A Denver-based cannabis grower wanted to increase the cooling capacity of their grow room and possibly save energy. Their choices boiled down to adding an additional HVAC system or boosting the capacity of their existing six-year-old HVAC units.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have determined HVAC units lose efficiency due to oil fouling in evaporator and condenser coils. Over time, minuscule amounts of oil leak from the compressor into the refrigerant. The oil clings to metal parts and forms an insulating layer that hinders the heat transfer capabilities of the evaporator and condenser. A degradation of 10-20% or more after five to ten years is typical.
CryoGenX4 permanently restores lost capacity with a single treatment. Its nano-technology particles are highly conductive, polarized particles that displace the oil and attach permanently to the metal parts negating the effects of oil fouling.
The grower compared the treatment cost, approximately $1900 with the installed cost of a 5-ton HVAC system at $6000 or more and determined that the CryogenX4 treatment was likely far more cost-effective than the capital expense.
It was decided that they would start with a pilot installation of CryogenX4 to the three HVAC units serving one grow room. The three HVAC units were six-year-old 5-ton roof-mounted split systems using 410A refrigerant.
In order to determine the effects of CryogenX4, infrared temperature readings of each of the return and supply vents were taken before treatment to determine the initial temperature differential (Delta-T) of the system.
Pre-Treatment Measurements (in oFahrenheit)
| Pre-Treatment | |||
| Return | Supply | Delta-T | |
| Temp | Temp | ||
| Unit 1 | 87 | 75 | 12 |
| Unit 2 | 86 | 79 | 7 |
| Unit 3 | 92 | 79 | 13 |
| Average | 88.3 | 77.7 | 10.7 |
On average, the HVAC units were cooling the air by 10.7oF. Most HVAC systems are designed to provide a Delta-T of 22oF or more, so there appeared to be significant efficiency degradation.
CryogenX4 Treatment
Five fluid ounces (one ounce per ton of refrigeration) of synthetic-based CryogenX4 were pumped into the refrigerant on the suction side of the compressor on each of the three 5-ton HVAC units. Infrared temperature readings of each of the return and supply vents were taken approximately 20 minutes after treatment determine the initial Delta-T change.
Post-Treatment Measurements (in oFahrenheit)
| Pre-Treatment | Post-Treatment | |||||||||
| Return | Supply | Delta-T | Return | Supply | Delta-T | Change | % | |||
| Temp | Temp | Temp | Temp | |||||||
| Unit 1 | 87 | 75 | 12 | 82 | 66 | 16 | 4 | 33.3% | ||
| Unit 2 | 86 | 79 | 7 | 84 | 70 | 14 | 7 | 100.0% | ||
| Unit 3 | 92 | 79 | 13 | 82 | 67 | 15 | 2 | 15.4% | ||
| Average | 88.3 | 77.7 | 10.7 | 82.7 | 67.7 | 15.0 | 4.3 | 49.6% | ||
The Delta-T increased by approximately 4 degrees, an increase of nearly 50%.
Approximately 6 weeks later readings were taken again to determine if there would be additional improvements after a significant “run-in” period. The results of these readings are shown below.
6 Weeks Post-Treatment Measurements (in oFahrenheit)
| Pre-Treatment | 6 Weeks Post-Treatment | |||||||||
| Return | Supply | Delta-T | Return | Supply | Delta-T | Change | % | |||
| Temp | Temp | Temp | Temp | |||||||
| Unit 1 | 87 | 75 | 12 | 92 | 67 | 25 | 13 | 108.3% | ||
| Unit 2 | 86 | 79 | 7 | 98 | 75 | 23 | 16 | 228.6% | ||
| Unit 3 | 92 | 79 | 13 | 90 | 77 | 13 | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Average | 88.3 | 77.7 | 10.7 | 93.3 | 73.0 | 20.3 | 9.7 | 112% | ||
Conclusion
Two of the three systems treated had very significant improvements after 6 weeks, coming up likely very close to their original design specifications. One unit showing no change after the 6-week run-in period reversing a 15% improvement in the initial measurement. We can safely assume that this unit was experiencing a malfunction.
Even including the malfunctioning unit, the average Delta-T improvement was nearly 10oF or 112 %. This will provide significantly increased cooling, or significant energy savings to achieve the same cooling that occurred pre-treatment.
