Conference Agenda
Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
|
|
|
Session Overview |
| Date: Sunday, 10/Aug/2025 | |
| 5:30pm - 8:00pm |
Welcome reception and pre-registration Location: Schuster Building Foyer Join us for the Conference Welcome Reception, a perfect opportunity to collect your conference badge ahead of Monday morning’s opening sessions. Mingle with fellow delegates from around the world, enjoy drinks and light refreshments, and start building connections in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming you. |
| Date: Monday, 11/Aug/2025 | |||
| 8:30am - 6:00pm |
Cloakroom Location: GA.10 |
Registration opens Location: Schuster Building Foyer The conference registration desk will be open from 8.30 am to 5.05 pm |
|
| 9:00am - 9:20am |
Opening Ceremony: Welcome from the IIR and IOR Location: Moseley |
||
| 9:20am - 9:55am |
Monday Keynote: Becoming Critical – Cooling as Critical National Infrastructure. Tim Fox CEng FIMechE FRSA Location: Moseley This talk will explore how the cooling industry has evolved into a cornerstone of modern infrastructure — not just for maintaining comfortable spaces in which to live, work and play, but more broadly across a wide range of vital sectors. From commercial air-conditioning and food cold chains, to health products distribution, industrial processes, transport and data centres. You’ll learn how cooling is now a “mission-critical” service essential to public health, food security, global commerce, and economic well-being. |
||
| 10:00am - 11:00am |
Session 2a: Smart solutions for extreme weather events Location: Moseley Chair: Andy Pearson Full Paper Ultralow Temperature Freezer Changes With Rising Ambient Temperatures Eppendorf CryoTech Limited, United Kingdom 10:20am - 10:40am Full Paper Effects Of Rising Ambient Temperature On the Performance Of Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration Systems 1: Centre for Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chain (CSEF), Brunel University of London, College of Engineering Design and Physical Sciences, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK; 2: ELVALHALCOR Hellenic Copper and Aluminium Industry S.A.: Oinofyta, Viotia GR 32011, Greece 10:40am - 11:00am Full Paper The Impact Of Global Warming On UK Convenience Stores And Their Challenges And Opportunities To Adapt London South Bank University, United Kingdom |
Session 2b: Net zero approaches and solutions Location: Blackett Chair: Michal Haida Full Paper The Impact of Diverse Sustainable Cooling Policy Scenarios on the Reduction of GHG-emissions in the MENA Region: a Comparative Policy Scenario Analysis Guidehouse Germany GmbH, Cool Up programme 10:20am - 10:40am Full Paper Navigating India's Refrigeration Sector: Energy Efficiency Policies, Achievements and Life Cycle Cost Benefit CLASP, India 10:40am - 11:00am Full Paper Simulating Refrigeration Systems for Rising Temperatures and a Net Zero Society WAVE, United Kingdom |
Session 2c: Refrigerants - The challenges facing the transport sector (Workshop) Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Chris Rhodes As global temperatures rise, the refrigerated transport sector faces unprecedented challenges. The interplay between ambient temperature increases and refrigerant performance is critical, influencing energy efficiency, operational reliability, and compliance with environmental regulations. This workshop will explore:
|
| 11:00am - 11:30am |
Coffee break Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 11:35am - 1:00pm |
Session 3a: Design planning and location factors for new equipment Location: Moseley Chair: Lisa-Jayne Cook Full Paper A Case Study: The Replacement of a Central Ammonia Plant System with Modular Low Charge Ammonia Package Units for a Cold Storage Distribution Facility Star Refrigeration, United Kingdom 11:55am - 12:15pm Full Paper Technical, Economic, Environmental And Safety (TEES) Implications of Low GWP Refrigerants In Domestic Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Re-phridge Ltd, United Kingdom 12:15pm - 12:35pm Full Paper Are UK Refrigeration Design Specifications Fit for Current and Future Climate? 1: London South Bank University, United Kingdom; 2: Climate Sense Ltd, United Kingdom; 3: Star Technical Solutions, United Kingdom; 4: University of Bristol, United Kingdom 12:35pm - 12:55pm Full Paper Numerical and Experimental Investigation of a Microchannel PCM Heat Exchanger for Space Heating London South Bank University, United Kingdom |
