Page 12 - Climate Control News Magazine April 2022

World News
JAPANESE ELECTRONICS GIANT, SHARP ELECTRONICS, HAS COMMENCED CONSTRUCTION ON A $40 MILLION AIR CONDITIONING FACTORY IN INDONESIA.
Sharp investment plan
Brine system uses nitrogen as refrigerant
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Air-Condi- tioning and Refrigeration Corporation (MHI- AC&R), a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has developed a large-ca- pacity brine refrigeration system using nitrogen (N2) as the refrigerant.
The new system can accommodate even cryo- temperature needs.
A new unit has just been delivered to the Hon- jo Chemical Corporation (Neyagawa, Osaka), a manufacturer of organic chemicals and other products.
The new system can refrigerate at ultra-low and cryo-temperatures (brine temperature: -45°C to -100°C) through application of MHI-AC&R’s proprietary (patented) air refrigeration cycle technology.
It also features one of the industry’s most com- pact sizes, enabling easy handling and transport. Its compression expansion machine incorpo- rates MHI Group’s accumulated high technolo-
gies in gas turbines.
In addition to capturing the energy generated
during air expansion cooling and using it as drive power, stable operation is achieved through the integration of high technologies such as en- ergy-saving inverter control.
The new refrigeration system contributes sig- nificantly to curbing global warming through the adoption of N2, a natural refrigerant having zero environmental impact.
Today, because there are few refrigerant op- tions in the ultra-low-temperature refrigeration field, many refrigeration systems continue to use CFC refrigerants.
The refrigerant used in MHI-AC&R’s new re- frigeration system uses nitrogen, which accounts for approximately 78 per cent of air content, so it is safe both to the environment and to humans. Magnetic bearings in the system’s compression expansion machine eliminates lubricating oil.
ABOVE: How the large capacity refrigeration system works.
THE KARAWANG FACTORY in West Java will commence operations in 2023 and will be used as an export base for ASEAN countries.
The new plant will take up 3.5 hectares of land at Karawang International Industrial City (KIIC).
It will have a production capacity of between 900,000 and 1.05 million AC units per year.
Sharp Electronics Indonesia president, Shinji Teraoka, said the goal is to increase market share by 30 per cent and maintain a number one posi- tion in the Indonesian market.
Indonesia’s Industry Minister, Agus Gumi-
wang Kartasasmita said Sharp's investment would help Indonesia develop its manufac- turing industry and reduce imports of elec- tronic goods.
Ministry data showed that Indonesia imports around $25 billion worth of electronics and $13 billion of components every year.
Last year alone Indonesia spent $495 million on imported air conditioners.
Sharp has been developing Indonesia as its new base for manufacturing in recent years with the relocation of washing machine production from Thailand to Indonesia in 2019.
Sharp Electronics Indonesia.
Costs slashed 40 per cent
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES has sup- plied Q Ton heat pumps to the Lancaster Hall Hotel in the heart of London.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries connected two Q-ton to two 2,000 litre hot water storage tanks.
There are two separate boiler rooms with completely segregated hot water and heat- ing systems utilising five boilers running at different pressures in order to cater for 250 people on site.
The system is now fully operational and sup- plies 12,000 litres per day of domestic hot water at 65°C.
The hotel is now saving up to 40 per cent in running costs compared to their existing boil- er and delivers 45 per cent savings on carbon emissions.
The Q-ton uses CO2 to produce hot water ranging from 60˚C-90˚C, holding efficiencies when operating right up to 70˚C, which is re- quired by the hotel to combat legionella.
LEFT: Q-Ton system from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
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