology in place capable of meeting both CFC
and VOC recovery targets now and in the future.
Air Products, Europe's leading experts in technology for
the recovery of blowing agents in the fridge recycling industry,
has developed a solution for the recycling of new generation
fridges. By adapting an existing cryogenic recovery technique,
CryoCondap®, Air Products has created a cryogenic condensation
system, which uses liquid nitrogen to cool and inert parts
of the process, which is capable of recovering both the
new generation blowing agents, such as cyclopentane, and
traditional CFCs.
The cryogenic condensation system works in the same way
to recover the CFC R11 and cyclopentane, reducing emissions
to the required legislative targets safely and cost-effectively
- because the nitrogen is used for cooling and is re-used
for inerting purposes.
In addition, the innovative cryogenic condensation system,
which operates under pressure with pressure swing adsorption
dryers, enables the recovery of R11 or R11/12 mixtures without
ice formation. This means only one cryogenic heat exchanger
is needed, even when plants are operating on a 24 hour basis.
By re-using the liquid nitrogen used during cooling, the
system operates safely by inerting sections containing VOCs
and/or CFCs.
Hans Erler, product manager at Air Products, explains the
benefits of the new solution:
"The new cryogenic condensation solution uses liquid
nitrogen to recover VOC and CFC emissions safely and efficiently,
in a single process, ensuring emissions targets are in line
with European legislation.
"In 10 years time, new generation fridge recycling
will account for between 30 - 40% of the market. Clearly,
by investing in this new technology, fridge recycling plants
across Europe will be able to capitalise immediately on
this expanding market opportunity."
The VOC Solvents Emissions Directive, which was adopted
by the European Council on 11 March 1999, has been translated
into legislation across all Member States and sets out to
reduce VOC emissions by 67% within nine years.
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