Session 3b: Effect of rising temperature on working fluids Location: Blackett Chair: Dermot Jospeh Cotter Full Paper Experimental Evaluation Of R290/R170 In Two-Stage Cascade Ultra-Low Temperature Refrigeration System With Internal Heat Exchanger And Comparison With HFC Baseline ISTENER Research Group, Mechanical Engineering Department, Universitat Jaume, Spain 11:55am - 12:15pm Full Paper Selecting the Correct Ambient Temperature and Its Impact on Plant Performance: Theory vs Reality Star Refrigeration, United Kingdom 12:15pm - 12:35pm Full Paper Experimental Evaluation Of R472B As R23 Alternative For Ultra-low Temperature Refrigeration 1: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, E-12071, Spain; 2: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy 12:35pm - 1:00pm Full Paper Development of Refrigerant Blends using CO2 and fluorocarbons Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, United Kingdom |
Session 3c: Workshop - Refrigeration Adaptation and Mitigation Solutions for Building Resilience to Extreme Heat Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Graeme Maidment This workshop will explore innovative refrigeration adaptation and mitigation strategies aimed at building resilience to extreme heat. The focus emphasises practical, scalable solutions within the refrigeration sector — particularly in the context of climate adaptation. The session will feature expert speakers with technical and policy expertise, offering interdisciplinary insights into the challenges and opportunities for implementing resilient cooling strategies. This workshop is part of the conference’s broader commitment to advancing actionable solutions in response to climate extremes. |
| 1:00pm - 2:00pm |
Lunch Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 2:05pm - 3:30pm |
Session 4a: Adaptation strategies and plans for existing buildings Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Adrián Mota-Babiloni Full Paper Strategies for Adaptation by Augmenting System Capacity Star Refrigeration Ltd, United Kingdom 2:25pm - 2:45pm Full Paper An Automated Fault Detection And Diagnosis System For IoT Connected Controller Devices For the Cold Chain 1: AKO, Spain; 2: GREiA Research Group, Spain 2:45pm - 3:05pm Full Paper Current Energy Use and Energy Efficiency Measures in the Norwegian Seafood Industry SINTEF Ocean, Norway 3:05pm - 3:25pm Full Paper Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration System Integrated with a Heat Pump for Heat Export to District Heating 1: University of Southern Denmark (SDU): Sønderborg, 6400, Denmark; 2: Danfoss A/S: Nordborg, 6430, Denmark; 3: KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Stockholm, 114 28, Sweden |
Session 4b: Global cold chain vulnerabilities and risk Location: Blackett Chair: Alan Mark Foster Full Paper Impact Of The "3 Degrees of change" Initiative On The Shelf-life Of Frozen Foods: The Role of Temperature Oscillations During Frozen Storage ONIRIS UMR GEPEA CNRS 6144 France 2:25pm - 2:45pm Full Paper Using Thermal Modeling To Design Food Packaging That Can Withstand Extreme Temperatures In Cold Chain Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, FRISE, Antony, 92761, France 2:45pm - 3:05pm Full Paper Eliminating Internal Haemorrhage In Hot Gas Defrost Systems Star Refrigeration Ltd, United Kingdom |
Session 4c: A hands-on Workshop. Unlocking hidden value in your refrigeration data. Location: Moseley Chair: John Clark What you need to bring
As global temperatures rise, the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump (RACHP) sector must meet soaring demand efficiently and sustainably. Data holds the key but without the right tools and workflows, most operational data simply becomes dark data (information collected but never analysed). In this interactive session, you’ll access industrial refrigeration datasets and digital twin simulations in the Ethos cloud-based analytics environment to explore and search for insights that can drive better energy performance, reliability and resilience. |
| 3:30pm - 3:55pm |
Coffee break Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Session 5a: Meeting the increased demand for cooling and lower carbon emissions Location: Moseley Chair: Lisa-Jayne Cook Full Paper Variable Cooling Capacity At Diffusion Absorption Refrigerators, Thermally Driven By Solar Energy University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria 4:20pm - 4:40pm Full Paper Retrofit Of Lower-GWP Alternative R448A Into An R404A/R23 ULT Freezer ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, E-12071, Spain 4:40pm - 5:00pm Full Paper Experience of High Ambient Temperature from Marine Refrigeration Cambridge Refrigeration Technology, United Kingdom |
Session 5b: Carbon reduction solutions for high energy using industries Location: Blackett Chair: Thomas Woolston Full Paper Viability of an Industrial Heat Pump Considering Different Italian Cities and District Thermal Networks 1: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Spain; 2: Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy 4:20pm - 4:40pm Full Paper Energy Savings by Replacing a Large Capacity Fixed Speed Compressor with a Lower Capacity VSD Compressor For Low Load Optimisation in Refrigerated Distribution Star Refrigeration, United Kingdom 4:40pm - 5:00pm Full Paper Experimental Investigation of the Thermoelectric Subcooler Devoted to Low-Charge Heat Pump Systems 1: Silesian University of Technology, Poland; 2: University Jaume I, Spain; 3: Public University of Navarra, Spain; 4: University of Udine, Italy |
