ATMOsphere, the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has unveiled the program for the ATMOsphere (ATMO) MAC Summit 2024 × TU Berlin, which will feature technical case studies, policy discussions and insights from Volkswagen, Ford Motor and DENSO, Deutsche Bahn and other leading manufacturers and end users.
Stefan Elbel, Professor and Head of the Department of Heat Transfer and Heat Conversion at Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), will deliver the opening keynote. In a recent interview with NaturalRefrigerants.com, Elbel shared his insights on the upcoming summit, particularly the evolving competition between different natural refrigerants in mobile air-conditioning (MAC) applications.
Scheduled for September 12–13, the summit will focus on mobile air-conditioning and heat pump systems using the natural refrigerants CO2 (R744) and propane (R290). It will also include several networking opportunities. The full event program is available here.
The two-day conference is ATMOsphere’s inaugural event dedicated solely to air-conditioning and heat pump systems for mobile applications. Organized in partnership with TU Berlin’s Department of Heat Transfer and Heat Conversion, the summit will be held on the university’s campus.
The event is open to all industry stakeholders, with OEMs from the automotive, bus, truck and train sectors, suppliers, academics, members of government and the media eligible for free tickets. Interested participants can register for the event here.
Thought leadership
According to ATMOsphere, the conference will “offer a unique opportunity to engage and exchange insights with industry professionals.”
Day one will provide a comprehensive overview of the MAC sector, beginning with Elbel’s keynote address, which will delve into the latest research and technological trends in natural refrigerants across various mobile applications.
Ford and automotive components manufacturer DENSO and Volkswagen will present their R290- and R744-based heat pumps, respectively. Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national train company, will share updates on the operation and maintenance of the propane HVAC units in its passenger trains. The day will end with a networking drinks reception, which will be held on a boat cruising down the Spree River.
Day two will feature a policy panel and technical case studies, offering deeper insight into the regulatory landscape and practical applications of natural refrigerants.
During the policy session, experts including Arno Kaschl, Senior Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG CLIMA, and Sidsel Dyekjær, Chemicals Policy Consultant at ChemSec, will discuss significant regulatory developments. Topics will include the proposed restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the recently revised EU F-gas Regulation and the MAC directive. A third speaker will be announced closer to the event.
The technical case studies will highlight the integration and expansion of CO2 and propane systems in various vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks and trains.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Dr. Roman Heckt, Global Chief Engineer for Natural Refrigerant Systems at Hanon Systems
- Karsten Mundt, Sales Director International/Division Bus at Konvekta
- Andy Musser, Chief Operating Officer at Creative Thermal Solutions, a U.S.-based HVAC&R research company
- Giacomo Pisano, CO₂ Compressors Business Development Manager at Dorin
- Sebastian de la Coba, Team leader Bus HVAC Development at Eberspächer Sütrak
- Dr. Lena Schnabel, Head of Department Heating and Cooling Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE)
- Dr. Hannes Fugmann, Head of Group Vapor Compression Technology at Fraunhofer ISE
- Sebastian Wappler, Head of Product Platform Development at thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components
The gold sponsor of the ATMO MAC Summit 2024 × TU Berlin is Hanon Systems. Konvekta is the silver sponsor. The bronze sponsors are Creative Thermal Solutions, GTS, Dorin, Obrist Engineering and Göhler Anlagentechnik.
