Is this the industrial version of our Norcolds???

[DeWat]

From today's Washington Post:
Fire at poultry plant in northeast China kills at least 119; workers trapped in buildings - The Washington Post

The last line in the second paragraph reads: "... attributed the blasts to a leak of ammonia, a gas that is kept pressurized as part of the cooling system in meat processing plants."

So this BIG question is if this system is the industrial version of our Norcold refrigerators? Hmmm....

[mikebreeze]

I saw that article this morning and thought the same thing. It wouldn't surprise me if it were an 'Industrial Norcold' scenario. What's really bad is that, as we've heard countless times in these situations, there were numerous locked doors that prevented people from getting out alive.

[TXiceman]

Mechanical vapor compression ammonia refrigeration is the refrigerant of choice in large food storage/processing plants. The refrigerant is perfectly safe when properly installed and maintained. I have worked with ammonia compression since 1970 and yes, there have been a few mishaps, explosions and fires. Once the event is investigated, they nearly always find a safety violation, improper maintenance or poorly trained operators.

I have design and started systems holding in excess of 40,000# of ammonia (NH3 or R-717).

It is nothing like an RV absorption system.

Ken