Industrial Ammonia and CO₂ Systems

Ammonia and carbon dioxide systems for HVAC-R technicians, followed through a fourth-year apprentice in an industrial service group in Kitchener: ammonia properties, exposure limits and protective equipment; recirculated and two-stage plants, screw compressors, vessels and oil management; valves, trapped liquid and relief; CSA B52 machinery rooms, detection and ventilation; process safety, TSSA rules and the Environmental Emergency Regulations; safe oil draining, isolation and charging; carbon dioxide properties and transcritical booster systems; secondary systems and ammonia-CO₂ cascades in arenas, with lessons from Fernie; and emergency response and an arena retrofit study.

RAC-420 12 lessons · 3 h 29 min ▶ Video lessons coming soon

Offered by HSM University · Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

This is the Canadian version of this course. See the American version.

What you'll learn

Explain why ammonia and carbon dioxide are used in large systems, describe the features of industrial refrigeration, and estimate a plant's charge and compare it with regulatory thresholds
Describe the physical properties, flammability and health effects of ammonia, apply exposure limits, and select protective equipment and first aid for ammonia work
Compare direct expansion, flooded and liquid overfeed systems, explain two-stage systems and intercoolers, and calculate intermediate pressure and recirculation flow
Describe screw compressors, oil separators and the vessels of an ammonia plant, explain how the stages share the load, and manage oil in systems where it does not return
Identify the valves and piping of ammonia systems, explain the danger of trapped liquid, and apply the code method for vessel relief capacity and safe relief discharge
Describe machinery room construction, ammonia detection, emergency ventilation and emergency controls, and calculate ventilation rates and clearing times
Explain the elements of process safety management and the Canadian and Ontario rules that apply to ammonia plants, including management of change and mechanical integrity
Plan and carry out oil draining, isolation, pump-out, charging and leak searches safely, and use receiver levels to reconcile a plant's charge
Explain carbon dioxide's pressures, triple and critical points, standstill behaviour, moisture sensitivity and health hazards, and apply them to charging, relief and detection
Describe transcritical CO₂ booster systems, calculate flash gas and the effect of parallel compression, and explain gas cooler pressure control and heat reclaim
Compare brine, glycol and pumped CO₂ secondary systems and ammonia-CO₂ cascades, and recognize and respond to refrigerant leaking into a secondary fluid
Plan and exercise emergency response for ammonia and CO₂ systems, and assess an existing plant and compare refrigeration options on safety, cost, energy and carbon

Course content

12 lessons · 3 h 29 min total · final exam

1 Natural refrigerants and industrial refrigeration 18 min · quiz
2 Ammonia properties and health hazards 17 min · quiz
3 Industrial ammonia system types 17 min · quiz
4 Compressors, vessels and oil management in ammonia plants 17 min · quiz
5 Valves, piping and pressure relief 18 min · quiz
6 Machinery rooms, detection and ventilation 17 min · quiz
7 Process safety management and emergency planning rules 17 min · quiz
8 Operation and maintenance: oil draining, charging and pump-down 17 min · quiz
9 Carbon dioxide as a refrigerant: properties and hazards 17 min · quiz
10 Transcritical CO₂ booster systems 17 min · quiz
11 Ammonia-CO₂ cascades and secondary systems 18 min · quiz
12 Emergency response and the Hillcrest Arena capstone 19 min · quiz
E Final exam 20 questions

Requirements

RAC-410 Chillers and Large Systems

Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.