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Indian Industry Perspective on Alternatives to HCFCs for Air

Conditioning Sub-sector

P.K. MahindraREFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING

MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION (RAMA)

18 February 2011, New Delhi

INDO-US WORKSHOP ON HYDROFLUOROCARBONS (HFCs)

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AIMS & OBJECTIVES:To Promote overall growth of Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Industry in India, keeping in mind the larger economic goals of:

Maximizing investments in India

Maximizing job creation in India To conduct & facilitate research on Air Conditioning & Refrigeration industry To partner with Indian & Foreign Associations for

Growth of the Industry

REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION (RAMA)

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Air Conditioning & US$ (billion) Commercial Refrigeration:

Air Conditioning Systems 3.2 Commercial Refrigeration 0.5 Servicing 0.3

TOTAL 4.0 Domestic Refrigerators: 2.1 Total 6.1

RAMA members account for over 90% of the industry size for Air Conditioning & Commercial Refrigeration and over 70% of domestic refrigerator market.

INDUSTRY SIZE

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1. Room air conditioners

2. Ducted Systems

3. Chilled water systems (air & water cooled)

AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT SUB SECTORS

4. VRF air conditioning systems

5. Precision & Telecommunication

6. Rail Coach Air Conditioning

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AIR CONDITIONERS SUB SECTORS GROWTH STORY

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ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS GROWTH STORY

Production: 2005 : 1.5 m (Actual)2009 : 3.3 m (Actual)2013 : 9.9 m (Estimate)2015 : 17.0 m (Estimate)

Demand Growth (Annual): 2005 ~ 09 : 22% (Actual)2010 ~ 12: 32% (Estimate)2013 ~ 15: 31% (Estimate)

Penetration Level (p. capita):2005 : < 2 (Actual)2013 : 3. 5 (Estimate)2015 : 4.5 (Estimate)

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ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS

CHARACTERISTICS

PARAMETER R 22 R-410A R-407C R 134A R 32 R 290

Safety Category as per ASHRAE

A1 A1  A1 A1  A2L A3

Flammable Limits in Air (vol.%)

None None None None 14.4 2.1

GWP 1810 2,088 1,774 1,430 675 3

Glide oF 0  0.2 9.7 0 0  0

Compressor Energy Effic. Ratio (HCFC 22 %)

100% 102 – 105% 95 – 101% 95 – 97% Yet to be establish

ed 97 – 99%

Capacity (HCFC 22 %) 100% 149 – 155% 98 – 105% 65% 160%  85%

Heat Transfer Baseline  Higher Lower Lower Higher  Same

Pressure Drop Baseline  Lower Same Higher Lower  Lower

Tubing Size Baseline  Smaller Same Larger Lower  Same

System Performance (HCFC 22 %)

100% 98 – 105% 95 – 100% 97 – 98% 95 – 97% 100-

103% Redesign Required Baseline  Major Minor Major Major  Major

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EVALUATION OF REFRIGERANTS

R- 410A ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• R-410 is a blend with a small temperature glide (0.2C)• System Efficiency is lower than that of HCFC-22• Smaller compressor and heat exchanger due to lower flow rate• Higher sub cooling (8%)

• Increased manufacturing cost • Lower critical temperature of R-410A limits its use in higher ambient• System efficiency 98 ~ 105%; improvement by better design• Higher thickness and smaller internal size of tubes due to higher system pressures • Higher vacuum levels during manufacturing, servicing• Full system evacuation, gas charging required during servicing

Sub sectors : Room Air conditioner, Ducted systems, small Chiller Systems

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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Single Component refrigerant ; does not have disadvantages of mixtures

• Higher coefficient of performance as compared to R 410A and CO2

• System size is bulky compared to HCFC-22 based systems due to 40% lower refrigeration capacity• Consumes more materials increased system costs

• GWP concerns

EVALUATION OF REFRIGERANTS HFC-134a

Sub sector : Large chiller systemsIndo-US Workshop on HFCs-18th Feb.2011

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EVALUATION OF REFRIGERANTS

PROPANE (R-290)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES• Low climate impact (GWP:3)• Good thermodynamic performance compared to HCFC-22, especially in lower ambient• Comparable pressure and COP to HCFC-22• Improved pressure ratio LBP, discharge temperature, and volumetric capacity compared to HCFC-22

• Serious Safety concerns in enclosed environments (flammability) ; permissible limit: 2.1% of air volume • Large investments at production facilities for leak testing, charging, and general safety• Major redesign of the air conditioning equipments

• Safety during servicing a major concern

Pilot Project under evaluation; commercialProduction and related issues to be resolved

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VIABLE OPTIONS FOR AIR

CONDITIONING SUB SECTORS

Air conditioning Sub Sector Application Viable OptionDuctless Room Air Conditioners

Home, small offices R -410A (HFC)

Ducted SystemInstitutions, Commercial

R- 410A, R-407C (HFCs)

Telecom Air Conditioner with Precision Air conditioner

Information Technology back offices, Telecom equipment

R- 410A (HFC)

Chiller - Air Cooled Central SystemsR -410A, HFC-134a (HFCs)

Chiller - Water Cooled Central Systems HFC -134a (HFC)

VRFs (Variable Refrigerant Volume)

Institutions, Commercial

R- 410A (HFC)

Rail Coach Air Conditioner Railways, Metros R- 410A (HFC)

Others Marine & Defence Special purpose R- 410A (HFC)

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CONCLUDING REMARKS HFCs, like R-410A, HFC-32 and HFC-134a are the only

Technically proven and Economically viable Alternatives to HCFC-22 for all the Air-Conditioning Applications

R-290 being highly flammable may be applied for very small capacity units with lot of safety precautions: limited application

There are no other technically proven and economically viable options Available for the industry. Some work is reported on low GWP HFOs and HFC mixtures. The time frame of such R & D work is unknown and may have a number of barriers: Flammability Issues Toxicity issue especially toxicity of products on

dissociation Availability at comparable prices

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CONCLUDING REMARKS (cont.) The phase-out of HCFCs relies only on the use of technically

proven and economically viable solutions ; currently HFCs are the widely used refrigerants to replace HCFCs in most of the developed countries including USA.

Air-Conditioning Sector is very price sensitive and Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) Industry is to provide cost effective solutions to cater the needs of Industrial and for GDP growth in the country.

The RAC Industry can’t afford frequent changeovers as it involves huge capital investment

The RAC industry has a very challenging task ahead ; to cater the needs of growing demand and decision of capital investments

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WAY FORWARD! The Indian industry look forward for interacting with the US

RAC industry to deliberate about the feasible solutions

especially to comply 2013 & 2015 control targets under the

given of technically proven, economically viable,

environmentally benign refrigerants.

As the changeover requires large capital investments

especially in growing markets like India, there is a need to

have comprehensive studies and dialogues on technologies

likely to be available in a given time horizon at affordable

price.

There should be mechanism to fund transition to low GWP

refrigerants as and when these are viable

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And the Journey continues

for a Sustainable Growth

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