48 // Technology
Stellar’s Low-Charge Entry I
ts NH360 packaged units offer an ammonia charge under 1 lb/TR In a variety of industrial settings
Stellar, a designer, manufacturer and installer of industrial refrigeration systems, has entered the low-charge ammonia arena with its NH360 packaged refrigeration systems that offer less than 1 lb/TR (typically 0.90 to 0.98) ammonia charge. The company has already installed a number of these systems, including an 1,800-TR unit at a New Jersey distribution warehouse; a 450-TR unit at a New Jersey food plant; multiple units amounting to nearly 5,000 TR at a Chicago pharmaceuticals plant; and three 450-TR units at a food plant in Bakersfield, Calif. Accelerate America was able to query Brandon France, Stellar’s director of packaged solutions about the NH360 brand.
Stellar NH360 packaged low-charge-ammonia system
Accelerate America: How did you get the charge so low?
Brando n Franc e: We use a variet y of technologies depending on the situation, including our patented evaporator with integrated separator and surge capacity. Also, using secondary refrigerants can keep the ammonia package to a compact and critical charge. AA: What components do you use?
BF: We use standard industry components and apply them in innovative ways to achieve low-charge solutions, which include ammonia-only, ammonia with a secondary refrigerant such as glycol or CO 2 brine, or ammonia/CO 2 cascade. Evaporators are typically located in the cold storage area. AA: Are these rooftop/outside ground installations or inside?
BF: Our packaged systems can be installed indoors, or outdoors on the ground or rooftop when provided with an optional integrated enclosure. AA: Are these all new plants? Any extensions? Retrofits?
BF: Out packaged systems have been installed in a variety of applications such as in new plants, plant additions (i.e. extensions) and retrofits where a client needs to add capacity or has chosen to replace HFC units with low-charge ammonia or CO2 units.
Accelerate America // March 2018