Industrial refrigeration systems work by compressing, condensing, evaporating refrigerants like ammonia and Freon. They are found in chemical plants, food industry, and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. Industrial refrigeration systems are also responsible for air conditioning of malls, airports, large commercial buildings. With increasing regulations on chlorofluorocarbons and hydro chlorofluorocarbons, alternate refrigerants are being though about which are similar to halocarbons but not hazardous as them. Ammonia is one such refrigerant which has thermodynamic characteristics very similar to that of halocarbons but it doesn’t contribute to ozone depletion and global warming.
Ammonia refrigeration systems are frequently used in industrial refrigeration. Soft drinks, juices, fish, poultry items, ice creams and many other regular items that we consume, use ammonia refrigeration. However, it is seen that ammonia as a refrigerant is not very safe. Handling of ammonia requires a lot of care as it can cause many problems. Workers working in the plants face the risk of being open to ammonia hazards like explosion and fire. Ammonia refrigeration systems have claimed many lives of workers in the past due to inhalation and skin contact. Protective clothing and equipment to deal with ammonia spills, and fire safety precautions should be in place at industrial refrigeration systems which use ammonia as a refrigerant.