A Sustainable transformation of the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector Possibilities of the RAC sector transformation a technical perspective The Delegation of the European Union in India and GIZ Proklima 7 th November 2014, New Delhi, India Dr Daniel Colbourne
Types of refrigerants synthetic Refrigerants natural Fluorinated Non-fluorinated Carbon CFC HCFC PFC HFE HFC Ethers Hydrocarbon Ammonia dioxide saturated HCFC unsaturated HCFC saturated HFC unsaturated HFC saturated HC unsaturated HC R11 R12 R13 R113 R114 R115 R22 R123 R124 R142b R1233zd R1233xf R318 R218 RE245cb R161 R32 R125 R134a R143a R152a blends R1234yf R1234ze R1243zf RE170 R170 R290 R600 R600a R601 R601a R1270 R1150 R744 R717 Medium to low GWP alternatives
New medium ( lower ) GWP refrigerant mixtures R744 R152a HCs R1234ze R1243zf 0 GWP ~500 DR-5 L-41a, L-41b L-20 L-40 DR-4 DR-7 HFC-1234yf HFC-1234ze AC-5 AC-6 HFC-1233zd ARM-70a ARM-31 ARM-30a ARM-42 ARM-J8 LGA26 HPR1D LGA40 LTR6A LGA29 GECA-max ARC-1 LGA8 commercial trialling in development R161 R32 R1234yf Saturated HFCs Un-saturated HFCs ( HFOs )
GWP (kgco2eq/kg) Overall global warming implications 8000 6000 4000 HCFC-22 HFC-32 HFC-134a Important to consider shorter-term warming impact of refrigerants (as well as 100-year GWP) Source: Data from IPCC AR4 HFC-152a 2000 0 HC-290, HC-1270, R744, HC-290 R717, HFC-1234yf, HFC- 1234ze 1 10 100 Time horizon (y)
Ease of application of alternative refrigerants Refrigeration Domestic Retail Storage and food processing Fridge/ freezers Centralised Condensing units (cabinets) Integrals Centralised Condensing units (coldstores) Integrals Direct distributed Chillers Direct distributed Chillers Air conditioning Residential Commercial Selfcontained Non-ducted single split Ducted split Chillers Non-ducted single splits Central split Multisplit Rooftop
Number of Records* Critical to be wise to the IPR implications R-32 R-290 R-410A HFO-1234ze and yf HFO-1234ze or yf with R32 mixtures 160 250 200 150 100 14 19 17 36 54 14 19 17 29 46 13 11 15 24 44 140 120 50 0 98 7 8 4 7 25 24 records patents active patents 73 64 applications active applications 100 80 60 40 20 0 R-32 R-290 HFOs R-410A HFOs-R32 Total Records 977 170 198 179 25
Domestic refrigeration HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
Viable application in small commercial refrigeration HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
Medium size commercial refrig /condensing units HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
Large commercial refrigeration / supermarkets HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
Cold storage and food processing HC R-744 Energy use [kwh/tonne] 140 120 Cold storage/spiral freezer 100 80 60 40 20 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix 0 R404A R717/R744
Self-contained air conditioners HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
COP_alt/COP_b Single split air conditioners 1.3 test data normalised for equal capacity 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 0.9 HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix 0.8 Qe_alt/Qe_b R290 and R1270 vs. R22 in ACs
Chiller; 20 2000 kw, 5 500 kg Ducted, central and multisplit systems HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix HC R-744 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix
Chillers for air conditioning and refrigeration HC R-744 COP Coefficient of Performance (-) 5 4 3 4.5 2 1 R290 CARE50 R22 4.0 3.5 3.0 0 2.5 R-717 u-hfc/ HFC mix 10 15 20 25 30 35 Condenser water inlet temperature ( C) 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 R22 Isceon 59 Care 40 Care 50 5 10 15 20 25 30 Ambient temp ( C)
Important to understand the barriers Refrigeration Domestic Retail Storage and food processing Fridge/ freezers Centralised Condensing units (cabinets) Integrals Centralised Condensing units (coldstores) Integrals Direct distributed Chillers Direct distributed Chillers Air conditioning Residential Commercial Selfcontained Non-ducted single split Ducted split Chillers Non-ducted single splits Central split Multisplit Rooftop
Specific barriers and challenges About 30 specific barriers identified No trained technicians Peer group are against No standards Anticipated barriers Too dangerous Not currently in use f n Country, region, size and type of equipment, type of refrigerant, perception of person making the statement, etc No parts available No market demand Too much trouble vs.
Encountering barriers
Overcoming barriers and challenges Awareness-raising Training Guidance Demo projects
Overcoming barriers and challenges Market development stimulate industry involvement with low-gwp alternatives; encourage local manufacturing, product directories, etc Financial incentives subsidies for using low-gwp, tax incentives for low- GWP / tax disincentives for high-gwp Regulatory infrastructure better control of industry to work safely, modify regulations that inhibit low-gwp alternatives, ensure safety standards are constructive
Overcoming barriers and challenges Safety standards for flammables Performa nce of R744 Flammabi lity risk Performance at high ambient
Performance of R744
Compression ratio [-] Discharge temp [ C] Relative capacity [%] Relative COP [%] Performance at high ambient 100% 80% HC-290 HCFC-22 100% 80% HC-290 HCFC-22 60% 60% 40% 40% 20% 20% 0% 48 50 52 Ambient temperature [ C] No performance degradation vs R22 0% 48 50 52 Ambient 5 temperature [ C] HC-290 4 3 HCFC-22 110 90 HC-290 HCFC-22 2 70 Improved working conditions vs R22 1 0 35 48 50 52 Ambient temperature [deg C] 50 35 48 50 52 Ambient temperature [ C]
R290 charge [g] Safety rules for flammables Refrigerant charge compared to value in obstructive AC standard 1200 Max charge 1000 Equiv safety 250 W/m2 Add meas 800 200 W/m2 Higher capacities in larger spaces resolved through additional measures 600 400 150 W/m2 100 W/m2 200 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Room area [m2] Cases in the risk assessment
Safety rules for flammables Increase refrigerant charge (greater capacity) Introduce riskreducing measures Sensing Mitigation outdoor unit (e.g., condensing unit) indoor unit (e.g., evaporator) solenoid valve in liquid line
Safety rules for flammables Requirements under Atex/EN 1127
Flammability risk For flammable gas safety Regulations/ directives For electrical safety For pressure safety Atex LVD PED Harmonised standards EN 1127-1 EN 60079- EN 13463 EN 60335-2-24 EN60335-2-40 EN 60335-2-89 EN 378
Flammability risk Quantitative risk assessment for split ACs Safety valve limits amount of gas that can leak into room Risk of ignition is >10,000 times lower than background risk Background fire frequency (USA) of ACs: 2 10-5 y- 1 Can break windows only; requires an instant 3.0 mm leak hole in IDU!
Concluding remarks There are a variety of alternative refrigerants which have low or near-low GWP All sub-sectors can be satisfied with at least one of the alternatives Unlike the past, there will be a mix of options Barriers and challenges do exist Sometimes tangible hurdles; often due to lack of knowledge or misinformation A number of approaches can be implemented to help overcome the barriers
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