The Institut International du Froid (IIF), French for the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), is an independent intergovernmental science and technology-based organisation that promotes knowledge of refrigeration and associated technologies and applications on a global scale that improve quality of life in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner. Areas of focus include: Food quality and safety from farm to consumer Comfort in homes and commercial buildings Health products and services Low temperature technology and liquefied gas technology Energy efficiency Use of non-ozone-depleting and low global warming refrigerants in a safe manner.

Its scientific and technical activities are coordinated by ten commissions, which are divided into five distinct sections.

History

The early 19th century witnessed a sharp increase in the demand for natural ice during the summer months, particularly among breweries producing lager. Due to the advent of railways and steam ships, natural ice was able to be transported efficiently and thus became more readily attainable. To meet the demand for ice, suppliers began investing in methods of producing ice by artificial means.

Though it was first documented by Oliver Evans, it was Jacob Perkins, an American working in England, who first patented a machine using the vapour-compression cycle to produce a cooling effect in 1835.

In 1855, the first industrial-scale compression machines were developed by James Harrison. Following this, Ferdinand Carré invented the absorption device in 1859. This was then rendered obsolete by the invention of the vapor compression refrigerator invented by French engineer Charles Tellier in 1885, the basic principles of which are used today.

To support the development of refrigeration technologies and in view of the economic development potential they represented, the IIR was created in several stages:

October 5–10, 1908 - The rapidly growing, global industry and scientific quest for absolute zero led to the 1st International Congress of Refrigeration held in Paris, France, at the Paris-Sorbonne University, which welcomed over 5,000 participants. January 25, 1909 - From this first Congress, the International Association of Refrigeration was born, formed by delegates from 35 countries. June 21, 1920 - The association was reorganised and officially titled as the International Institute of Refrigeration – IIR (Institut International du Froid – IIF, in French).

IIR's status as an international organisation was defined by an International Agreement signed on December 1, 1954, and General Regulations for the Application of the International Agreements signed on November 20, 1956.

Since then, the IIR has been operating at its headquarters based in Paris and is now an international organisation for expertise on refrigeration. The institute has continued to run the International Congress of Refrigeration every four years since its inauguration and has now expanded its event portfolio to ten conference series covering a wide variety of refrigeration topics. Working alongside governments, today the IIR remains committed to promoting knowledge on refrigeration for sustainable development, and continues to provide key services to disseminate information on associated technologies to all stakeholders (companies, universities, professionals, etc.).

Organisation The IIR is a bilingual organisation that works in both English and French, and operates thanks to: the activities of its international network, comprising over 300 Commission members its benefactor, corporate and private members the annual contributions from its 59 member countries.

Statutory bodies

General Conference

The General Conference of the IIR defines the general policy of the IIR and convenes once every four years during its international congress. It includes representatives appointed by member countries.

The General Conference elects the president and vice presidents of the executive committee.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the IIR handles the administrative and financial aspects of the daily running of the IIR and meets once per year. It includes one delegate per member country, a president and three to six vice-presidents.

Management Committee

The Management Committee is responsible for the general management of the IIR between Executive Committee meetings. It includes: the President of the Executive Committee three members elected every four years by the Executive Committee three members elected every four years by the Science and Technology Council

Science and Technology Council The Science and Technology Council (STC) coordinates the scientific and technical activities of the IIR. The Science and Technology Council includes five distinct Sections that are divided into ten Commissions. The Science and Technology Council includes: one President six Vice Presidents ten Commission Presidents one congress liaison contact person.

Commissions The scientific activities of the IIR are organised into five Sections, each of which is divided into two Commissions. Thus, there are 10 Commissions:

Section A: Cryogenics and Liquefied Gases

Section A on Cryogenics and Liquefied Gases focuses on refrigeration science and technology at low temperatures: the cryogenic domain spans the lower part of the temperature scale, from absolute zero to 120 K, thus encompassing the normal boiling points of air gases as well as of liquid natural gas (LNG).

Section A comprises two Commissions, A1 Cryophysics and Cryoengineering, and A2 Liquefaction and Separation of Gases. Commission A1 deals with research, development and industrial activities at the lowest temperatures, including low-temperature physics, applications of superconductivity and helium cryogenics. Commission A2 essentially covers the liquefied gas industry, including air separation and LNG technology, two mature domains with high economic stakes and ongoing developments addressing important societal issues such as energy efficiency and carbon sequestration.

