What is the role of AAR (Association of Ammonia Refrigeration) in Indian HVACR industry?
Ammonia as a refrigerant has been used in India for more than 100 years and is still most widely accepted in industrial refrigeration. However, India didn’t have a body or an organisation to represent the Ammonia refrigeration industry. To address this issue, a modest group of professionals has come together with an idea of an organisation dedicated to promotion of ammonia and other natural refrigerants. In due course Association of Ammonia Refrigeration (AAR) a national organisation was registered at Pune in 2012. The main objective of AAR is to promote safe use of ammonia as a refrigerant through education, information and standards. We also provide guidelines, operating procedures, industrial standards and training material for industrial ammonia refrigeration industry in India. So far, we have trained more than 10,000 engineers, plant maintenance and operating technicians throughout India.
What are the current trends in the refrigeration sector?
Ninety per cent of industrial refrigeration in India is using ammonia as a safe and reliable refrigerant. AAR wants to brings Ammonia into Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry also. We are conducting training and various awareness programs on Ammonia refrigeration across India.
HVAC industry is also one of sectors responsible for the rise in global warming. What is your opinion?
Climate change is taking a toll on the environment like never before. All the countries have come forward to curb the effect of rise in global warming. We are all aware that the synthetic refrigerants used in air conditioning are responsible for depletion of ozone layer, thus, contributing to the global warming. Considering increased global awareness about global warming and effects of greenhouse gases emission on earth, Ammonia has become the obvious choice for India as a natural refrigerant as it is the most energy efficient having zero global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential. Worldwide use of natural refrigerant has been preferred. Kigali Agreement promotes use of natural refrigerant.
In the rush to smart technologies, how refrigeration industry is all set to transform the F&B industry?
Smart technology knowledge is available and used in India. Once AAR standard is approved as BIS standard. Use of smart technology will be extensively used. Low charge ammonia refrigeration system is the latest trend in the cold storage sector.
What kind of technological innovations would you like to incorporate in the refrigeration industry to achieve energy efficiency?
AAR has developed industry standards for energy efficiency and plant safety norms. Once, it is adopted as Indian Standard by BIS, proper design and installation of the plant, equipment selection, proper valves and controls selection, and optimum design parameters will help one to achieve energy savings and plant efficiency.
What are your expectations from the government for the growth of the HVACR sector?
Government should take initiative steps to promote natural refrigerants. This can be achieved by providing more benefits by the Government. Further, the Government can provide subsidiary only to the plants with natural refrigerant. AAR is willing to cooperate with the Government to conduct various seminars and programs to bring awareness about natural refrigerants in HVAC&R industry.
What is your outlook for this industry?
There is consistent growth of the industrial ammonia refrigeration industry. AAR is developing useful publications such as cold storage design hand book, Guidelines for Installation and commissioning, training people, creating awareness about safe and efficient use of Ammonia as refrigerant with an aim to make industrial refrigeration system world-class, and energy efficient.
