From a pure technical and environmental perspective, ammonia (NH_3) is unparalleled as a refrigerant. It is a refrigerant with no global-warming or ozone-ion potential, its heat-transfer characteristics among the best known to man, it is inexpensive, and its use for more than 100 years has led to a base or experience unlike that of any other refrigerant in the cold-storage and food-processing industries. In the hands of untrained or careless individuals or in poorly maintained facilities, however, it can be highly dangerous. Over the last decade, NH_3 has come under increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities, communities, and insurance providers, leading public-refrigerated-warehouse (PRW) owners to reach out to engineers, contractors, and equipment suppliers for new and innovative ways to minimize their NH_3-system charges.
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