ACR Journal

The RAC Engineer’s Guide to Low GWP Refrigerants 10 The ultimate objective of the regulation is to reduce emissions of HFCs by 79 per cent between 2015 and 2030 with the HFC phase down as one of its main measures to reduce their consumption. Firstly, producers like Honeywell developed next generation, lower GWP refrigerants. Then OEMs introduced products for supermarkets and stationary refrigeration designed to work with these lower GWP alternatives. The availability of the equipment has enabled installers to respond to the demands of the F-Gas Regulation. Contractors and installers are a critical part of the puzzle in driving towards lower GWP refrigerants along with facility management services. Different refrigerants exist for specific applications, some addressing a pressing need for retrofitting installed equipment with lower GWP solutions, some representing longer term solutions with an ultra low GWP. The new refrigerant options, some of which can be mildly flammable A2Ls, require an upgrade of skillsets. Manufacturers, distributors and installers need to be able to handle A2L refrigerants. This upgrading is all the more urgent in view of further cuts in quota. Alternatives to R404A Supermarkets are a good example of how successful the switch to lower GWP refrigerants has been. Honeywell manufactures medium and long term alternatives to replace R404A, the high GWP refrigerant, which has been a popular choice in commercial refrigeration installations. Solstice® N40 (R448A) is a replacement for R404A, that is suitable for retrofitting existing systems as well as for new installations. With a GWP of 1387 and a non-flammable classification, it offers a safe, lower GWP solution, which helps improve energy efficiency in low and medium temperature refrigeration packs. Since 2018 the F-Gas Regulation has cut back supplies of high GWP refrigerants and the uptake of Solstice® N40 in the European market has grown considerably. For manufacturers adapting equipment to R448A is a quick and easy way to reduce GWP. Solstice® L40X (R455A) represents a long term alternative to R404A for cooling cabinets in supermarkets and convenience stores. It is a versatile refrigerant with a GWP of less than 150. Moving Forward Tunca Sekban, Honeywell Global Product Marketing Manager for Fluorine Products, with a view from the refrigerant manufacturer’s perspective on speeding up the adoption of lower GWP refrigerants. Over the last two years the UK market has seen a massive acceleration in the development of new equipment designed for lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. The industry recognises that the F-Gas Regulation can bring benefits across the refrigeration value chain.