When it comes to cooling, fans are usually used to facilitate heat exchange with the environment, in combination with compressors and evaporators. However, the use of new gases in refrigerant circuits places them in situations of potential ignition risk, in the event of leaks.
Gases in cooling circuits
It has been decades since the global awareness that the chlorine contained in the so-called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) was the cause of the thinning of the atmospheric ozone layer. Abandoned the first refrigerant gases from the 1980s, therefore, the replacement went in favor of hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and the introduction of the obligation of periodic checks and plant certificates.
Since 2014, new restrictions on the use of refrigeration fluids containing chlorine have further contributed to reducing their use, in favor of natural hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants such as ethane, propane, cyclopropane, (N) butane, (iso) butane, pentane, given that hydrocarbons that contain neither chlorine nor fluorine are compatible with the objectives of eco-sustainability and safeguarding the ozone layer.
To protect the environment, however, we have been called to face a new challenge: HCs are flammable under normal environmental conditions and it was necessary to regulate their use with extreme care, so much so that the European Union has published Directives and Standards the entire life cycle of the entire refrigerating apparatus, from design to disposal.
The Fandis range
All the active components of the refrigerating appliances are involved in this control and disposal process and, for this reason, Fandis has expanded its range of TÜV certified fans according to the requirements of the following safety standards, particularly for household and similar electrical appliances:
- CEI EN 60335-2-89 (commercial refrigeration appliances),
- CEI EN 60335-2-24 (refrigeration appliances and ice cream makers),
- CEI EN 60335-2-40 (heat pumps, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers)
The three standards indicated, referring to IEC 60079-15, guide the manufacturer to exclude the risk of ignition of the refrigerant gas, prescribing a series of checks on the components. For fans, in particular, attention is paid to surface temperatures, electrical discharges between metal parts, and the integrity of resins and insulators.
The use of certified fans allows reducing development times and certification costs.
To learn more about the Fandis range of fans and refrigeration components, visit our website fandis.com or contact us. One of our technicians will answer you as soon as possible, for the best solution for your application.
Leave a Reply