The Future of Refrigerants For Commercial Refrigeration Applications

David B. Calabrese General Counsel

Sr. Vice President, Public Policy Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

Representing

ICARHMA

Established 1991

Purpose − Unite and strengthen

the voice of global industry

− Focus on energy efficiency and environmental stewardship

Members AREMA -- Australia ABRAVA – Brazil HRAI – Canada CRAA – China EUROVENT – Europe EPEE – Europe JRAIA – Japan KRAIA – Korea AHRI – United States

Refrigerants Are Vital

Used in Air-conditioning − Vital for personal Health, Comfort, and Well-being

Used in Refrigeration − Prolong life of perishable food

− Keep life-saving medicines safe

They Improve: − Health, Productivity, and Safety

What is Commercial Refrigeration?

It is the “R” in HVACR

Ubiquitous in developed world; increasingly widespread use in developing nations

Benefits: − Health

− Environmental

− Economic

Refrigeration Applications diverse − Differing temperatures, system architecture, charge amounts, leak

potential

Semi-Vertical Display Case

A medium temperature merchandiser with multiple display levels arranged in a staggered configuration used for the display and sale of fresh meat, deli, dairy, or produce products. − No doors or covers.

Multi-Deck, Vertical Display Refrigerated Merchandiser

A medium temperature merchandiser with multiple display levels used for the display and sale of fresh meat, deli, dairy, or produce products. − No doors or covers.

Chilled Transparent Vertical Door Display Cabinets

Accessible for removal by the customer by opening a hinged or sliding transparent door. − The unit may or may not be

self-contained and include a condensing unit.

Multi-Deck, Vertical Display Frozen Food Merchandiser

A low temperature merchandiser with multiple display levels used for the display and sale of ice cream or frozen products. − No doors or covers.

Frozen Transparent Vertical Door Display Cabinets

Low temperature or application product temperature vertical display case accessible for removal by the customer by opening a hinged or sliding transparent door. − The unit may or may not be

self-contained and include a condensing unit.

What Refrigerants are Used Today?

In stand-alone or self-contained systems (est. 32M + 21M vending machines):

− R-22; R134A; R404A (most common in Europe)

In remote refrigeration systems (est. 34M worldwide)

− R-134A; R-22; R404A R-407C; R-507; other HFC or HCFC blends

In multiplex rack systems (est. 15M worldwide)

− R-22 (most common); R-12; R-502; R-404A; R-507A;

R407A; several HCFC and HFC blends designed to retrofit CFC or HCFC systems

How About Alternatives?

Hydrocarbons: − Isobutane (R-600A) (Primarily used in northern Europe) − Propane (R-290) (Growing use in self-contained equipment) − Propylene (R-1270) (Used in condensing unit and indirect multiplex rack

systems in northern Europe)

Ammonia (R-717) − Introduced as primary refrigerant in indirect systems in northern Europe

and Africa

CO2 (R-744) − Increasing use in vending machines − Secondary refrigerant in indirect systems in U.S.

HFCs and HFOs − Recent use in multiplex rack systems

Refrigeration System Designs

Direct Expansion Systems − Most Common Type

− Refrigerant directly cools

− 404A transitioning to 407A and 407F

− Disadvantages: High refrigerant charge; parasitic losses (temp/pressure); refrigerant leaks

Refrigeration System Designs

Distributed Systems

− Array of separate compressor racks

− Can lower refrigerant charges 30-50%

− Still account for 40% of new U.S. installs; indirect systems gaining significant market share

Refrigeration System Designs

Indirect Systems − Lower refrigerant charges

50-90%

− Chiller to cool secondary fluid to cases/coolers

− Now the norm in Europe

− Low leak potential (5% or less); low pressure loss; but fluid issues/losses

Refrigeration System Designs

Distributed secondary loop − can use HFCs or

hydrocarbons, ammonia C02

− compact chiller

− cascade designs

• C02

• High first cost

• More precise

Things to think about:

Maintaining refrigerant choice

Evaluating refrigerant characteristics for informed choices

Making transition predictable, smooth and informed

Goal – Appropriate Successor Refrigerants to HFCs

No ozone depletion

Low total global warming potential (LCCP/TEWI) − Direct

− Indirect

Safe

Economical

Choosing a Refrigerant

Cannot be based on one factor

Must be based on an analysis of all factors: − Safe

− Energy efficient

− Widely available

− Economical

Will be different for different applications

Ammonia

Benefits

Economical

Low GWP (<1)

Efficient

Available

Drawbacks

Flammable

Highly toxic

Incompatible with copper and copper alloys

Hydrocarbons

Benefits

Efficient

Low Toxicity

Economical

Low GWP

Drawbacks

Highly flammable

Prohibited by some building codes

CO2

Benefits

Low GWP

Economical

Non-flammable

Drawbacks

Operates at higher pressures

Expensive System

Prone to leaks

Not efficient at high ambients

ICARHMA Policy Statement

Many factors go into decisions on refrigerants:

Not just GWP but also, − Cost effectiveness for intended application

− Energy efficiency

− Safety

− Operating pressures

− Capital and operating costs

− Operating temperatures

In addition, national, regional, and local laws

Law of Unintended Consequences

Most economic sectors are inter-connected

Policy makers need to be sure that: − Policies do not reduce emissions in one sector while increasing in

another

− Low emissions should not be at expense of overall efficiency

− Efficiency must be maximized in all situations

Planning for Phase-Down of High GWP Refrigerants

Business needs predictability

Research into new generation of refrigerants

Determining positives and negatives for alternatives

Barriers to Use of Alternative Refrigerants

Recently completed project summarizes barriers region-by-region − CO2, Ammonia, Hydrocarbons, R-32, and HFO-

1234yf

Conclusion: Most would be restricted in Japan, U.S., EU.

Not just technical barriers but also legislative and regulatory barriers

Low-GWP Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation

Program (Low-GWP AREP)

Cooperative research program to identify suitable alternatives to high GWP Refrigerants

Research strongly desired by OEMs − Assess research needs

− Accelerate industry’s response to environmental challenges

− Avoid duplicative work

Objectives − Identify low GWP alternative refrigerants − Establish testing protocols − Conduct tests − Publish results

.

Low-GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (Low-GWP AREP)

Thirty-eight low-GWP refrigerant candidates are being tested.

Twenty-one entities are conducting tests globally:

Low-GWP AREP Program

Testing is nearly complete

Interim report was released in September 2012

Technical papers presented at

− Purdue Conference

− ASHRAE/NIST Refrigerants Conference

− Kobe Conference

First test reports released late November

Remaining reports will be available to the public in early 2013.

Summary

Different situation than when transitioned from HCFCs to HFCs

Still searching for alternatives

Broadened our consideration to include refrigerants that were disqualified before because they were toxic and/or flammable

We have the time to do the necessary research

But we must be serious and expend the resources commensurate with challenge

We have a good record as an industry

Thank You!