In plants where foodstuff are produced and stocked, where primary or finished products need to be preserved at a controlled temperature, the most common cooling liquid is ammonia. It is big plants where other fluids would not enable to use such high power.
GASES INVOLVED
Ammonia (NH3): contained in cooling systems, potentially it might come out from every mechanical joint along the circuit; the area of evaporators, which are contained in every cell, and he technical room of compressors are particularly critical, as the big amount of liquid might create flammable and toxic mixtures.
EXPECTED RISKS
NH3: colourless, with an irritating, sharp smell, inflammable, toxic. Ammonia irritates the mucosa of the conjunctiva, nostrils and pharynx through a scalding action. Moreover, ammonia has a general scalding action.
