Summary

DOI: 10.18462/iir.compr.2021.0457

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Session: Closing of the conference

Accept state: Submission accepted

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Abstract

The Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol has now been ratified by most countries (99) and has officially entered into force. Developed countries, particularly in Europe, have already put in place actions to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Developing countries must move directly to low greenhouse gas solutions now, in order to avoid switching from hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) − which they must complete phasing out by 2030 − to high greenhouse gas HFCs.

These solutions present several challenges, for which technical research and development is still required, even if solutions already exist: safety of installations, when many low greenhouse effect refrigerants are flammable; energy consumption, when, faced with the considerable increase in the number of refrigeration equipment (including air conditioning), there is a risk of capacity problems in energy systems, even when renewable energies are used.
This conference is the continuation of a long series of conferences in Slovakia on compressors and refrigerants, but it is still necessary. I hope that you will find some new ideas in the papers presented: There is no ideal solution, valid in all uses and circumstances. There is still plenty of room for many innovations and improvements in the years to come.

Thanks to Peter Tomlein and all the other organisers of this conference. Their work has not been easy, given the sanitary constraints. They have all the more credit for maintaining this very useful conference.

Keywords

Refrigeration, compressors, refrigerant