The Global Refrigerant Changeover: Progress and Issues

Xudong Wang

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

For Discussion Today

Kigali Amendment – Where we stand

Safety – What research shows us

Challenges and opportunities

Big Changes are Coming High-GWP refrigerants will be phased

down on a global scale

Drivers: Montreal Protocol – Kigali Amendment

Europe - F-gas regulations

U.S. – EPA, California

Canada

Japan

Australia

Montreal Protocol - Kigali Amendment

Low Pressure – Ultra Low (<10 GWP) Non-Flammables Available Medium Pressure – ~300-600 GWP Non-Flammable Limit

High Pressure – ~1400 GWP Non-Flammable Limit

R1234yfA2L GWP <1

R514AA1

Flammability - Next Generation Low-GWP Alternatives

Source: Steve Kujak, Ingersoll Rand

Frequently 10-2

Occasionally 10-3

Rare 10-4

Usually not 10-5

Very Difficult 10-6

Extremely Difficult 10-7

Near Zero 10-8

0 I II III IV

No

Damage

Minor

Damage (smoke,

small

localized

events)

Light

Damage (Fire from

product,

minor

pressure

rise, l ight

injury)

Major

Damage (fire and

human

injury)

Lethal

Damage (permanent

injury,

death, burn

down

house)

Risk = Likelihood & Severity

→Severity→

→Li

kelih

ood→ A

lways

Acce

ptab

le

Flammability Risks and Impacts

Fuel-LFL

Ignition Energy

Ignition Event

Severity of Event

Probability of Event

Source: Steve Kujak, Ingersoll Rand

Flammability is a Continuum and Not Specific Limits“Flammable is Flammable”

Refrigerant Manufacturing

Product Manufacturing

Delivery & Installation

Product Operation & Application

Service and Installation

End of Life

Flammability Risks : A Cradle-to-Grave Understanding Needed

Identifying and Addressing Refrigerant Flammability Risks

Source: Steve Kujak, Ingersoll Rand

Safety – What Research Shows Us

Flammability research is in final stages

Knowledge now greater on event severity and ignition likelihood from various sources on various refrigerants

Still need to understand risks and impacts (probability vs. severity, sensor reliability, mitigation effectiveness, and risk of combustion products

AHRI Flammability Research

Whole room scale leak and ignition testing (AHRTI-9007-01)

Potential ignition sources evaluation (AHRI-8017)

Hot surface ignition temperature testing (AHRTI-9008)

Reports available at: http://ahrinet.org/arep.aspx

Whole Room Scale Testing: Findings

Lubricant, room temperature and humidity had no effect or reduced event severity

High charge, high leak rate and low release height and furniture obstruction increase event severity

No major differences between R-452B and R-32. But R-457A reacted more quickly than R-455A

For certain equipment such as reach-in cooler, charge size matters (even just 100 gram difference reduced the ignition and propagation event)

Fans must activate quickly before ignition occurs. (Hallway/Basement testing)

Hazardous fluorine compounds can form when any HFC/HFO is burned

Potential Ignition Sources Testing: Findings

Majority of common tested potential ignition sources unable to ignite the A2L refrigerants/air mixtures (R32, R452B, R1234yf and R1234ze)

The tested sources resulting in ignition are open flame (lighter, match and candle) and hot nichrome wire

Refrigerants R32, R452B and R1234ze were not ignited at hot plate temperatures up to 850°C (1562°F),

Refrigerants with 3% oil were not ignited at hot plate temperatures up to 800°C (1472°F)

Further testing with different hot surface geometries found in actual heating systems (e.g., heating coils in HVAC) is recommended

Conclusions

Achieving Kigali commitments will require the use of flammable refrigerants

Refrigerant facts For some applications non-flammable refrigerants are or will be available Flammability is a continuum Flammable is flammable

o All flammable refrigerants need to be treated with the same level of respect

o Once A3 testing completed, we will see if there is a difference in incident severity between flammable and explosive refrigerants

Equipment with flammable refrigerants looks or will look like equipment using non-flammable refrigerants! (Importance of education and training)

Everyone must be more vigilant in handling, servicing, and installing equipment using flammable refrigerants

Challenges

Regulatory and safety barriers must be adapted to allow the safe use of equipment using A2L and A3 refrigerants in homes and buildings

Difference between available alternative refrigerants and equipment and commercially available refrigerants and equipment

Knowledge on new technologies and refrigerants is limited for distributors, technicians, engineers, building owners, and consumers