Session 5c: From Design to Disaster: Understanding Cooling Failures in High Ambient Temperatures (Workshop) Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Lawrence Leask As global ambient temperatures rise, cooling systems are increasingly pushed to their limits. This practical workshop explores the real-world implications of high ambient conditions on system design, capacity, and reliability. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how system sizing and specification must adapt, why performance degrades under heat stress, and how to mitigate risk through better design, maintenance, and operation. Key topics include:
This session is aimed at engineers, facility managers, and designers seeking practical, evidence-based insights to improve cooling resilience in a changing climate. |
| 5:05pm - 6:00pm |
Session 6: Future-Proofing Engineering Skills Location: Jocelyn Bell Organised by IIR Young Engineers Network, this dynamic networking session brings together emerging professionals, apprentices, and seasoned experts from across the RACHP. The goal is to spark meaningful dialogue, foster mentorship, and share strategies to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: attracting, developing, and retaining the next generation of skilled talent. |
||
| 7:00pm - 10:30pm |
Conference Dinner Location: Manchester Museum The dinner is giving attendees the unique opportunity to explore the museum’s Fossils & Living Worlds galleries after hours—immerse yourself in ancient history, encounter fascinating prehistoric creatures, and marvel at the diversity of life on Earth. After your exploration, enjoy food and drinks in the museum’s stunning surroundings. It’s the perfect chance to unwind, connect with fellow delegates, and continue the day’s conversations in a more informal setting. The Student Awards will also take place at the conference dinner. |
||
| Date: Tuesday, 12/Aug/2025 | |||
| 8:30am - 5:45pm |
Cloakroom Location: GA.10 |
Registation opens Location: Schuster Building Foyer Registation opens will be open from 8.30am -5.45pm |
|
| 8:45am - 9:45am |
B1, B2, D1, D2, E2: Joint IIR Commission Meetings (Optional session) Location: Blackett This is commission meeting is open to both commission and non-commission members. This is a joint meeting of the commissions B1 – Thermodynamics and transfer processes B2 – Refrigerating equipment D1 – Refrigerated storage D2 - Refrigerated transport E1 – Air conditioning E2 – Heat pumps and energy recovering |
||
| 9:55am - 10:00am |
Tuesday Welcome Location: Moseley |
||
| 10:00am - 10:30am |
Tuesday Keynote 1: Risk and Resilience: What climate change means for the UK food system. Dr Pete Falloon FRMetS, FRSA Location: Moseley Climate change is, and will continue to, impact the UK food system in a variety of ways, posing both challenges and opportunities. In this keynote address, Dr. Peter Falloon—Science Lead for Food Security at the UK Met Office—will explore the systemic risks and opportunities facing the UK food system as climate conditions evolve. Drawing on his expertise in climate modelling, weather and climate data, and agri-environment systems, Dr. Falloon will outline how climate change is expected to affect the UK food system from farm to fork and considering domestic and international dimensions. He will present the latest climate projections and illustrate how data-driven adaptation planning is essential to building resilience. What you’ll gain
|
||
| 10:30am - 11:00am |
Tuesday Keynote 2: What Rising Temperatures Mean for Homes and Cities. Dr Ruth Wood PhD Location: Moseley Chair: Andy Pearson As global temperatures rise, cities across the UK and beyond face mounting pressure to ensure housing can cope with extreme heat. In this keynote, Dr Ruth Wood presents findings from a major research initiative on adapting homes to heat in Greater Manchester—a city with diverse housing stock, growing climate risks, and a strong policy focus on sustainable living. Drawing on her expertise in sustainable housing and urban planning, Dr Wood explores how the region is addressing the dual challenges of overheating and decarbonisation. Her talk will highlight key vulnerabilities in current housing, the barriers to effective adaptation, and how passive and mechanical cooling solutions must be integrated within retrofit strategies. The session will examine the role of governance, social equity, and local planning in shaping resilient homes—and consider what lessons other cities, developers, and policymakers can take from Greater Manchester’s experience. With a focus on real-world insights and applied research, this keynote will help frame the future of heat-resilient housing in a changing climate. |
