A Global Approach to Transitioning to Lower GWP Refrigerants
Stephen YurekPresident and CEO
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute
Refrigerants Are Vital
Used in Air-conditioning,− Vital for personal health, comfort, and
well-beingUsed in Refrigeration− Prolong life of perishable food− Keep life-saving medicines safe
Improve− Health, productivity, and safety
Save− Lives
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Economics Working
Paper Series
Adapting to Climate Change: The Remarkable Decline in the
U.S. Temperature-Mortality Re la tio nship Over the 20th C e ntury
Alan Barreca Karen Clay Olivier
Deschenes Michael Greenstone J oseph
S. Shapiro
Working Paper 12-29 December 20, 2012
Room E52-251 50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142
This paper can be downloaded without charge from the Social Science Research Network Paper Collection at http://ssrn.com /abstract=2192245
Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2192245
Things to think about:
Maintaining refrigerant choice
Evaluating refrigerant characteristics for informed choices
Making transition predictable, smooth, and informed
Educating policy makers and training technicians
New Reality
CFCs HCFCs HFCs ??
New “ReplacementRefs”
New LGWP Refs“For OEM Use”
R-410ALike
Capacity
R404A &R407/22
Like
R134aLike
GWP Level
400-675
< 1500
~600
150 - 300
R32
DP: DR7HWL: L40, L20
HFO 1234yfHFO 1234ze
R410A
R407CR22
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Today’s Refs
PressureOr
DP: DR33HWL: N20, N40
DP: DR5HWL: L41
DP: XP10HWL: N13
R134a
R407A
CO2
R404A
DP: DR2; HWL: N12
R290
NH3
A1 – Non Flammable
A2L – Mildly FlammableA3 – FlammableB2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.
Qualitative Chart – Not To Scale
Lower GWP Refrigerant LandscapeOptions For New & Existing Applications Continue To Grow
ARK: ARM 70
ARK: ARM 30
ARK: ARM 32
R407F
R123-Like(V.Low Pr.)
(3922)
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies
Choosing a RefrigerantRefrigerants have unique operating characteristics:Choice cannot be based on one factor, but instead should be based on an analysis of all factors:
− Safe− Energy efficient− Widely available− Economical− GWP
Operating factors can be different:− Pressures− Incompatible lubricants− Incompatible metals and alloys− Flammability levels
Needs will be different for each application
Avoiding Unintended Consequences
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies
Refrigerant Research
Low GWP Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation Program Cooperative research program to identify suitable alternatives to high GWP refrigerants.Purpose is NOT to prioritize refrigerants, but rather test and present results in a consistent manner.Participants
− Sixteen (16) U.S. companies/organizations − Five (5) international companies/organizations − Six (6) refrigerant producers supplied thirty-eight (38) refrigerant candidates
Tests cover the following applications− Air-conditioners and heat pumps (air-source, water-source, VRF, unitary, mini-split)− Chillers (screw, centrifugal)− Heat pump water heater− Refrigeration (commercial refrigerator, ice machine)− Transport refrigeration− Bus air-conditioning
Current Status of Low GWP AREP
Completion of the first round of testing – 3rd quarter of 2013− Results posted at:
http://www.ahrinet.org/ahri+low_gwp+alternative+refrigerants+evaluation+program.aspx
Low-GWP AREP Conference− January 16, 2014 in New York City
Possible second round of refrigerant testing
Other Research
Risk Assessment of Residential Heat Pumps using 2L Refrigerants− Showed very low risk of ignition from the use of R-32, HFO-1234yf,
or HFO-1234ze in ducted residential split heat pump systems− October 2012 Report: www.ahrinet.org/technical+results.aspx
Configuration of AC/HP Systems Using Low GWP Refrigerants− Summarized configurations of residential air-conditioning and heat
pump systems using hydrocarbons, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and HFO-1234yf while meeting previously defined safety requirements.
− January 2013 Report: http://www.ahrinet.org/App_Content/ahri/files/RESEARCH/Technical%20Results/AHRI-8006%20Final%20Report.pdf
New “ReplacementRefs”
New LGWP Refs“For OEM Use”
R-410ALike
Capacity
R404A &R407/22
Like
R134aLike
GWP Level
400-675
< 1500
~600
150 - 300
R32
DP: DR7HWL: L40, L20
HFO 1234yfHFO 1234ze
R410A
R407CR22
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Today’s Refs
PressureOr
DP: DR33HWL: N20, N40
DP: DR5HWL: L41
DP: XP10HWL: N13
R134a
R407A
CO2
R404A
DP: DR2; HWL: N12
R290
NH3
A1 – Non Flammable
A2L – Mildly FlammableA3 – FlammableB2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.
Qualitative Chart – Not To Scale
Lower GWP Refrigerant LandscapeOptions For New & Existing Applications Continue To Grow
ARK: ARM 70
ARK: ARM 30
ARK: ARM 32
R407F
R123-Like(V.Low Pr.)
(3922)
Used with permission from Rajan Rajendran, Emerson Climate Technologies
Education and Training
We must come together – globally – to develop an education and training planAHRI will lead collaborative U.S. effortWe can ensure a seamless transition to multiple refrigerants
Summary
We understand policy interest in addressing high GWP refrigerantsAdequate time needed− To properly research alternatives− Engineer products that can use alternatives safely− Develop capacity to manufacture, distribute, and
sell We have a good record as an industry− We must continue to work with policy makers
We must seize the opportunity to approach global issue in a global not regional fashion
Thank You!
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