Weiss Technik is converting its test chambers to a new refrigeration technology. Background: The EU's F-Gas Regulation has placed restrictions on the use of numerous refrigerants since 2020. In 2017, the Reiskirchen-based company replaced the now-banned R404 refrigerant with R449A in its environmental simulation systems. It is now possible to use CO2 as a cooling medium, which has advantages for productivity and efficiency.
The R449A refrigerant offers a mixed performance: The main disadvantage is the lack of cooling capacity below -30 degrees Celsius. Tests at -40 degrees Celsius or with high heat compensation requirements are often not possible. This also includes the tempering of large and heavy test specimens. As a replacement, laboratories utilise sophisticated -70 degree Celsius refrigeration cascades using the refrigerant R469A developed by Weiss Technik.
Safe, economical and standard-compliant testing with CO2
High-pressure-resistant components are now available that allow the operation of chillers in temperature and climatic test chambers with CO2 as a refrigerant. Weiss Technik has already installed standardised refrigeration circuits in various test chambers and thoroughly tested them, including rigorous temperature changes.
The result: CO2 equipped devices easily pass test standards such as IEC 60068-2-14 Nb for thermal shock tests or ISO 16750-4 for electrical and electronic vehicle equipment. Temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius are reliably reached in the test space. At the specified test points at -40 degrees Celsius, there is also significantly more available capacity compared to using R449A refrigerant. At the same time, the use of CO2 in the test chambers means that smaller, less expensive components can be used, and the equipment is quieter and more energy efficient than before.
New refrigeration technology with the same quality and performance
Weiss Technik passes on the cost savings achieved compared to -70 degree Celsius cascades to its customers. The reorganisation of the product range originally planned for the next few years will also be accelerated.
Another advantage: The EU F-Gas Regulation does not apply to this equipment, so there are no documentation and leak detection requirements. The new components can handle the higher pressures associated with CO2, and Weiss Technik guarantees the same service life as previous units. Operating conditions, including coolant and room temperature, also remain unchanged. The CE marking, including the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU and DIN EN 378, which have been in place for decades, also remain valid as the regulations for the installation conditions of refrigeration systems.
Weiss Technik devices equipped with CO2 reliably reach temperatures (T) as low as -50 degrees Celsius at the same time (t), with significantly more power available.
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