Tag Archives: Technology

Deliver Safer Air with New Technology

The current state of the world has everyone thinking about safeguards, especially regarding indoor air quality. For companies, organizations, and institutions both large and small, safety is the top priority. While the task of purifying indoor air during a global pandemic may seem daunting, Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) and SCR have the answer. Thanks to NeedlePoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI), SCR can deliver safer air with new technology.

THE SYSTEM

GPS’s patented NPBI system uses a facility’s existing heating and cooling system to provide cleaner indoor air. Throughout the process, ions steadily attach to airborne particles. Opposite polarities combine to become larger particles, which allows the system to more quickly recognize, capture, and eliminate them.

In June 2020, GPS conducted a laboratory study in collaboration with Aviation Clear Air. Initial testing revealed a 99.4 percent reduction on a COVID-19 surface strain after 30 minutes. This neutralization is the earliest example by an air purification enterprise.

This technology is ozone-free and subsequently environmentally friendly. What’s more, it can be installed in any system inside any building, from airports and arenas to hospitals, office buildings, places of worship, universities, and everything in between.

THE PROCESS

NPBI targets airborne particles, pathogens, and odors to deliver clean, healthy indoor air while also saving energy. This scientific and cost-effective approach functions by:

Targeting particles. Ions attach to air particles, making them larger and more easily captured by filtration systems.
Eliminating odors. The technology reduces indoor odors to basic compounds. What remains is fresh air, free from volatile organic compounds.
Reducing pathogens. The process destroys viruses, spores, and bacteria, rendering them inactive and unable to replicate.
Saving energy. By requiring less fresh, outdoor air, this system saves about 30 percent on energy consumption costs.

Clean indoor air is an incomparable resource, especially right now. With more than 250,000 satisfied installations, GPS’s NPBI system is a proven way to deliver effectively safer air through existing components. Contact SCR today to learn how this technology can work for you.

Making a Line Change at Lund Ice Arena

Refrigeration Specialties SCR News & Updates - Apr 28,2020

As with most things, the day often comes when once-modern technology falls by the side of that which is newer and more-improved. Such is the case on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. The crew at SCR recently replaced and upgraded the chiller system at Lund Ice Arena. Keep reading to find out how this new system works and why the enhancement was necessary.

HOW ICE RINKS WORK

In the indirect type of ice rink refrigeration system, a refrigerant cools a brine, a salt water- or glycol-based anti-freeze solution. This cooled brine water runs underneath the ice through steel piping. These lines are usually contained within a slab of concrete that is kept at about 22 degrees. Any water above this concrete slab then freezes, creating the rink.

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE

Lund Ice Arena’s 30-year-old system is being upgraded to a more advanced operation from Hillphoenix Inc., the leader in commercial and industrial refrigeration systems and one of the first to introduce technologies for the reduction of global warming emissions.

With continual repairs and replacement parts becoming scarce due to the age of the equipment, a complete system replacement just made sense. Furthermore, the old ice rink chiller system was using more than 3,000 pounds of chlorodifluoromethane, or R-22. This colorless gas often used as a refrigerant is hazardous to the environment if it leaks out of the system.

WHAT THE NEW SYSTEM OFFERS

This new system uses an environmentally friendly refrigerant called Opteon XP40™ to cool a secondary glycol solution. The solution is then pumped through the floor to freeze water and make the ice. Advanced technology electronically controls how the ice is created and maintained, including:

Electronic expansive valves that control refrigerant flow to the direct expansion evaporator
An electronically commutated motor to determine or fluctuate speed for the condenser fans

Additionally, the automated system allows for more control over scheduling temperature adjustments when the ice is not in use. All the major components are in sight, ensuring easy observation and the potential for greater efficiency all around.

WHY OPTEON?

The Montreal Protocol took effect in January 1989. The treaty outlined a plan to phase out the production of substances responsible for reducing the ozone layer. As of January 1, 2020, production of HCFC refrigerants, including R-22, has been phased out in North America.

For safety and sustainability purposes, Hydrofluro-Olefins (HFO) refrigerants were designed as an alternative. The Chemours Company introduced Opteon™, the official refrigerant solution of the NHL®, as an HFO refrigerant.

The Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) cools like R-22 (or HCFCs) but offers a host of environmental and energy benefits:

Non-ozone depleting
Low Global Warming Potential
Regulatory compliant
Low toxicity and non-flammable
Excellent energy efficiency performance
Cost-effective when compared to other technology

SCR’s technical expertise and team approach have made us the Midwest’s leader in refrigeration, HVAC, building automation, food service, and service & maintenance. To learn more about our comprehensive approach and full-service capabilities, contact us.