Current use of HFCs and HCFCs. Trends, alternatives and climate impact. YEREVAN, Armenia, May 18-19, International Institute of Refrigeration

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1 Current use of HFCs and HCFCs. Trends, alternatives and climate impact YEREVAN, Armenia, May 18-19, 2009 Didier COULOMB, Director of the IIR, Institut du Froid (IIF) -

2 2 major challenges in the 21st century: - health - the environment Needs in terms of health (ageing populations, food safety ) will increase. 850 Million people undernourished (FAO) 30% post-harvest losses deaths/year in the USA due to pathogens, at least partly associated with poor temperature control 1/3rd more inhabitants in the world in 2050, more urban and older.(health products, hospitals ) Environmental issues will increasingly need to be addressed: Montreal Protocol (CFCs, HCFCs), and above all the Kyoto Protocol and the post-kyoto era (energy efficiency, phase down of greenhouse gases such as HFCs).

3 is necessary for life Food sector (quantity and quality of food) Health sector (health products, surgery, imaging, air conditioning) Energy applications (Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied hydrogen, Thermonuclear fusion, ) Environmental applications (biodiversity thanks to the cryopreservation of genetic resources, liquefaction of CO2 for underground storage) Applications in heating (heat pumps), electronic components, computer technology, biotechnology, space technology, public works

4 Various applications -> various solutions More than 90% : vapour-compression systems, using refrigerants. This figure will not change in the near future. All refrigerants are not adapted to all applications: Pressure issues, safety issues, corrosion issues; energy efficiency issues but generally, we have several options.

5 Impact on the ozone layer (1) The impact of refrigerating plants on ozone depletion is due to emissions of chlorinated refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs) equipment leaks poor maintenance The Antarctica ozone hole

6 Impact on the ozone layer (2) Family of refrigerants Main refrigerants ODP CFCs HCFCs HFCs Natural refrigerants CFC-11 CFC-12 Others HCFC-22 Others HFC-134a HFC-404A HFC-407C HFC-410A Others R-717 (Ammonia) R-744 (Carbon dioxide) Hydrocarbons Others > >

7 Montreal Protocol Montreal Protocol Industrialized countries Developing countries CFCs Phased-out Phase-out since 1996 by 2010 Phase-out Phase-out HCFCs by 2020 (1) (2) by 2030 (1) (1) Decision taken at MOP-19 in Montreal (September 2007) (2) Several countries have adopted more stringent regulations regarding HCFC phase-out: EU countries, US, Japan, etc.

8 Impact on global warming (1) The global-warming impact of refrigerating plants is the following: About 20% of this impact is due to direct emissions of fluorocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs), About 80% of this impact results from indirect CO2 emissions originating in the production of the energy used by the refrigeration plants Efforts implemented focus on: Reduction of direct emissions thanks to better containment of refrigerants, development of alternative refrigerants. Reduction of energy consumption thanks to increasing energy efficiency of refrigerating plants

9 Impact on global warming (2) Family of refrigerants Main refrigerants GWP CFC CFCs CFC Others > HCFCs HCFC-22 Others > HFCs HFC-134a HFC-404A HFC-410A Others R-717 (Ammonia) > (HFO-1234yf) < 1 Natural refrigerants R-744 (Carbon dioxide) Hydrocarbons 1 20 Water 0

10 And a lot of blends among HCFCs, among HCFCs and HFCs, among HFCs all of them with a GWP between 900 and If we consider the most commonly used HCFCs and HFCs, without any other consideration, the replacement of HCFCs by HFCs has a negligible or negative effect on global warming. We should avoid it. Fortunately, with new equipment, leakage is reduced and energy efficiency is better. The final result should be slightly better, but not enough. -> We need to implement new measures.

