Report from 25th International Congress of Refrigeration ICR2019 in Montreal
Last week the 25th International Congress of Refrigeration (https://icr2019.org/) took place in Montreal. The congress, which take place in different locations in the world, every 4th year collected more than 850 participants from 45 countries all over the world.
China, United states and Japan where the top three most represented countries at the congress. During the congress more than 600 scientific communications based on manuscripts were performed and in addition nine scientific workshops where arranged. Four of them were arranged by IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies, HPT TCP – one each by the HPT Annexes 46, 48, 51 and 54. The presentations from these workshops can be found on the websites of the Annexes (see link below). IEA HPT TCP had a booth in the exhibition area where Caroline Haglund Stignor, assistant manager of the Heat Pump Centre, met many congress attendees from the research community as well as from industry and informed them about the programme.
The lessons learned from all the presentations during the congress can be summarized by the words Hybrid, Fluids and Valid according to Gérald Cavalier, the president of the Science and Technology Council of IIR.
Hybrid: The presentations covered topics related to hybrid refrigeration technologies such as compression technologies in combination with absorption, eutectic and ejector technologies. In addition, hybrid energy solutions were presented such as waste energy, solar energy, energy storages and energy grids as well as hybrid applications where freezing and microwaves, protection and refrigeration or electromagnetism and refrigeration were combined. Not at least, many papers dealt with hybrid fluids of HFCs and HCs, HFCs and HFOs or ice slurries.
Fluids: Fluids is an important topic for the refrigeration research community and the sector it serves. Much research related to phase out and alternatives to and training for handling of HFCs was presented. Several presentations gave insight to the replacement possibilities HFOs offer and dealt with the properties of HFO blends, traceability and assessment of environmental impact of HFOs. Natural fluids, such as ammonia HCs and CO2, and full natural fluids, such as air and water are important research fields which draw much attention during the congress.
Valid: Validation is very important if the research performed shall contribute to the development of human health and future prosperity, which was the main theme of the congress. The presented research included experimental laboratory as well as field validation of theoretical findings and models. In addition, it covered validation in industry of requirements, production and economic and social constraints as well as validation related to government and organization such as validation of regulations, standards and assessment of impacts. Also, validation of research organizations ideas, knowhow and knowledge had been performed and experiences were shared during the sessions.
The closing session was finalized by presenting the organization of the next 26th International Congress of Refrigeration which will take place in Paris in August 2023.
Link to the Annex presentations: