Cold Chain (CC): Bitzer is a leading manufacturer of refrigeration compressors. Why are you interested in such a highly competitive segment in India?

Bitzer (B): We are an old player, with a high success rate in India. The quality of our products has been appreciated widely here. We have so far been a major player in semi-hermetic reciprocating compressors, and are now establishing screw compressors in our portfolio.

CC: How do you evaluate ammonia as a refrigerant?

B: Ammonia is a very stable refrigerant. It has been a preferred refrigerant in India for a long time – in fact, it has been the refrigerant for industrial refrigeration applications. CO2 has very high pressures, hence not very suitable for large systems; it is more suitable for medium size sub-critical applications.

CC: What are the features of Bitzer ammonia screw compressors that make them the preferred brand?

B: They are best-in-class, reliable and highly energy efficient. Their shaft seal makes them stand out. They are a little expensive, but good value for money. We have more screw profiles than all the competitors combined. In short, we deploy a newer technology.

CC: What suggestions do you have to promote safe use of ammonia in India?

B: Operator training and user documentation go a long way towards mitigating safety risks. Manufacturing quality and inverter drives also plays a role. At Bitzer Green Points, we emphasise safety during operator training.

CC: Can you share some details of Ammonia Compressor Pack (ACP)?

B: ACP from Bitzer is designed for high efficiency at full- and part-load operation with high reliability in complex industrial refrigeration and process cooling applications. It is the base of the industrial compressor packages being established by us. It gives 1.4 MW for 78 kg of ammonia. Two of these ACPs can be fitted in a 40’ container. This leads to a new paradigm.

CC: How do you see the world market for natural refrigerants in 5 years’ time? Do you see natural refrigerants having a much wider use?

B: We see a huge potential for natural refrigerants five years down the line. Hydrocarbons will be widely used for small appliances, CO2 for medium sized applications like supermarkets, and ammonia for large industrial refrigeration systems. Europe has very stringent rules about HFCs since 2006 – they are allowed only up to 10 kg. The global trend is towards natural refrigerants. In five years, we see large opportunities for CO2 hybrid systems resulting in high efficiencies and energy savings.