Dr Pearson on Refrigeration...

The complete series of columns written by Star’s Group Managing Director Dr. Andy Pearson for ASHRAE Journal, beginning with the first column published in March 2012 to the very latest.

The column is published each month in the Journal and covers topics spanning from refrigeration basics to heat pumps and even fitting tributes to the industry’s most indispensable pioneers who have sadly departed. Each column is written in an offbeat and humorous style minus any head-scratching technical jargon, meaning they are enjoyable for anyone to read – not just fridge engineers!

Weird Science

Exploring counterintuitive phenomena that challenge our intuition about heat and fluids.

Winter Wonderland

Considering how winter conditions reveal strengths and weaknesses in refrigeration systems.

Decompression

Looking at pressure relief, decompression events, and how to manage them safely.

Shoulders of Giants

Acknowledging the pioneers whose work quietly underpins today’s refrigeration practice.

Reynolds: The Calm and The Storm

Looking at Reynolds’ contributions from laminar calm to fully turbulent storm.

The Dark Side of AI

Warning against overreliance on opaque algorithms in safety-critical engineering decisions.

AI In Refrigeration

Exploring realistic applications of AI in monitoring, diagnosis, and optimization of plants.

Take It to the Next Level

Encouraging engineers to push beyond minimum compliance toward genuinely excellent systems.

Nonflammable?

Challenging assumptions about “nonflammable” labels and the risks they may obscure.

Nontoxic?

Questioning what “nontoxic” really means in the context of refrigerant safety.

Great Balls of Fire!

Examining ignition risks when flammable refrigerants meet poor design or maintenance.

Economize!

Examining economizer strategies to cut energy use without sacrificing performance.