Refrigeration system of a modern universal ice sports complex: design and implementation experience in Nizhny Novgorod

Modern world-class ice sports complexes impose stringent requirements on the reliability, energy efficiency, and environmental safety of refrigeration systems. Under international restrictions on the use of conventional refrigerants such as HFCs and the need to comply with domestic regulations, engineering solutions that combine technological resilience with future adaptability are increasingly relevant. This article presents the design and implementation experience of the refrigeration system for a universal ice complex in Nizhny Novgorod, comprising three rinks (one main and two training). Particular attention is paid to equipment selection, redundancy scheme, use of dry coolers (dry coolers) to minimize refrigerant charge, and flexibility in temperature control for each rink. The design solutions achieved a total installed cooling capacity of 2100 kW against a calculated thermal load of 1360 kW, while complying with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and enabling a future transition to alternative refrigerants. Readers will gain insight into a comprehensive approach to designing energy-efficient and environmentally conscious refrigeration systems for ice rinks under Russian regulatory frameworks and global environmental challenges.