State of Safety Standards – Global View

Inte

rnati

on

al

Un

ited

Sta

tes

2018 2021 2022+

Model

Building

Codes

State

and

Local

Codes

complete under revision

Refrigerant

ClassificationUsage Restriction Application

ASHRAE34

Refrigerant Designation

& Safety Classification

UL2182

ASHRAE15

Safety Standards for

Refrigeration Systems

2015-2018

UL1995

Heating and Cooling

Equipment 2014-2015

UL471

Commercial

Refrigerators and

Freezers 2015-2019

UL621

Ice Cream Makers

2015-2019

UL60335-2-40

Heating and Cooling

Equipment -2018

UL60335-2-89

Commercial

Refrigeration -2018

Refrigerant

ClassificationUsage Restriction Application

ISO817

Refrigerant Designation

& Safety Classification

(2013-2014)

ISO5149

Safety and

Environmental

Requirements, Phase 1

Phase 2 2014-2015

IEC60335-2-40

Heating and Cooling

equipment

2015-2018

IEC60335-2-89

Commercial

Refrigeration

2015-2019

IEC60335-2-24

Refrigerating appliances

Ice and Ice Cream

Makers

2015-2019

Source: Rajan Rajendran - Emerson

Commercial Availability

Components (refrigerants, compressors, controls, values, etc.)

Design and testing of prototypes

Regulatory approvals

Retool and optimize manufacturing processes

Production

Distribution, Installation, Operation, and Maintenance

Training (technicians, operators, building owners)

Regulatory requirements for transportation, installation, and operation

Equipment

Design and testing of prototypes

Regulatory approvals

Retool and optimize manufacturing processes

Production

Equipment certification

Education and Training Education and training are critically important

Most alternatives are either flammable or mildly flammable

There are serious potential safety and efficiency issues with improper installation and maintenance

Education and Training Global Refrigerant Management Initiative

Launched in September 2014 by AHRI, the Alliance forResponsible Atmospheric Policy, and ABRAVA (Brazil)

Participation by refrigerant organizations in Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, the EU, Japan, Mexico, and Korea

UNEP-AHRI Refrigerant Driver’s License

Aims to ensure safe management of refrigerants, especially in Article 5 nations

Creates a global network to support safe handling

Industry Committed

Industry is Committed to the Success of the Kigali Amendment

We are moving forward

Today’s Market –Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning*Residential

Room A/C Mini-splits Multi-splits Split A/C

Re

gio

ns

and

Co

un

trie

s EuropeR410A/ R32 R410A/ R32 R410A/ R32 R410A

United States and Canada

R410A R410A R410A/ R407c R410A

Latin America R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R22/ R410A

Africa R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R22/ R410A

Middle East R22 R22 R22/ R407c R22

ChinaR22/ R410A/ R32/ R290 R22/ R410A/ R290 R22/ R410A R22

IndiaR22/ R410A/ R32/ R290

R22/ R410A/ R32/ R290

R22/ R410A R22/ R410A

Japan R410A/ R32 R410A/ R32 R410A/ R32 R410A

HFCs

HCFCs

Hydrocarbons

*(Not anexhaustivelist)

*Source:AHRI

Air Conditioning*Commercial Mobile A/C

Chillers VRF Packaged A/C MAC

Re

gio

ns

and

Co

un

trie

s

EuropeR22/ R410A/ R407c/ R134a/

R513A/ 1233zd(E) R410A R22/ R410A/ R134a R134a/ R1234yf/ R744

United States and Canada

R22/ R410A/ R407c/ R134a/ R513A R410A R22/ R410A/ R134a R134a/ R1234yf

Latin America R22/ R410A/ R134a R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R134a

Africa R22/ R134a R22/ R410A R22/ R410A R134a

Middle East R22/ R410A/ R134a R410A R22/ R410A R134a

China R22/ R410A/ R134a R410A R22/ R410A/ R134a R134a

India R22/ R410A/ R407c/ R134a R410A R22/ R410A R134a

Japan R22/ R410A/ R134a/ R513A R410A/ R32 R22/ R410A/ R134a R134a/ R1234yf

Today’s Market –Air Conditioning

HFCs

HCFCs

HFOs

CO2

HFC-HFO Blend

*(Not anexhaustivelist)

*Source:AHRI

We must work together! Deliberatively

With a Sense of UrgencyTechnically based

Safe and energy efficient