11 Reductions in refrigerant emissions (1) The ODP-weighted production of CFCs + HCFCs has decreased by 98% between 1988 and 2005 AFEAS-UNEP

12 Reductions in refrigerant emissions (2) The GWP-weighted production of CFCs + HCFCs + HFCs has decreased by 90% between 1988 and 2005 AFEAS-UNEP

13 Past reductions in leakage Case of Europe: even before the application of the F-gas regulation, the leakage rate which was about 30 % in the 80s, is now (on the average), 20 years after, about 5-10 % (annual emissions/banks)

14 Past increase of energy efficiency Examples: COP in commercial refrigeration (for a temperature lift of 30 C): 1960: about : about : about 4 Energy consumption of new refrigerators 3-4 times less in 2005 than in 1973 Heat pumps

15 Challenges Refrigerant containment Refrigerant charge reduction Alternative refrigerants Reduction in energy consumption Other sustainable refrigeration technologies Solutions application by application

16 Applications 1. Domestic 2. Commercial 3. Industrial 4. Transport 5. Air Conditioning Chillers 6. Mobile Air Conditioning

17 Domestic refrigeration (1) (refrigerated and frozen products) Current situation: essentially HFCs (HFC 134a) = 2/3rds and HCs (HC600a mainly) = 1/3rd for new production Low leakage Main issue: recovery (including CFC12) Reminder: GWP CFC HFC 134a HC 600a 20 About million units installed worldwide tonnes HFC 134a/year in new units tonnes HC/year in new units

18 Domestic refrigeration (2) Challenges: - Recovery of old refrigerants (CFC12) then HFC 134a - Authorization of HCs (currently under consideration in the US) for new units HFC 134a and HCs: same energy efficiency no real technical problem Long term issue (unit life more than 20 years) but new policy easy to implement

19 Commercial refrigeration (1) (Cold storage, supermarkets, vending machines...: refrigerated and frozen products) Current situation: Very different types of equipment: - Stand-alone equipement; - Condensing units, side by side - Centralized systems with direct systems - Centralized systems with indirect systems Lack of precise statistics, but: - important leakage (15%-35%), the highest rates being in Article 5 countries and in large installations (due to poor maintenance and length of pipes) - a lot of different situations regarding the types of equipment and the refrigerant uses Main issues: maintenance for less leakage and better energy efficiency; refrigerants retrofit; new plants

20 Commercial refrigeration (2) About supermarkets worldwide over 500 m 2 Refrigerant emissions (2003) (tonnes) Article 5 countries Non article 5 countries total CFC HCFC HFC CFCs: mainly CFC 12 and blends with HCFCs (GWP > 9 000) HCFCs: mainly HCFC 22 (GWP: 1 810) and blends 22-HFCs (GWP > 3 200) HFCs: HFC 134a and blends ( )

21 Commercial refrigeration (3) Other options already developed: HCs and CO 2 in stand-alone equipment (similar energy efficiency; already tested and used in most types of equipment) Today: mainly HFC134a; some HFC blends (R404A) Condensing unit systems: today mainly HCFC 22; same issue Centralized systems: today, mainly HCFC 22; also HFCs (R404A, HFC 134a) of same or higher GWP; but ammonia already largely used and known (including Eastern Europe) Also CO 2, HCs, indirect systems with ice-slurries. --> many options with similar energy efficiency

22 Commercial refrigeration (4) (Conclusion) Commercial refrigeration: a major sector for mitigating global warming Better maintenance Retrofit issue: mainly with HFCs (life of equipment: years) New systems: encourage ammonia (large systems; safety regulations), CO 2, HCs, ice slurries

23 Industrial refrigeration (1) (Food and drink processing, pharmaceutical industry, chemical plants, cold storage, liquefaction of gases ) Current situation: Really various and generally big plants (350 million m 3 cold storage worldwide ) Important leakage (10-20%) Use of CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, ammonia and in a few cases, CO 2. Includes global systems with heat pumps, heat recovery.

24 Industrial refrigeration (2) Refrigerant emissions (estimation 2006, tonnes/year) CFCs HCFCs HFCs CFCs: mainly CFC 12 + R 502 (blend) old equipment, with important leakage (20% or more) retrofit by HCFCs and HFCs (134a) (similar GWP) HCFCs: mainly HCFC 22 HFCs: HFC 134a and blends (no benefit and even worse than HCFCs regarding GWP, energy efficiency, costs)

25 Industrial refrigeration (3) Other options already developed: Ammonia; the best for large systems. But needs safety; CO 2 for freezers (sometimes with cascades with HFC blends) Secondary fluids In some industrial processes, HFCs crurrently have no equivalent (chemical reactions) For heat pumps, absorption heat pumps or vapour compression heat pumps: CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs; ammonia for medium and large capacities; HCs in niches

26 Industrial refrigeration (4) (Conclusion) An important sector but various cases: Better maintenance Retrofit issue: mainly with HFCs New systems: ammonia for large systems; Others: case by case approach

