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Refrigeration report

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• 1. General information refrigerants

– Natural refrigerants

– Synthetic refrigerants

• 2. Regulations concerning refrigerants

– Ban on CFCs and HCFs

– Phasing out HFCs

• 3. Overview of refrigerants

• 4. Summary

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• Refrigerants are used in refrigeration units or heat pumps as a medium for transporting heat. Depending on the application, refrigerants are selected for their (pressure-dependent) boiling point.

• Classified by:

– Global Warming Potential (GWP): the extent to which the refrigerant contributes to global warming if released into the atmosphere, relative to CO2 (reference).

– Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP): this value indicates the extent to which the refrigerant will damage the ozone layer if released into the atmosphere, relative to R11 (reference).

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• Choice of refrigerant

– Specific weight in combination with the evaporation heat determines the total refrigerant weight that needs to be transported. This determines the strength, price and material of the piping.

– Viscosity of the refrigerant determines the pump energy

– Toxicity

– Flammability

– Other specifications as food safety

– Compliance

– ODP

– GWP

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• Choice of refrigerant

– Price of refrigerant and installation

– Availability

– Choice of contractor

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• Natural refrigerants

– Natural refrigerants also occur naturally in the environment and are therefore less harmful to the environment. However, there is a risk associated with natural refrigerants, as they can pose a risk to human health in the event of leakage or exposure. Examples of natural refrigerants that are frequently used are:

• CO2 (R744)

• NH3 (R717)

• Propane (R290)

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• Synthetic refrigerants

– Synthetic refrigerants are substances that do not occur naturally, butare developed by man for industrial purposes. Synthetic refrigerantsare (H)CFCs, and HFCs,HFOs and HFC-HFO blends. These are governedby directly applicable European regulations aimed at protecting theenvironment. Examples of frequently used refrigerants are:

• R22 (HCFC)

• R134 (HFC)

• R410a (HFC)

• R1234ze (HFO)

• R450 (HFC-HFO blend)

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• Ban on chlorinated refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs)

– Banned due to the disrupting of the ozone layer

– Timeline regulation of CFCs and HCFCs

• 2002 Prohibition of new (H)CFC installations

• 2010 Ban on refilling installations with new (H)CFC

Recycled (H)CFC may still be used

• 2015 Prohibition of refilling installations with (H)CFC, e.g. R22 (These installations may continue to operate but refilling is prohibited)

– Examples of CFCs and HCFCs

• R22

• R11

• R12

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• Phasing out of fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs)

– Banned due to the disrupting of the ozone layer

– Timeline regulation of CFCs and HCFCs

• 2002 Prohibition of new (H)CFC installations

• 2010 Ban on refilling installations with new (H)CFC

Recycled (H)CFC may still be used

• 2015 Prohibition of refilling installations with (H)CFC, e.g. R22 (These installations may continue to operate but refilling is prohibited)

– Examples of CFCs and HCFCs

• R22, R11, R12

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• Frequently used refrigerants

– Refrigerants in bold are worked out in the applications

Refrigerant Type GWP ODP Area of application temp. * Specific heat

with liquid at

25 °C

Flammable Toxic Remarks

V. low

temp

Low

temp

Med.

temp

High

temp

R717 (NH3) Natural 0 0 ✓ ✓ (✓) 4.68 kJ/(kg.K) (yes) yes Large cooling installations, indirect cooling

R744 (CO2) Natural 1 0✓ ✓ (✓)

4.38 kJ/(kg.K) no < 10 % no Refrigeration systems, always in combination with

other refrigerants

R290 (propane) Natural 3 0 ✓ ✓ ✓ 2.67 kJ/(kg.K) yes no Small-volume installations

R600a (isobutane) Natural 20 0 ✓ ✓ 2.40 kJ/(kg.K) yes no Households and small-volume installations

R1270 (propylene) Natural ✓ ✓ (✓) 2.62 kJ/(kg.K) yes no Special small-volume installations

R1234yf HFO** 4 0 ✓ ✓ 1.39 kJ/(kg.K) yes no Automotive industry

R1234ze HFO** 6 0 ✓ ✓ 1.38 kJ/(kg.K) yes no

R450A HFO-blend 547 0 1.40 kJ/(kg.K) no no

R32 HFC 675 0 ✓ 1.94 kJ/(kg.K) yes no

R134A HFC 1430 0 ✓ ✓ 1.42 kJ/(kg.K) no no

R152a HFC 140 0 1.68 kJ/(kg.K) yes no Limited availability

R407A HFC 2107 0 ✓ ✓ 1.63 kJ/(kg.K) no no

R407C HFC 1774 0 (✓) ✓ (✓) 1.64 kJ/(kg.K) no no

R407 (LT Perfomax) HFC 1825 0 ✓ ✓ 1.57 kJ/(kg.K) no no

R410A HFC 1980 0 ✓

(2-stage)✓ ✓

1.84 kJ/(kg.K) no no

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• Application and regulation of refrigerants

– Refrigerants in bold are worked out in the applications

Gradual reduction of

the CO2 EQ.100 % 93 % 93 % 63 % 63 % 63 % 45 % 31 % 24 % 21 %

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 20202021-

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2024-

26

2027-

292030

Application Refrigerant

Medium/High pressure

chillers & heat pumps

R134a (GWP 1430)

R450a (GWP 547)

R410a (GWP 2088)

R22 (GWP 1810)

R290 - Propane (GWP 3)

R407C (GWP 1774)

Low pressure chillers R-123 (GWP 77)

Commercial &

industrial cooling

R22 (GWP 1810)

R404a (GWP 3922)

R507 (GWP 3985)

R407a (GWP 2107)

R407f (GWP 1824)

R134a (GWP 1430)

R717 - NH3 (GWP 0)

R744 - CO2 (GWP 1)

R290 - Propane (GWP 3)

R450a (GWP 547)

Airconditioning

R450a (GWP 547)

R410a (GWP 2088)

R22 (GWP 1810)

R1234ze (GWP 7)

R407C (GWP 1774)

No restrictions Can not be used Can not be used, only regenerated and recycled

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• Alternative solutions for refrigerants

Impact on greenhouse effect

CFK HCFK HFKHFO/ Blends

of HFO

Natural

refrigerants

R22

R404a

R134a

r410a

R427a

R407f

R290

R1234yf

R1234ze

R450a

R513a

R448a

R449a

R455a

Positive Temperatures

applications

R717 (NH3)

R744 (CO2)

R290 (Propane)

Positive and negative

temperature applications

R502

R408a

R402a

R403b

R22

R404a

R470f

R410a

R427a

R422a

R448a

R449a

R452a

R455a

Negative temperature

applications

R503

R13

R23

R508B

Ultra low temperature

applications

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• Due to phasing out HFCs offers only a solutions until 2030

• If solutions has an operating period of > 11 years, the HFCs are not suitable

• At this moment the traditional freons are used in chillers, comfort cooling solutions and industrial applications.

• The natural refrigerants are used in industrial applications

• Natural refrigerants will be more interesting than synthetic solutions due to its low GWP and their thermodynamic properties

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For more informationcontact Encon

Kieleberg 413740 Bilzen

Belgium

www.encon.beInfo@encon.be

+32 (0) 89.41.08.20