Section A also maintains and develops relations with other Sections of the IIR, mainly Commission B1 Thermodynamics and Transfer Processes in the field of thermodynamics and transfer processes, essential tools of the cryogenic engineer, and Commission C1 Cryobiology, Cryomedicine and Health Products for the cooling of biological specimens and living tissues for preservation or treatment, which require implementing cryogenic processes. Section A consists of a panel of multidisciplinary professionals and experts in sciences and technologies such as thermodynamics, condensed matter physics, materials science, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, vacuum and leak-tightness, instrumentation and process control, applied to the low-temperature domain.

Commission A1: Cryophysics and Cryoengineering

Commission A1 on Cryophysics and Cryoengineering deals with research, development and industrial activities at the lowest temperatures, including low-temperature physics, applications of superconductivity and helium cryogenics. Commission A2: Liquefaction and Separation of Gases

The work of "Commission A2: Liquefaction and Separation of Gases" reflects worldwide activities in the domain of separation of gases and liquefaction. Apart from the personal involvement of Commission members in various projects, the commission is present at conferences, workshops and seminars: LNG International Exhibition and Conference, GASTECH, Cryogenics, Cryogen Expos, European Cryogenic Course and others.

The commission is close to academia, industry and end users of separated and liquefied gases. Commission members work closely with Commission A1 Cryophysics, Cryoengineering and Commission C1 Cryobiology, Cryomedicine and Health Products.

Section B: Thermodynamics, Equipment and Systems

Section B on Thermodynamics, Equipment and Systems of the IIR focuses on the technological and scientific fundamentals of classical refrigeration, excluding cryogenic temperatures. The fundamentals are represented by its Commission B1 Thermodynamics and Transfer Processes, whereas Commission B2 Refrigerating Equipment covers all kinds of refrigeration technology. Section B is a key player in most of the IIR international conferences; except for the International Conference of Refrigeration (ICR), organised every four years for all 10 IIR Commissions, where approximately 50% of all presentations are related to Section B topics.

Independently, and together with other Sections, Section B hosts a multitude of conferences such as the Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Working Fluids and the Ohrid Conference on Ammonia and Refrigeration Technologies; or conferences on Thermodynamic Properties and Transfer Processes of Refrigerants, on Magnetic Refrigeration at Room Temperature, on Compressors and Coolants, and on Phase Change Materials and Slurries for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Several Working Groups, where emerging topics in refrigeration are discussed by IIR experts to publish results in handbooks or other forms of publications, are organised within the scope of Section B. Main topics include mitigation of direct emissions of greenhouse gases in refrigeration, refrigerant charge reduction in refrigerating systems, magnetic cooling, life cycle climate performance evaluation, and refrigerant system safety.

Commission B1: Thermodynamics and Transfer Processes

The objectives of Commission B1 on Thermodynamics and Transfer Processes are to provide academic and industrial information and data, and to propose any solutions on thermodynamics and transfer processes. The Commission B1 has been extremely active in IIR Working Groups, sub-commissions, IIR conferences, co-sponsored conferences, and commission business meetings.

As well as being involved in IIR Working Groups on the mitigation of direct emissions of greenhouse gases in refrigeration, the commission is equally involved in the Working Group on Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) Evaluation.

Active in IIR conferences and congresses, Commission B1 similarly organises workshops in various fields such as refrigerant charge reduction in refrigerating systems. Initiatives and opportunities, such as the phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants, energy-efficient buildings and cars, transport refrigeration, food preservation, the economic importance of the refrigeration sector, the involvement of the younger generation and identifying industrial needs are all at the heart of Commission B1.

Commission B2: Refrigerating Equipment

Commission B2 Refrigerating Equipment participates in many IIR activities aimed at promoting knowledge of refrigeration technologies and their applications worldwide.  It is a key Commission for most IIR activities, synergising with other Commissions. The Commission is very active in various IIR Working Groups on Magnetic Cooling and Refrigeration Safety.

Section C: Biology and Food Technology

The activities of Section C deal with the application of refrigeration technologies to life sciences and food sciences.

Commission C1 Cryobiology, cryomedicine and health products is particularly focused on the application of refrigeration technologies on various branches of medicine: cryosurgery and oncology, cryotherapy, blood, organs and tissue preservation, health products (especially vaccines and thermosensitive preparations). On the one hand, the work focuses on the biological and biochemical aspects of the effects of refrigeration on organs, tissues and treated products, and on the other hand, on the applied refrigeration techniques and technologies.