RefRigeRant REpoRT 19 - BITZER

1 A-501-19 RefRigeRant REpoRT 19 RefRigeRant ReportContentsEssential revisions/supplements vs. 18th edition Page334667889911111113151617171819202021 22222324272728293132363840 This edition supersedes all previous aspects on RefRigeRant developmentsIntroductionAlternative refrigerants (overview)Environmental aspectsGlobal Warming and TEWI factor Eco-EfficiencyHCFC refrigerantsR22 as transitional refrigerantHFC and HFO refrigerantsR134a as a substitute for R12 and R22 Lubricants for HFCsAlternatives to R134aR152a an alternative to R134a (?)

2 "Low GWP" HFO refrigerants R1234yf and R1234ze(E) RefRigeRant blendsService blends as substitutes for R502 Service blends as substitutes for R12 (R500)HFC Alternatives for R502 and R22R404A and R507A as substitutes for R502 and R22R407A, R407B, R407F and R407H as substitutes for R502 and R22 R422A as substitute for R502 and R22 HFC Alternatives for R22R407C as substitute for R22R410A as substitute for R22 R417A, R417B, R422D and R438A as substitutes for R22R427A as substitute for R22R32 as substitute for R22 HFO/HFC blends as alternatives to HFCsHalogen free refrigerantsNH3(Ammonia) as alternative refrigerantR723 (NH3/DME) as an alternative to NH3R290 (Propane)

3 As substitute for R502 and R22 Propylene (R1270) as an alternative to PropaneCO2as an alternative RefRigeRant and secondary fluidSpecial applicationsRefrigerant propertiesApplication ranges LubricantsGeneral aspects on RefRigeRant developmentsIntroductionStratospheric ozone depletion as well asatmospheric greenhouse effect due to refrig-erant emissions have led to drastic changesin the refrigeration and air conditioning tech-nology since the beginning of the is especially true for the area of com-mercial refrigeration and A/C plants withtheir wide range of applications.

4 In formeryears the main refrigerants used for thesesystems were ozone depleting types, namelyR12, R22 and R502; for special applicationsR114, R12B1, R13B1, R13 and R503 wereused. With the exception of R22 the use of thesechemicals is not allowed any more in indus-trialised countries. In the European Union,however, an early phase-out was alreadyenforced in several steps (see page 8). The main reason for this early ban of R22contrary to the international agreement is theozone depletion potential although it is 2010, phase-out regulations got effec-tive in other countries as well, in the USA to this situation enormous conse-quences result for the whole refrigerationand air conditioning sector.

5 BITZER thereforecommitted itself to taking a leading role inthe research and development of environ-mentally benign system the chlorine-free (ODP = 0) HFC refrig-erants R134a, R404A, R407C, R507A andR410A have become widely established formany years in commercial refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems, mean-while new challenges have come up. Theyconcern primarily the greenhouse effect. Theaim is a clear reduction of direct emissionscaused by RefRigeRant losses and indirectemissions by particularly efficient systemtechnology.

6 In this area, applicable legal regulations arealready in force, such as the EU Regulationon F-Gases No. 517/2014 ( BITZER brochureA-510) and a series of regulations alreadyratified or in preparation as part of the EUEcodesign Directive ( BITZER brochure A-530).Similar regulations are also in preparation orhave already been implemented in NorthAmerica (SNAP Program) and other though indirect emissions caused byenergy production are considerably higherthan direct (CO2-equivalent) emissionscaused by HFC refrigerants, refrigerants withhigh global warming potential (GWP) will infuture be subject to use restrictions or will affect primarily R404A and R507A,for which alternatives with lower GWP arealready being offered.

7 However, in order toachieve the legal objectives, substitutes forfurther refrigerants and increased use of nat-urally occurring substances (NH3, CO2,hydrocarbons) will become necessary. This requires comprehensive testing of theserefrigerants, suitable oils and accordinglyadjusted systems. Therefore a close co-operation exists withscientific institutions, the refrigeration and oilindustries, component manufacturers as wellas a number of innovative refrigeration andair conditioning companies. A large number of development tasks havebeen completed.

8 For alternative refrigerantssuitable compressors are available. Besides the development projects BITZER actively supports legal regulations and selfcommitments concerning the responsibleuse of refrigerants as well as measures toincrease system and components following REpoRT deals with potentialmeasures of a short to medium-term changetowards technologies with reduced environ-mental impact in medium and large sizecommercial refrigeration and air-conditioningsystems. Furthermore, the experience whichexists is also dealt with and the resultingconsequences for plant technology.

9 Serveral studies confirm that the vapourcompression refrigeration plants normallyused in the commer cial field are far superiorin efficiency to all other processes down to acold space temperature of around -40 selection of an alternative RefRigeRant andthe system design receives special signifi-cance, however. Besides the request forsubstances without ozone depletion poten-tial (ODP=0) especially the energy demandof a system is seen as an essential criteriondue to its indirect contribution to the green-house effect. On top of that there is thedirect global warming potential (GWP) due torefrigerant a calculation method has beendeveloped for the qualified evaluation of asystem which enables an analysis of thetotal influence on the greenhouse this connection the so-called "TEWI" fac-tor (Total Equivalent Warming Impact) hasbeen introduced.

10 Meanwhile, another, moreextensive assessment method has been de-veloped under the aspect of "Eco-Efficiency".Hereby, both ecological (such as TEWI) andeconomical criteria are taken into account(see also page 7).Therefore it is possible that the assessmentof refrigerants with regard to the environmentcan differ according to the place of installa-tion and drive closer evaluation of substitutes for theoriginally used CFC and HCFC as well as forHFCs with higher GWP, the options with single-substance refrigerants are very include, for example, R134a, whosecomparably low GWP will allow its use for alonger time to come.