Mayekawa Develops NH3/CO2 Cooling System for Ice Arenas Based on NewTon3000 Technology

Mayekawa has developed a purpose-built NH3/CO2 cooling system for ice arenas, built on its NewTon3000 cold storage technology and equipped with HCFC/HFC-free compressors. The system is part of what the company calls the "Eco Arena" concept, a holistic approach that covers building engineering, refrigeration, lighting, and air conditioning with the aim of delivering a low-energy, environmentally friendly facility while maintaining a competition-grade skating surface.

How the NH3/CO2 system works

Liquid CO2 serves as the secondary refrigerant for ice-making. This arrangement drastically reduces the power required to pump refrigerant to the condenser tubes and stabilises the temperature across all condenser tubes — a result the company notes is not achievable with a thermosyphon system. The more uniform tube temperature improves the overall quality of the arena surface.

An additional energy-saving feature allows the CO2 to be cooled naturally when lower ambient temperatures are available, reducing compressor runtime.

Field verification in Karuizawa

Mayekawa's research and development engineers partnered with local ice-rink installation and management experts in Karuizawa City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, to verify the quality of the Eco Arena ice under various climatic and equipment conditions.

Published 12 January 2011.