Purdue hosts conferences on
new coolant research
By Kelly Lucas
Summer Reporter
Hundreds of researchers, professors and industry
professionals from all over the world will convene on Purdue's campus
in late July for the first conference focusing on the latest discoveries
in refrigeration and air-conditioning research to be held in the United
States.
The bi-annual Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural
Working Fluids is the third conference in a set of three conferences on
refrigeration to be held at Purdue. The two other conferences, the 15th
International Compressor Engineering Conference and the 8th International
Refrigeration Conference, will focus on new technologies and improving
traditional air-conditioning systems. The ladder two conferences are always
held bi-annually at Purdue.
"The compressor conference is the only one of its
kind held on a regular basis and is extremely well attended by participants
from the industry," said James Braun, associate professor of mechanical
engineering and chair of the conference. "The combination of the three
conferences is truly unique."
Braun said the conferences provide an opportunity
for researchers and developers from the compressor, refrigeration and
air conditioning industries to get together and share their latest ideas
and technologies.
The Gustav Lorentzen conference will focus on the
use of natural refrigerants, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, which
are thought to be better for the environment than synthetic chemical compounds.
According to Braun, the Gustav Lorentzen Conference
attracted over 600 attendees from 33 countries when it was held in Oslo,
Norway in 1998.
"This year, because of the third conference on Natural
Working Fluids, we expect even greater international participation and
overall attendance," said Braun. "Much of the research on the use of natural
working fluids for refrigeration and air conditioning is occurring in
Europe."
People from all over the world including Europe,
Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Africa are expected to
attend.
According to Braun, the International Institute of
Refrigeration has sponsored the conference bi-annually in the past and
it has been held in numerous countries. This year, Purdue made a proposal
to host the conference and the International Institute of Refrigeration
accepted it, making it the first conference to be held in the United States.
The three conferences will be held concurrently from
July 23 through July 28 and will be sponsored by the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories,
within the School of Mechanical Engineering; the Air-Conditioning and
Refrigeration Institute; the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration,
and Air-Conditioning Engineers; and the Institut International Du Froid/International
Institute of Refrigeration.
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