||
| 11:00am - 11:30am |
Coffee break Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 11:35am - 1:00pm |
Session 8a: Working fluids in a warming world Location: Moseley Chair: Savvas Tassou Full Paper Performance Comparison Of An Indoor Unit Of a Heat Pump With Low-GWP Alternative Refrigerants Focusing On R455A and R454C 1: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate school, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea (South Korea); 2: School of Mechanical Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea (South Korea) 11:55am - 12:15pm Full Paper Energy Evaluation Of A Chest-freezer Using R516A For Different Climates In Mexico IRSE, Research Group, University of Guanajuato, Mexico 12:15pm - 12:35pm Full Paper Weighing the Climate Mortality Risk of HFCs with the Flammability Risk of Natural Refrigerants 1: Re-phridge Ltd, United Kingdom; 2: A/gent Consultancy b.v., Netherlands 12:35pm - 1:00pm Full Paper Development Journey of a Low-GWP refrigerant Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, United Kingdom |
Session 8b: Transport refrigeration, and rental equipment Location: Blackett Chair: Armin Hafner Full Paper Development of Model for Calculation of Carbon Emissions During Distribution of Fruits and Vegetables In- and Into Norway SINTEF Ocean AS, Norway 11:55am - 12:15pm Full Paper Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of The Two-phase Ejector Capacity Control Using Sub-cooling Method 1: Silesian University of Technology, Poland; 2: University of Udine, Italy; 3: University Jaume I, Spain; 4: Public University of Navarra, Spain 12:15pm - 12:35pm Full Paper Numerical Evaluation Of A Propane Cooling Unit For Transportable Insulated Boxes Equipped With Eutectic Tube TES National Research Council, Construction Technologies Institute, Italy 12:35pm - 12:55pm Full Paper Modeling Water Condensation on Fruit Bulks Exposed to Temperature Fluctuations 1: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, FRISE; 2: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech |
Session 8c: Code of Practice for climate change adaptation (Workshop) Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Judith Evans Higher heat levels will affect the ability of refrigeration systems to function. Recent work in the UK has identified that there are no comprehensive and widely agreed practices to ensure that refrigeration systems continue to operate as the climate changes. The workshop will provide information on a UK initiative lead by the IOR, IMechE, CIBSE, CCF and BSRIA to develop a Code of Practice to design, maintain and operate refrigeration systems as the climate warms. The workshop will:
|
| 1:00pm - 2:00pm |
Lunch Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 2:05pm - 3:30pm |
Session 9a: Building resilient cold chains Location: Moseley Chair: Sophie Kendler Full Paper Application of CO2 Refrigeration Systems on Small Fishing Vessels: Experimental Laboratory & Simulation Results 1: SINTEF Ocean, Norway; 2: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; 3: Cadio AS, Norway; 4: HAV Kjølesystemer AS, Norway 2:25pm - 2:45pm Full Paper Performance Simulation Study of Air Compression Systems in Residential Air Conditioning Beijing University of Technology, China, People's Republic of 2:45pm - 3:05pm Full Paper Digital-Twin-Enabled Design and Machine-Learning-Assisted Energy Management of a Solar Refrigerated Van with Phase-Change Thermal Storage 1: Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom; 2: University of Glasgow: Glasgow, United Kingdom; 3: EjaIce Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom 3:05pm - 3:25pm Full Paper How Vulnerable Are UK Food Cold Chains To Climate Change? 1: London South Bank University, United Kingdom; 2: Climate Sense Ltd, United Kingdom; 3: Star Technical Solutions, United Kingdom; 4: University of Bristol, United Kingdom, United Kingdom |
Session 9b: Successful low carbon cooling in extreme temperatures Location: Blackett Chair: Jong-Taek Oh Full Paper CO2 Pressure Exchanger Technology in Commercial Refrigeration: a New Case Study Towards Technological Maturity 1: EPTA S.p.a., Italy; 2: EPTA International Kft., Hungary 2:25pm - 2:45pm Full Paper A Critical Analysis Of The CO2 Plank Transcritical Refrigeration Cycle Under Extreme Ambient Conditions National Research Council, Italy 2:45pm - 3:05pm Full Paper Making Refrigeration Systems More Efficient Whilst Adapting To Rising Temperatures 1: Star Technical Solutions, United Kingdom; 2: London South Bank University, United Kingdom 3:05pm - 3:25pm Full Paper A Novel Technology To Adapt Transcritical R744 Supermarket Refrigeration Systems to Rising Temperatures 1: University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; 2: Danfoss A/S, Denmark |
