Publication of a Comparative Study of Refrigeration Systems for Arenas

In order to assist arena owners in choosing an alternative to using R-22 refrigerant, Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY Research Centre, together with several organizations and businesses in the refrigeration field, conducted a study to compare a dozen alternative options using CO₂, ammonia or synthetic refrigerants that are not ozone depleting. The comparisons are made on technical specifications, performance, and acquisition and operation costs.

The study also includes a module related to facility safety to adequately guide municipal decision makers on public safety issues.

This study is part of the arenas refrigeration systems transformation process that designers have embarked on under the influence of governmental guidelines. The positive changes are intended to minimize the amount of system refrigerants, improve system assembly methods to reduce leakage risks, promote ammonia and CO₂ as “green” solutions, and develop synthetic refrigerants that minimize greenhouse effects while causing no harmful effects on the ozone layer.

This report can be downloaded from the Association québécoise des arénas et des installations récréatives et sportives (AQAIRS) Website.

To learn more about CanmetENERGY’s activities related to refrigeration, visit the Refrigeration and Heat Pumps section of the website.