Economical, innovative and climate-friendly: Viessmann's new Tecto RF WMx3 refrigeration units

2022-01-18

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In the food and beverages industry, as well as in retail, catering and healthcare, refrigeration is a particular priority. For supermarkets, industrial kitchens and restaurants especially – but also for labs and bioscience facilities – being able to properly control the temperature of food, medical supplies and other products ensures long shelf lives and freshness.

But is there anything that can be done to keep up with the steadily increasing number of requirements related to energy efficiency and environmental protection?

At companies like Viessman that are active on a global scale, it’s part of the corporate philosophy not only to be success-oriented, but also to act reliably and sustainably. As a manufacturer and distributor of refrigeration solutions, we must take responsibility towards current and future generations.
As part of the continuous development of all product groups, Viessmann is always on the lookout for environmentally friendly alternatives and, in addition to state-of-the-art systems, also offers its customers optional accessories to establish climate-friendly and economical refrigeration processes throughout the entire supply chain.

Percentage of maximum allowable quantities of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) placed on the market

The European F-Gas Regulation (EC517/2014) is a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55 per cent by 2030 compared to the levels of emissions produced in 1990 (image source: Deutsches Umweltbundesamt). The provisions of Articles 11 and 13 of this Regulation are accompanied by a significant reduction in emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) in the EU, which is to be enforced through staggered restrictions on use and on placing on the market.

In concrete terms, this means that hermetically sealed refrigerators and freezers for commercial use which use F-gases or their mixtures with a GWP value of 150 and higher will no longer be permitted from 01/01/2022 onwards.

The abbreviation GWP means "Global Warming Potential" and stands for the global warming or greenhouse potential of a respective substance. A refrigerant’s GWP value defines its relative greenhouse potential with regard to CO2. The value describes the global warming effect over a certain period of time, usually 100 years for refrigerants. So the higher the GWP value, the more damage the respective substance does to the environment.

Propane (R290) - Positive effects and safety of use

With this responsibility towards social and environmental expectations, Viessmann develops all new refrigeration units in accordance with the ambitious climate targets it has set itself.

The natural refrigerant propane (R290) is used for the Tecto RF WMx3 refrigeration units because it:

is a sustainable refrigerant due to its very low GWP value of 3,
is highly energy-efficient,
has excellent thermodynamic properties,
is non-toxic,
operates at low pressure levels below 28 bar.

Propane (R290) thus appears to be an outstandingly suitable refrigerant due to its thermodynamic properties. Using propane is a significant positive contribution towards meeting the challenges of the energy transition in the building sector. The new generation of Tecto RF WMx3 refrigeration units, with its use of a natural refrigerant, constitutes the next logical step of development.

Holistic strategies deliver clean solutions

To enable the safe handling of flammable substances such as propane (R290) in enclosed spaces, Viessmann offers solutions within the available portfolio that:

make usage easier
simplify risk assessment within the framework of the German BetrSichV (Regulation on health and safety in the use of work equipment)
ensure safe and flawless operation
to ensure, together with installers and operators, proper and easy storage of food and other sensitive products in future

Providing a safe and sustainable platform for the use of propane in cold rooms
Minimising direct emissions through tested sealing and hermetically designed refrigeration circuits
Minimising indirect emissions through the use of efficient components and holistically energy-optimised systems
Demand-oriented safety solutions for monitoring the cold room and ensuring safe operation in any situation

Ensuring the safety of stored products

Constant monitoring of the optimum temperature
High throw widths ensure homogeneous air circulation in the cold room
Integration of an HACCP-compliant data logger for verification of the temperature curve

The new Tecto RF WMx3 units are available in the power range from 0.5 to 2.7kW (medium temperature) and 0.8 to 2.3kW (deep freezing).

With this new product family, Viessmann is facing up to the challenges of the future and the task of launching innovative refrigeration systems using future-proof, sustainable refrigerants, as well as always offering operators attractive, holistic solutions for commercial use. Viessmann has set for itself the goal of working with customers and partners to design solutions for the future and to provide safe environments for sensitive goods and processes throughout the entire life cycle.