MOON-TECH continues to advance the use of natural refrigerants in China’s industrial and commercial refrigeration industry through sustained innovation, application development, and international cooperation. The company has played a leading role in promoting alternatives to high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants by focusing on ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and hydrocarbons.
An expert from MOON-TECH’s R&D division recently presented a keynote titled “The Promotion of Natural Refrigerants in China's Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration Industry,” outlining the company’s technological progress, research achievements, application cases, and the broader social and environmental benefits of adopting natural working fluids.
Ammonia has long been valued for its excellent thermodynamic properties, high volumetric refrigeration capacity, and lubricant compatibility. However, due to its toxicity and pungent odor, its application has faced safety challenges. To address these, MOON-TECH developed an NH₃/CO₂ cascade secondary refrigeration system that significantly reduces ammonia charge—by up to 90% compared to conventional NH₃ systems—by introducing CO₂ as a secondary refrigerant. This system enhances overall safety while maintaining high refrigeration efficiency.
MOON-TECH began R&D on NH₃/CO₂ cascade systems in the early 2000s and, in 2006, completed China’s first large-scale CO₂ screw compressor refrigeration unit. In 2011, the company participated in the UNDP Demonstration Project for cold storage applications, replacing HCFC-22 with NH₃/CO₂ systems. This marked the country’s first industrialization initiative aimed at reducing the use of ozone-depleting substances with environmentally friendly alternatives.
The company’s efforts have been recognized internationally. In 2017, MOON-TECH received the UN Ozone Protection Exemplary Project Award, becoming the only Chinese enterprise to win that honor in that year. Additionally, its hydrocarbon-based refrigeration technologies have been widely adopted in the petrochemical sector, particularly for ultra-low temperature applications reaching -100°C.
MOON-TECH has completed more than 600 CO₂-based demonstration projects, covering a range of industrial and commercial segments including quick-freezing of fruits and vegetables, aquatic processing, cold chain logistics, poultry and meat processing, prepared food production, and centralized HVAC. These projects include bulk refrigeration systems, modular packaged solutions, cascade skid-mounted units, and the latest CO₂ permanent magnet inverter integrated systems.
By continuously expanding application scenarios and meeting evolving customer demands, MOON-TECH drives the broader adoption of natural refrigerants across the industry. The company stated that it will continue to invest in research and development, promote sustainable technologies, and contribute to China’s dual carbon goals and global environmental protection efforts.