27 Transport refrigeration (1) (Marine, rail, road, containers ) Current situation: Mostly vapour-compression systems essentially with CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs - Very few with ammonia, CO 2, - Very few sorption systems - Few systems using CO 2 or nitrogen as solid or liquid (refrigerant lost at the end) Important leakage (10-40%) but small amounts overall (few vehicles: about 1 million) Shorter life cycles (tough constraints) thus more rapid moves to new equipment

28 Transport refrigeration (2) Refrigerant emissions (tonnes/2003) Marine Containers Road Rail Total CFCs HCFC HFCs Total FCs HFCs are HFC 134a (mainly), blends (R404A, ), HFC 23 with similar or higher GWP than HCFCs - However, other refrigerants often encounter issues of safety (flammability, toxicity), or of cost. Technical developments and tests are still necessary

29 Transport refrigeration (3) (Conclusion) The impact on global warming is less important HFCs often are still currently the best solution (tough constraints) Efforts must be concentrated in reducing leakage (maintenance ) Technological developments to be implemented

30 Stationary air-conditioning (1) Current situation: Various types of equipment: - Small self-contained air conditioners (for heating or cooling small spaces through walls, windows ) - Non-ducted split residential and commercial air conditioners - Ducted split residential air conditioners - Ducted commercial split and packaged air conditioners chillers (see «chillers») Important leakage (15-20%) Mainly HCFC 22 for the 4 first applications (95%) replacements in article 5 countries progressively by HFC blends (higher GWP) but possibilities for CO 2 and hydrocarbons Skyrocketting market (+50% in 5 years especially in Article 5 countries)

31 Stationary air conditioning (2) Refrigerant emissions (2005) (tonnes/year) Article 5 countries Non Article 5 countries HCFC ( in 2015) HFC Shifting to HCs or CO 2 requires investments: for safety reasons for HCs, for effciency reasons for CO 2. HCs will be limited to low charge levels (flammability); CO 2 also needs further technological developments. HCs and CO 2 can rarely be used for retrofits (safety ) Life of equipment: years in non Article 5 countries.

32 Stationary air conditioning (3) (Conclusion) For small equipment with low refrigerant charge, HCs can be an option for new equipment. Replacement of HCFCs in other uses by HFCs would have a negative effect on the climate but it cannot be avoided. Further technological developments will be developed in the future in non Article 5 countries, that should be transferred to Article 5 countries. Reducing leakage is necessary.

33 Chillers (1) (air conditioning for large buildings and process cooling in industries) Vapour-compression and absorption chillers (proof of energy efficiency except if waste heat sources ). Low leakage (about or less than 10 % in HCFC and HFC installations). Refrigerants used in vapour-compression systems: CFCs, HCFC 22, HCFC 123 (very low GWP), HFC 134a, blends. Few with ammonia, hydrocarbons

34 Chillers (2) Refrigerant emissions (2003) (tonnes/year) Article 5 countries Non Article 5 countries CFCs HCFCs HFCs Conclusion Even if HFC emissions are increasing, overall emissions (tonnes/year) are decreasing, both in Article 5 and non Article 5 countries. Replacement of HCFC 22 by HFC 134a is interesting, and the same of course applies to ammonia or HCs.

35 Vehicle air conditioning (1) (Cars, trucks, buses, railcars) Old vehicles: mainly CFC 12 New vehicles: mainly HFC 134a Due to EU new regulation, CO 2 and HFO 1234yf will be the competitors in the near future (2010) on the European and American markets Countries will adapt to this new situation 2

36 Vehicle air conditioning (2) Refrigerant emissions (2003) (tonnes/year) Article 5 countries Non Article 5 countries CFCs HCFCs HFCs

37 Conclusion Reduction of leakage, better containment, reduction of the charge of refrigerants: for all gases Needs training, certification (ex. F-gas regulation) Global costs: HCs similar to HCFCs NH3 better in large systems Global energy solutions (housing, transport) Recovery of CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs Concentrate efforts on new plants and equipment in: Domestic refrigeration (HCs) Commercial refrigeration (various solutions) Stationary air conditioning (global building policy) Vehicle air conditioning (see the developments in Europe and the USA) Retrofit: mainly with HCFCs and HFCs, even if negative impact on the climate A lot of new technological developments in the near future on refrigerants, equipment, not in kind technologies Updated information IIR membership: see