OEWG 35, Side Event by EPEE: Open debate on global trends and developments to reduce HFC emissions - an industry perspective Overview of New Refrigerants and Expected Market Trends Presentation by Ray Gluckman April 23 rd 205, Bangkok
Talk Contents Comments on the EU HFC Phase Down Refrigerants: where are we heading? Refrigerant Trends in RACHP Markets
EU HFC Phase Down Cuts in first 3 years are modest may fail to generate any urgency! Cut in 208 is very tough (37%) Coincides with 207 pre-charge controls (0% extra demand) Is 2 years BEFORE service ban
EU HFC Phase Down 203: Average GWP: 2000 2030: Average GWP: 400
Transition to lower GWP alternatives Most Current HFCs Some Future Alternatives Non-flammable Non-toxic Low operating pressure Compatible with materials Very high GWP Flammable Toxic High operating pressure Less compatible with materials Low GWP
Future refrigerant options in new RAC equipment? R404A (GWP 3922) will go quickly it will be replaced in short term by lower GWP options like R407A (GWP 207) and R407F (GWP 825) but in longer term we need lower GWPs otherwise we cannot meet phase down replacement of common refrigerants like R40A (GWP 2088) and R34a (GWP 430) must also be considered by ultra-low GWP options (like ammonia, CO 2, HFOs) by moderate GWP options (R32 and blends of HFOs / HFCs)
GWP groups (slightly contentious choice of bands!) GWP Group GWP Range Ultra-low 0 to 0 Low 0 to 50 Moderate 50 to,500 High,500 to 2,500 Very high >2,500
Commonly Used Refrigerants, 202 GWP Group GWP Range Refrigerant GWP Flammability Ultra-low 0 to 0 R-77 (ammonia) R-744 (CO 2 ) HC-290 (propane) HC-600a (isobutane) 0 5 5 2L mildly flammable non-flammable 3 highly flammable 3 Low 0 to 50 None in common use Moderate 50 to 500 HFC-34a 430 High 500 to 2500 HFC-407C HFC-407F HFC-40A HFC-407A HFC-47A 774 825 2088 207 2346 Very high >2500 HFC-422D HFC-434A HFC-404A HFC-507A 2725 3245 3922 3985
Recently commercialised / being developed 205 GWP Group GWP Range Refrigerant GWP Flammability HFO-234yf R-34a alternative 4 2L Ultra-low 0 to 0 HFO-234ze R-34a alternative 7 2L HCFO-233zd R-23 alternative 4 Low 0 to 50 None currently proposed HFC-32 R-40A alternative L40, XP40 R-404A alternatives R-446A, R-447A R-40A alternatives Moderate 50 to 500 R-450A, R53A R-34a alternatives R-448A, R-449A R-404A alternatives 675 ~ 300 460, 582 60, 63 387, 397 2L 2L 2L High 500 to 2500 Very high >2500 R-452A R-404A alternative 24 None being considered
Options in different refrigeration markets Market Sub-sector Current HFC Possible Future Options Domestic HFC-34a HC-600a, HFO-234ze Commercial Stand-alone HFC-404A HC-290, R-744, HFO-234ze Condensing unit HFC-34a? 2L alternatives Central pack HFC-40A R-744, alternative designs Industrial Large HFC-404A HFC-34a Small (HCFC-22) R-77, R-744? 2L alternatives Transport Road, containers HFC-404A R-744, R-452A,? HCs / 2L alternatives
Options in different air-conditioning markets Market Sub-sector Current HFC Possible Future Options Portables, window units HFC-40A HC-290 Small (< 2 kg) HC-290 (for some applications) 2L: HFC-32, R-446A, R-447A Split systems Medium (2 to 5 kg) HFC-40A 2L for some applications? 2L for larger applications Large (VRF and packaged, > 20 kg)? can 2L be used Chillers Positive displacement HFC-40A HFO-234ze, R-77, HC-290 Centrifugal HFC-34a HFO-234ze, low pressure HFOs
Using Mildly Flammable Refrigerants a key response is better knowledge of mildly flammable refrigerants such as R32, HFOs and new blends it may be impossible to meet phase down without widespread use of mildly flammable refrigerants current understanding is relatively poor we need to define safe system charge in different applications we need to know what safety precautions are needed without being too conservative much work still needed by refrigerant producers by equipment manufacturers by standards committees and Member State safety authorities
Concluding Comments we need to cut average GWP of refrigerants sold by at least 80% various alternatives are available or near market we need to learn to use difficult refrigerants 2L low flammability 3 high flammability high pressure (R-744) toxic (R77) lots of progress required in the EU in next few years 208 phase down cut is significant
Contact Details Ray Gluckman Gluckman Consulting 20a Eaton Park Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT 2JH UK email: ray@gluckmanconsulting.com Tel: +44 932 866344