Session 9c: Short course - How to use energy benchmarking to reduce cost and emissions Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Tom Southall This focused short course will equip participants with the knowledge and tools to apply energy benchmarking as a strategy to cut energy costs and reduce emissions in temperature-controlled logistics and storage operations. The session will combine strategic insight with technical expertise. Attendees will explore how benchmarking enables businesses to measure performance, identify inefficiencies, and implement cost-effective improvements, all while supporting climate goals and compliance. |
| 3:30pm - 3:55pm |
Coffee break Location: Schuster Building Foyer |
||
| 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Session 10a: Management of heat in buildings and processes Location: Moseley Chair: Adrián Mota-Babiloni Full Paper Numerical Study of an Ammonia-Water Absorption Heat Transformer to Upgrade Low-temperature Industrial Waste Heat in Regard to Rising Ambient Temperature Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Liten, Campus Ines, 73375 Le Bourget du Lac, France 4:20pm - 4:40pm Full Paper R744-Based Integrated Heat Pump and Chiller System for Hotels in Tropical Climates 1: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; 2: Medors Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, India |
Session 10b: Low carbon innovation Location: Blackett Chair: Daniel Colbourne Full Paper Addressing the Challenges for the RACHP Sector Amidst Rising Global Temperatures: Transitioning to Low GWP Refrigerants Daikin Chemical Europe GmbH, Germany 4:20pm - 4:40pm Full Paper Experimental Frictional Pressure Gradient of R455A in Multiport Mini-channel Tubes Chonnam National University, Korea, Republic of (South Korea) 4:40pm - 5:00pm Full Paper “ThermoStore” a Breakthrough Innovation For Sorption-based Thermal Energy Storage 1: SOFRIGAM GROUP, France; 2: CNRS-PROMES, France |
Session 10c: Towards Net Zero: Decarbonising Refrigeration for a Sustainable Future (Workshop) Location: Jocelyn Bell Chair: Graeme Maidment A TICR Workshop As global efforts intensify to meet net-zero targets, the often-overlooked role of refrigeration in energy use and carbon emissions has come into sharper focus. This 60-minute interactive workshop presents key findings from the TICR Project. (Transport, Industrial, Commercial Refrigeration Project) Bringing together leading voices in policy, research, and industry, the session will explore data-driven insights and practical strategies for decarbonising commercial and industrial refrigeration by 2050. From site-level benchmarking to emissions modelling and end-user guidance, this workshop provides a comprehensive overview of opportunities to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and align with evolving climate policy. Whether you're involved in facilities management, energy planning, sustainability strategy, or refrigeration technology, this session will give you the latest knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change. |
| 5:05pm - 5:20pm |
Closing Ceremony Location: Moseley Chair: Andy Pearson |
||
| Date: Wednesday, 13/Aug/2025 | |
| 8:30am - 2:15pm |
Manned cloakroom available for delegates on tours Location: GA.10 A cloakroom will be available for delegates participating in the technical tours to leave luggage. The cloakroom will be available from 8.30 am and close at 2.15 pm. Those participating in the Enough Workshop should bring their suitcases to the workshop. |
| 9:00am - 2:00pm |
Tour 1: Pre-booked tour of the Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials research and development laboratories Only pre-booked delegates are permitted to join the tour due to health and safety requirements related to clothing. |
| 9:00am - 5:30pm |
EU ENOUGH Workshop Location: Nancy Rothwell Building room 2A013 Registration opens at 8.30 am for a 9 am start. The ENOUGH project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the food sector, which contributes 20–40% of global emissions.It aligns with the EU Farm to Fork strategy, providing tools and methods to help food businesses achieve climate neutrality. The project objectives are to define pathways to climate-neutral food businesses, enhance sustainability across the food supply chain and inform policy makers, businesses, and stakeholders about innovative solutions for reducing emissions. The project has demonstrated practical solutions across various stages of the food chain, including processing, transport, retail, and domestic consumption, focusing on products such as meat, fish, fruits/vegetables, and dairy. This meeting will provide an opportunity for partners to reflect on the project’s outcomes and explore future opportunities for applying the demonstrated solutions at scale. Register now to secure your attendance.
|
| 10:00am - 2:00pm |
Tour 2: Pre-booked tour - Lineage, Automated Warehouse at Heywood Only pre-booked delegates are permitted to join the tour due to health and safety requirements related to clothing. |
